I'm ready to become an egg donor (How you knew)

Making the decision to donate anything, even blood, can be a big step for some people. Donations of this nature are giving the gift of life and mean so much to those who receive them. Being an egg donor takes the gift of life to a whole other level, sharing your very genes with another person like one would their own children. The difference is that someone else gets to have children when they otherwise couldn’t, so this gift is one that keeps on giving for much longer than a single lifetime.
While this choice is one of excitement and full of purpose, it’s not to be taken lightly. There’s a difference between making the actual decision to be an egg donor and being physically capable. The first step is knowing that you want to give. Any kind of surrogacy, even egg donations, takes a lot of mental preparation for some people, but knowing when and how to be ready doesn’t have to be difficult.

Mental & Emotional Readiness

Knowing when you’re mentally and emotionally ready to be an egg donor is a personal reflection and not something that can be told. The reasons to push someone to make this decision in the first place are as wide and varied as the people themselves. For some, money may be the main motivator. For others, the decision may be more personal or sentimental, a selfless act. Regardless, if you’re deciding whether or not you’d like to donate your eggs and aren’t sure what path to take, there are considerations to take into account.
Not everyone needs to know the input of their family to make this decision, but if you feel more comfortable with your partner’s or anyone else’s opinion, then speaking to family and friends may help. You’ll want to know you’re ready and willing to go through the entire process before committing at the beginning.

Physical Readiness

There are many physical qualifications to meet before you can be considered as a potential donor. Qualifications aren’t the same everywhere, but they generally want to make sure you’re as healthy as possible before giving. There’s a strong preference for women between the ages of 21 and 30 that have a BMI lower than 30. Clinics will turn away anyone who smokes, uses illegal drugs or is alcohol dependent. Anyone who is currently breastfeeding or pumping will also be turned away. Doctors want candidates to have had at least two normal periods since their last pregnancy.
Candidates cannot have any sexually transmitted diseases or a genetically carried medical condition. They want to make sure everyone is able to have happy, healthy babies. If you don’t have these problems, it’s also highly recommended that you know at least half of your own genetic makeup, so doctors can know your family history of illnesses.
Lastly, doctors don’t want candidates to have had the Depo Provera shot for at least eight months and not be on Nor-plant at all. Candidates should have had at least one pap-smear within the last year.

Psychological & Other Qualifications

Candidates have to go through a psychological assessment and will be denied if they have a psychiatric illness. As far as mental health goes, these are the only qualifications doctors typically hold to, but there are other requirements that may seem random but will still need to be met first.
No intercourse can occur during the donation process which takes about a month to complete. Candidates should not have gotten any tattoos or piercings within the last 12 months. These are the last of the biological concerns, which just want to ensure your eggs are as healthy as possible.
Qualifications recommend that the donor have at least a high school education or equivalent. Clinics also want to be sure that the donor understands the egg donation process and will follow doctor’s orders to the letter. Candidates must be willing to travel if necessary and be dependable for appointments and injections. Lastly, above all else, donors should genuinely want to give this gift without outside influences changing their minds or desires.

Compensation

As stated, money may be a big motivator to donate. Certainly, the monetary compensation isn’t a hindrance. Clinics all have a different base fee, but first time donors usually receive about $7000 with repeat donors getting about $8000 and up. Depending on the clinic, donors won’t have to pay any out of pocket fees for donating. Those at Simple Surrogacy pay for almost all other expenses.
Because of the technicalities with insurance, some clinics like Simple Surrogacy will pay medical complications insurance with a $500 value every cycle. If travel is necessary, airfare, reasonable hotel rates, Air BnB, taxi fare and rental cars will all be covered by the clinic. Mileage compensation is paid at $0.535 per mile, and food is covered with $50 to the donor and $25 to a partner for each travel day. Lost wages from work are covered after taxes, and $11 an hour for childcare and all costs of pet boarding is available. All possible fees won’t be deducted from compensation. These bonuses are to make sure the donation process is seamless and you can give your gift without any other complications to worry about.

Become an Egg Donor

Once you know what you want to do and are physically capable, the next step is starting the process. Finding a good clinic to work with is all part of the journey, as you want to know you’re getting safe, quality service like that of Simple Surrogacy. After all, donating and surrogacy doesn’t need to be complicated, and candidates should have the power to exercise their rights at any time. Some clinics even come partnered with lawyers who work with you (not the companies) to make sure you’re getting the best care possible. The decision is still a hefty one and the process to get everything done isn’t always the easiest, but if you genuinely want to help others and give this gift, then the journey will be worth it.