Egg Donor Requirements

Often yes. Egg retrieval collects eggs directly from the ovaries with an ultrasound-guided needle, so it does not depend on open fallopian tubes, and a tubal ligation does not stop your ovaries from responding to stimulation. Programs still decide case by case, and you must meet the same age, BMI, health and screening requirements as every other donor.

Sometimes, case by case. PCOS can make the ovaries over-respond to stimulation medication, which raises the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, so some programs decline donors with PCOS and others accept them with an adjusted medication protocol after reviewing your history. Be upfront about it during screening.

It depends on the program. Donors are tested for infectious diseases under FDA and ASRM screening rules and must disclose any history of sexually transmitted infections. A herpes history is not an automatic disqualifier everywhere, but programs evaluate it individually, and an active outbreak during your cycle can delay donation.

Current research does not show that donating eggs reduces your own future fertility. Each month your body recruits a group of eggs and normally only one matures; stimulation retrieves eggs from that group that would otherwise have been lost. Rare complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome exist, so ask the clinic about risks and about your own family-planning timeline before you commit.

Usually yes. An IUD does not disqualify you at most programs, and policies differ on the details: some allow any IUD, while others ask donors with a hormonal IUD (such as Mirena, Kyleena, Skyla or Liletta) to have it removed before the cycle because it can interfere with controlled stimulation. Copper IUDs are generally not a problem. Confirm your program's policy before you schedule a removal.

Often yes, depending on severity and medication. Mild ADHD is usually acceptable, and programs review how severe it is and what you take. Professional guidance does not recommend donation for people with severe ADHD, and the psychological evaluation with a licensed professional makes the final call at each program.

Case by case. A history of depression or anxiety does not automatically disqualify you, and well-managed conditions are often accepted. Programs look at the diagnosis, severity, current medication and how stable you have been, and a psychiatric hospitalization is more likely to be disqualifying. Some programs decline donors who currently take psychiatric medication.

Usually yes. HPV does not automatically disqualify you, and it is not carried in the egg itself, so many programs accept donors with a cleared or low-risk history. You will be asked about your screening history, such as Pap results, and your infectious-disease tests and any active outbreak are reviewed during screening.

Sometimes. Controlled hypothyroidism on stable medication may be accepted at some programs, while others treat thyroid disorders as disqualifying. Have recent thyroid lab results ready, because the program's medical team decides after reviewing your records.

Not while you use them. Cigarettes, vaping and other nicotine products disqualify donors at nearly every program, and most also require you to stop cannabis before and during the cycle. Some programs accept former smokers after a nicotine-free period, often several months and longer at some, and you may be tested for nicotine.

Often it is a barrier, and it depends on the program. Diabetes appears on many programs' lists of conditions that affect eligibility, and each case is reviewed individually by the medical team, along with your family history.

Mostly no. Requirements are set by individual agencies, fertility clinics and professional guidelines such as ASRM and FDA donor screening rules, not by state law, so the same checklist applies in every state. What changes by state is demand, compensation and how many programs operate near you. See how the egg donation process works for the full timeline.

Often yes, with conditions. Hormonal birth control is commonly used to schedule a donation cycle, and programs generally ask about recent tattoos and piercings and may require a waiting period or documentation from a sterile facility. Policies differ, so ask the specific program before you apply.