Egg Donation Disqualifications, Explained

At Fairfax EggBank, we are always looking for potential donors, however all of our applicants must meet certain requirements in order to become an egg donor.

Although we would like to accept all of our applicants, there are some factors that may affect your eligibility for egg donation. Many of these disqualifiers are based on regulations set by the FDA, recommendations set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and even by law.

The goal of these egg donor requirements is to give intended parents, who have been struggling with infertility, the best possible chance to conceive a healthy baby while ensuring all of our donors have a safe egg donation journey.

Our team has compiled a list of disqualifiers that could make you ineligible for our egg donation program.

Age

Applicants must be between the ages of 19 and 30 to be eligible for our egg donation program. This age range (give or take a year or two) is common to donor egg banks and egg donor agencies around the world. In our experience, 19 is the minimum age that participants can consistently take on the challenges and commitments of being an egg donor. We cap the age of eligibility at 30 because the number and quality of a woman’s eggs begin to go decline in her mid to late 30s. For that reason, our age requirement for applicants also considers donors who may cycle more than once.

Egg donor age restrictions are important to the success of donor egg recipients and the well-being of our egg donors.

Learn more about why age matters in egg donation.

Reproductive Health and Lifestyle

In the medical application we review a variety of lifestyle and reproductive health factors that could affect egg donation.

To be eligible, you must have two functioning ovaries. This means that those who only have one ovary wouldn’t be able to donate. This is because when starting the retrieval process with one ovary, the possible yield of mature eggs for each cycle is significantly reduced.

Also, to be eligible you cannot be pregnant or breast feeding to be an egg donor. The potential effects of the medications given to donors during the retrieval process. However, you’ll be eligible again once you’re least 5 months postpartum, are no longer breastfeeding, and have normal periods.

Those with endometriosis and PCOS are not eligible to become egg donors with our program due to the reduced likelihood of a successful egg donation cycle and the increased risk for medical complications.

You’re not eligible if you currently smoke or vape. Ingesting tobacco or nicotine, even if it’s just on an occasional basis, can impact the quality of eggs and the egg donation cycle. Also, you must have a BMI between 18-29. Medical evidence shows that people with a BMI under 18 or over 29 are at a higher risk for developing medical complications.

Learn more about why weight matters in egg donation.

Location

You’re not eligible to donate if you don’t reside in the U.S. All donors must have at least a valid work visa or green card to be able to participate in our program. The government treats egg donation as a job; they deem egg donation reimbursement as income that you’ll need to report. This is why we require proof that you’re certified to work in the U.S. legally.

Donors need to live within two hours of one of our retrieval clinics or must qualify for our travel program.

Medical History

Most egg banks and egg donor agencies will request your detailed medical history. At Fairfax EggBank, you’ll need to know the medical history of three generations of your family. This includes your medical history, and that of your biological parents, any siblings, and any children you may have. You’ll also need to know about the health history of any aunts, uncles, and grandparents on both your mother’s and father’s side.

Unfortunately, if you cannot supply this information, you won’t be able to move forward into our egg donor program. This information is necessary because we need a comprehensive understanding of genetic dispositions you and any subsequent donor-conceived children may have.

Need help getting this information? Here are some tips on finding your medical history.

Learn More About Becoming An Egg Donor With Fairfax EggBank

Do I qualify as an egg donor? Click here for egg donor qualifications.

Have any other questions about egg donations? Check out our FAQs, our Egg Donor blog, or contact us.