The issue of our donor compensation has been a topic of interest for both our Donors and our Recipients. For the purposes of this discussion, I am only going to be discussing US donor compensation, as Donors who participate in cycles for other countries are reimbursed for their travel, lost wages, etc. as appropriate to the legislation of their Recipients’ country’s regulations.
The World Egg Bank offers what we believe are fair donor fees to our Donors who participate in domestic cycles; further, compensation is based on the location wherein the Donor resides in order to account for cost of living and wage differences.
Recently, we had a Donor come to us in search of negotiations for her donation cycle, as another company had suggested that they may offer her an increased donation fee. Although we understand the allure of promised increased compensation, there are issues associated with these types of offers that must be taken under consideration, and this discussion is worthy of exploration and critical analysis.
One major issue with this type of offer is that the companies are often located out of state with a myriad of staff attempting to coordinate cycle details, which means that donors are unfamiliar with whom they are working and the staff members are unfamiliar with the Donors, as well as their history and preferences. This puts Donors at a disadvantage, and frankly, at risk.
With the World Egg Bank, you know the staff, the top-quality care you will receive, the fact that you will be receiving the latest in technology that diminishes any side effects that other companies may expose you to, and – particularly if you live in the Arizona area – you will not have to travel extensively. Our Donors’ safety is our top priority, and we are the longest operating egg bank in the US. Our policies and procedures have been established for years and proven many times over that they are the best for all parties involved. The following explains The World Egg Bank’s views on our standard donation fees.
Firstly, the additional compensation that other companies may offer comes directly out of the Recipients’ pockets. The clinic does not pay their donors additional monies—it is the sole responsibility of the Recipients to pay those additional fees. By the time Recipients’ doctors suggest donor eggs, the Recipients have already paid — and continue to pay — exorbitant medical bills in the sole hope of conceiving and carrying a child to term. The costs associated with IVF cycles are high; by the time a Recipient has reached the point where donor eggs are their best option, they have usually spent an incredible sum of money. Most of our Recipients have taken out loans and have applied for financial plans to continue with IVF processes—to maintain hope. The fact is that many Recipients are coming to us as a last resort to carry their own child. The company was founded by a Recipient of Donor eggs, who conducted extensive research as she built the company to determine how much compensation was fair given the Donors’ time commitment and effort in this process. The World Egg Bank has always sought to compensate our Donors in an appropriate manner, but without gouging the recipients and without exploiting or being coercive towards potential Donors.
Perceived and actual coercion is the second reason why we do not remunerate our donors with a higher fee. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has issued an ethics report on the financial compensation of oocyte donors. This document states that sums of $5,000 or more require justification and that sums of or exceeding $10,000 are not appropriate. ASRM has also concluded that the number of prior donations (and the outcomes of those prior donations) should never affect the level of remuneration that a Donor receives; this is why we do not offer more compensation to our proven Donors.
Another very important aspect of egg donation that our company values is that oocytes are never to be treated as commodities. Recipients do not pay for oocytes; they compensate Donors for their time and effort, as well as provide for care for any discomfort that they may endure as a result of the procedure. This is why our Recipients are also required to purchase medical insurance to protect their Donor. Again, our company was founded in order to best serve and protect both our Recipients and our Donors. By adhering to the guidelines set forth by ASRM, the industry’s medical governing body, as well as FDA standards, we establish our company’s credibility within the industry, as well as maintain the paradigm which allows our Recipients to proceed with their cycles while providing fair compensation for the time and effort that our Donors put forth.
Given our business model that encompasses these integral values, we do not negotiate Donor compensation, as we feel it would jeopardize our company’s integrity and standing in the eyes of the medical and IVF community. Some Egg Banks do not share our values, and we do not think any less of their programs for it; they are also part of this giving community that enables Recipients to create families. Despite our differences, we all share the same goal; however, we must all remain strong in our beliefs of what is right and fair.
If you have any feedback, please let us know.
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