Egg Donor Compensation FAQ

If you are thinking about becoming an egg donor, the question of how you will be financially compensated is a question that looms large. Here you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about egg donor compensation and their answers.

What’s the most money an egg donor can make from donating eggs?

In the US, egg donation agencies that abide by the ASRM code of ethics are required to cap egg donor compensation at $10,000 per egg donation cycle. The ASRM, or American Society of Reproductive Medicine, is the professional association that sets the ethical rules for fertility treatments, and agencies who do not adhere to these rules can be considered less than fully reputable. For example, the leading assisted fertility clinic Conceivabilities explains that “a reputable agency will adhere to the (ASRM) guidelines and those that don’t should be viewed with extreme skepticism”. In other words, while it may not be illegal to be paid more than $10,000, it is considered unethical, and you should proceed with extreme caution. If you’ve been offered more than $10,000 for your eggs, you should hire a lawyer to represent you.

How can I earn more than $10,000 from donating donating eggs?

There are some individuals and couples out there who are seeking a very specific set of qualities in their egg donors, and some of these people are willing to pay top dollar to get what they want. I’ve seen many prospective donor egg recipients place classified ads in college newspapers and large urban newspapers. Usually people who seek egg donation through the classifieds are people are looking for a particular ethnic and/or racial background along with other biographical qualifications, such as high academic achievement. For example, I found a couple who created their own web page with the headline “Genius Asian Egg Donor Needed – $35,000 compensation”. That’s an extremely high amount of compensation for donating eggs! But their requirements are very high and very specific. They explain that

You should have or be working on a university degree from a world-class university, you should have high standardized test scores, and preferably have some outstanding achievements and awards. We prefer Asian/Oriental race, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese. You should be between 18-35 years old. …

An example of our ideal egg donor: 21 year old Chinese MIT student with A grade point average, near-perfect SAT score, several awards in high school and university. She wants to be an egg donor in order to help bring a child into the world with the same special gifts she has.

What’s the average compensation for egg donation?

According to the May, 2007 edition of the journal Fertility and Sterility, the average compensation to egg donors is $4,217. When looking at compensation amounts by region, however, there was some variation. Egg donors in the northeast were paid an average of $5,018, while those from the northwest were paid an average of $2,900.

Should I be paid based on the “success” of the egg donation procedure or the “quality” of my eggs?

No. You should be paid the full amount promised if you completed the cycle and fulfilled all the agreed-upon responsibilities. As Beverly Hills Egg Donation puts it:

Compensation should never be dependent upon a certain number of eggs being retrieved or upon the quality of eggs being retrieved (which can, by extension, also mean that the fertilization rate of such eggs or whether or not a pregnancy is achieved from the donation should not be considered when structuring compensation). The ASRM report even goes on to state that compensation should not vary based on the number or outcome of prior donation cycles or the ethnic or other qualifications/characteristics of the donor.

When should I be paid?

Egg donors should be paid promptly after the retrieval of their eggs. In their video, the Northeast Assisted Fertility Group
states that they pay their egg donors within one to three days after the egg retrieval procedure.

How many times can I donate my eggs?

Reputable egg donor agencies and fertility clinics limit the number times they will let you donate, usually from four to six egg donation cycles over your lifetime. For example, the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine and Family Creations both limit donations to six cycles over a woman’s lifetime.

Can I get paid to donate eggs to stem cell research?

Yes, you can! As I learned from The Fertility Advocate, the state of New York is offering up to $10,000 to women who donate eggs for stem cell research. New York is the first US state to use taxpayer money to fund stem cell research, and the Empire State Stem Cell Board, which approved the regulation, believes the research could lead to treatments for debilitating illnesses such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

For more tips and advice on becoming an egg donor, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Donating Eggs.