Egg Donation for Surrogacy: Process, Types & Costs

Who Needs an Egg Donor?

Egg donation is required when the intended parents cannot provide eggs for IVF. This is most common for:

• Gay male couples — an egg donor is always needed
• Single men — an egg donor is always needed
• Couples with fertility challenges — when the intended mother's eggs are not viable
• Single women — in some cases where their own eggs are not viable

Lesbian couples often have the option to use one partner's eggs (including reciprocal IVF), which can eliminate the need for a donor.

Types of Egg Donors

Fresh donor cycle (through an agency)

An egg donor agency connects you with a screened donor who undergoes ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval specifically for you. This provides the most donor options and typically yields the most eggs.

Frozen eggs (from an egg bank)

Egg banks sell pre-collected and frozen eggs. This is often more affordable and faster, since the donor has already completed retrieval. You typically receive a set of 6–8 eggs.

Known donor

Some intended parents use eggs from a friend or family member. This requires the same medical and psychological screening as anonymous donation, plus additional legal agreements.

The Egg Donation Process

1. Donor selection: Choose a donor through an agency, egg bank, or known donor
2. Screening: Medical and psychological evaluation (if not already completed)
3. Legal agreements: Both parties sign contracts covering parental rights and compensation
4. Ovarian stimulation: The donor takes hormone medications for 10–14 days
5. Egg retrieval: A minor outpatient procedure to collect the eggs
6. Fertilization: Eggs are fertilized with sperm via IVF
7. Embryo development: Embryos grow for 5–6 days; genetic testing (PGT) may be performed
8. Transfer: A healthy embryo is transferred to the gestational carrier

Choosing Your Donor

Selecting an egg donor is a deeply personal decision. Factors to consider:

• Physical characteristics: Many parents choose a donor who resembles them or their partner
• Health history: Review the donor's medical and genetic history
• Education and background: Some parents value academic or professional background
• Proven donor: A donor who has successfully donated before may have higher success rates
• Anonymous vs. open: Some donors are willing to be contacted when the child turns 18

Egg Donation Costs

Egg donation adds $8,000 to $15,000+ to your surrogacy budget. Here's how costs break down:

• Fresh donor compensation: $5,000–$10,000
• Egg donor agency fee: $3,000–$6,000
• Donor medical screening and medications: often included in IVF costs
• Frozen eggs from an egg bank: $5,000–$8,000 (a more affordable option)

Using frozen eggs is typically faster and less expensive than a fresh donor cycle, though success rates vary.

Legal Considerations

All egg donation arrangements should include a legal agreement that:

• Terminates the donor's parental rights
• Establishes the intended parents' rights
• Outlines compensation terms
• Specifies what happens with unused eggs or embryos

Your surrogacy attorney can typically handle egg donor contracts as part of your overall legal work.