Financial Compensation for Egg Donors

Financial compensation for egg donors is intended to cover a donor's time, effort, and commitment, as well as any inconvenience involved in the egg donation process.  The amount of recompense a donor receives is dependent on several factors, including the agency through which she donates; financial capacity of potential recipients; health risks or ethical concerns of the donor; and a donor's unique personal or ethnic characteristics.  Specific items covered by donor compensation may include:

• Donor compensation: According to a study reported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), financial recompense for egg donors can range from around $3,000 to over $50,000, with the average recompense being around $5,000.  ASRM Ethics Committee guidelines also define compensation exceeding $5,000 as requiring justification and reimbursement exceeding $10,000 as exceeding what is appropriate. 
• The cost of screening and donation process: This includes medication and hormone therapy, the egg retrieval surgery, and aftercare. 
• Premium and any deductible for supplemental short-term accidental health insurance: This insurance is purchased by the potential recipients to cover (a portion of) medical expenses incurred as a result of the egg donation procedure.  
• Reasonable travel, lodging, and meal expenses: This can include expenses involved in donor screening, selection, egg retrieval surgery, and aftercare.

Receiving Payment

Some agencies pay donors a "deposit" when they begin taking medications, with the remaining compensation paid after the egg retrieval surgery.  Others pay the donor the entire sum after the surgery.  Women considering donating eggs should get all the information on how much and when they will be paid.  They should also be aware that this compensation is taxed, so they will not pocket the entire sum.

Find an Egg Donation Specialist

Financial compensation is a complex matter dependent on several factors.  Contacting a qualified infertility specialist in your area is the best way to get the most up-to-date information for your unique situation.