How Old Do You Have to Be to Donate Eggs?

Egg donation is an incredibly generous way to support couples who struggle to start a family. At The World Egg and Sperm Bank, we truly appreciate the women who donate their eggs. Which is why we want to help those unfamiliar with the process. One common question we often get asked is how old do you have to be to donate eggs?

What is the official age range for how old you have to be to donate eggs? This guide will give you the details you need to make an informed decision regarding whether or not egg donation is right for you.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Donate Eggs?

The Exact Age Requirement Varies

The truth is that the exact age range you must fall into for egg donation will vary among facilities. At a minimum, you must be 18 to donate your eggs. However, the older you are will yield different results depending on the egg donation service you use. This is because your fertility decreases as you get older and it becomes more likely to pass along health concerns the older your eggs are.

At The World Egg and Sperm Bank, we require our egg donors to be between 18 and 32.

Age Is Just One Requirement

While age is certainly an important factor in egg donation, it is not the only requirement. In order to ensure that the egg is as healthy as possible, you must also meet certain physical and mental health requirements. This is figured out through a series of screenings by doctors, geneticists, and psychologists.

In addition to age, egg donors must be non-smokers with no history of alcohol, drug abuse, or addiction. They must have a healthy body mass index (BMI), meaning that they are not over or under their ideal body weight.

We also must make sure that you are not currently on certain forms of birth control including Depo-Provera, Implanon, or Nexplanon. Other forms of birth control such as birth control pills, rings, patches, or IUDs are fine for egg donation. You can even donate if you have had a tubal ligation.

You must also have good knowledge of the medical and genetic history of family members up to the biological grandparents. Even if you were adopted, you must still know this information about your biological family. This helps ensure that your eggs will not carry undue risk for the embryo and child that are conceived from your donated eggs.

Additionally, potential donors must be able to pass several different types of intensive screenings, including psychological, STD, and genetic screenings.

While all of these tests and screenings can seem intimidating, they’re intended to help you make an informed decision, protect your health, and ensure the health of your eggs and any children conceived through your donation.

As you can see, age is just one small factor to consider when it comes to egg donation. There are lots of other criteria intended to make sure that you and your eggs are as healthy as possible prior to donation.

Common Misconceptions About Donating Eggs

Many misconceptions surrounding the process make women hesitant to take part in this beautiful exchange that can help a couple to conceive a child. It is important to address these concerns so that you can feel as comfortable as possible with the outcome of your donation.

For example, some women worry that if they donate eggs while they are younger, it will affect their fertility down the road. However, donating eggs does not harm your overall fertility and you won’t run out of eggs if you donate them. The eggs we retrieve are the same eggs that would have ovulated or been absorbed by the body on its own.

Consider this fact: each month, your natural cycle causes you to lose up to 1,000 eggs. Even when your body enters into menopause and your menstrual cycle stops, you will still have eggs in your body.

Even while younger, only one egg is matured for fertilization in a natural cycle. We rescue the other eggs that would ordinarily be lost throughout the process. The result is that you get to share those eggs with a waiting family instead of allowing them to go to waste through a natural process.

It doesn’t matter whether you donate at 18, 31, or somewhere in between. Age does not affect the egg donation process and it will not impact you differently. Preparation for the process is the same regardless of age, as is the short recovery time.

Let Us Answer Your Questions

W understand that making the decision to donate your eggs is highly personal and often fraught with questions. While we appreciate every donor who helps those wanting to start a family, we also want to make sure we are offering support to everyone involved in the process.

If you have questions regarding “how old do you have to be to donate eggs”, we are here to answer them, educate you, and guide you through each step of the process. To learn more about egg donation, visit The World Egg and Sperm Bank.

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