Eligibility

Will I qualify?

Top 10 Reasons Donor Candidates Fail to Qualify:

• Nicotine and Drug Usage: No judgment other than it’s not good for your body!  There is no way to hide it… the toxicology screen will show EVERYTHING. If a donor tests positive for nicotine or drugs, there is an automatic 90-day wait time to retest…
• STD: Because STDs often do not make themselves known with nasty symptoms, a donor may not be aware she has acquired an STD. Chlamydia is a common “offender.” For this or any other STD, the donor must be treated and wait for one year to qualify again as an egg donor.
• Genetics: A genetic screening (via blood draw or saliva) will be performed on the donor candidate to determine carrier status. Although a donor may not have a disease or condition, she could be a carrier for an abnormal gene, which may cause a disease or condition if the male side of the equation is also a carrier of the same gene abnormality. Clinics determine which carrier statuses are acceptable to move forward and which are not. If a donor does test positive as a carrier, she will be able to discuss the outcome with a genetic counselor as to what steps, if any, she should take in the future with regard to her own parental goals.
• Family Medical History: Even though a donor may be fully qualified based on her own medical history, the donor’s family may affect her ability to qualify. Although lifestyle, nutrition and environment can affect future generations, clinics will look at the donor’s immediate family for predictors. We rely on a donor to provide honest and accurate information relating to any health conditions her family members have experienced.
• Follicle Count and / or Hormone Levels: The first appointment will involve a blood draw and vaginal ultrasound to evaluate the donor’s hormone levels (as they relate to fertility) and antral follicle count. Individual clinics have established their criteria for donor qualification.
• Psychological Evaluation: This part of the screening seems scary to some, but it really shouldn’t be. The psych evaluation is a due diligence step on behalf of the recipients to ensure that a donor’s current state of mind leads to a recommendation to proceed. In most cases, a personal interview with an MSW, LFMC or licensed psychologist will take place along with the donor also being provided a written component in order to evaluate whether or not a donor is a good candidate for an upcoming cycle.
• The “Flake Factor”: A donor may fully qualify “on paper” but may disqualify herself by not showing up for appointments on time or not responding to messages in a timely manner. While everyone appreciates a donor’s desire to help a couple achieve pregnancy through egg donation, attending appointments and responding to emails, texts or calls is critical. If you are prone to go MIA, then please DO NOT apply. We would love you as a referral source for friends, though!
• Unable to Legally Work in the United States: Egg donation compensation is taxable income. All donors need to have a valid Social Security Number (SSN), Work Visa, or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) in order to participate in an egg donation cycle.  A 1099 form will be sent to each donor the January following her egg donation cycle(s) for the previous year to submit with her taxes.
• Overseas Living: Donors who have lived in the United Kingdom for more than three months or European countries for more than five years collectively may not qualify for egg donation per FDA regulations.
• Really Low Body Fat: We have anecdotal information suggesting that women with extremely low body fat percentages will not perform as well in an egg donation cycle, but this is anecdotal information only. We are happy to screen all those who are in amazingly good shape although we may not be able to hide our envy!