Requirements to Donate Eggs

The health of an egg donor can make all the difference if her eggs are selected for an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. Various requirements are in place to help increase the rate of success for egg donation treatment and to ensure that the donor’s eggs are in demand by infertile couples.

In essence, Dr. Michael Vermesh and Dr. Tannaz Toloubeydokhti want to make sure that an IVF cycle succeeds, and that the health of a newborn and the health of the mother are ensured. This means picking healthy egg donor candidates who have viable eggs. Our Los Angeles, CA fertility center would like to cover just some of the criteria that must be met by potential egg donors.

The Age of the Donor

The older a woman is, the more likely she is to experience issues with infertility. This is true for all women, and simply reflects the changing nature of egg quality as a person ages. The ideal age for egg donors is between 18 and 30 years old. During this age range, women are at their peak for fertility, and have good quality eggs available.

Non-Smoker and Drug-Free

Smoking and drug use have negative effects on a woman’s general wellness as well as her reproductive health. For this reason, egg donors should not smoke or use tobacco products, and they should not be taking any illegal drugs.

Good General Health and Wellness

We’ve put a great deal of emphasis on the health of an egg donor, and it’s important that any donor be in good overall health. Our Los Angeles fertility specialists will not take eggs from women suffering from serious illnesses as these could have an effect on egg quality. Women suffering from genetic or chromosomal conditions are also not considered good egg donors since these issues could be inherited by the baby.

Ideal Weight Range

Weight has a major impact on your general health and wellness. The ideal BMI (body mass index) for patients should as close to the normal range (18.5 to 24.9) as possible.

We do note that BMI does not accurately take into account body fat percentage, muscle mass, and body composition. For this reason, BMI is sometimes a secondary concern if the potential donor is physically fit based on other metrics.

Family History Free of Serious Medical Issues

While a woman may not be ill or suffer from genetic conditions, she may have a family history of health issues. We take this seriously to avoid genetic conditions being passed down to baby during the IVF process.

Educational Background

Intelligence tends to have some genetic factors at play, which is why most egg donors have at least completed college. When IVF patients select donor eggs, they look at personality profiles of the donors and typically select women who have desirable physical traits as well as a sound education, good career prospects, and various interests or hobbies.

Willingness to Undergo Medical and Psychological Evaluation

Egg donors must be willing to undergo a medical and psychological screening just to ensure they are in good physical health and of sound mind. This is both to ensure suitability for the IVF cycle and to make sure the donor understands what she is doing, which includes the financial and legal aspects of egg donation.

Learn More About Becoming an Egg Donor

For more information about becoming an egg donor, be sure to contact our experienced team of fertility doctors. You can reach our fertility clinic by phone in Los Angeles by calling (818) 617-2067.