Egg donors > Who can be an egg donor

Who can be an Egg Donor?

Any woman who is kind, healthy and with the right attitude could be an egg donor.

However, there is a little more because, following the regulations of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), women thinking of being a donor should also:

• be between the ages of 18 and 35 fit and healthy.
• have no history in the family of inherited diseases or genetic disorders.
• be within normal limits of weight for their height, with a BMI of under 30.
• not be trying to become pregnant whilst undergoing the process

Why you need to be under 35

Some women assume that they can become a donor after the age of 35 if they still have periods. But after this age, the eggs in the ovary start to undergo subtle genetic changes which can cause later problems for a recipient. These changes can mean that there may be few eggs or an increased risk of miscarriage and abnormalities with the growing baby. It is because of this, that the age has been limited to 35.

Why you need to have a BMI below 30

Egg donors need to have a BMI below 30 because they are at greater risk, don’t respond to the stimulation needed, and don’t do so well if they are over their expected weight for height. Equally someone who has a BMI that is very low should ideally gain weight before going through the process.

Why you should not be trying to get pregnant

Egg donation is about helping another couple start a family, so if you are trying to get pregnant yourself the two will conflict with each other. In addition, egg donation treatment is designed to encourage a number of eggs to develop at the same time, so should you could become pregnant at this moment you would be at serious risk of a multiple pregnancy. Egg donation is highly unlikely to affect your fertility and you will still be able to have children after being an egg donor. If for any reason it is thought that your fertility could be affected, you would not be allowed to continue, nor should you do so.