Many people donate organs or blood to help the sick or dying. However, can you get paid to donate? Here’s how you can get paid to donate eggs.
Have you considered getting paid by donating your egg?
Thanks to better medical technology and public opinion, the egg donation process has become commonplace in fertility treatment for women.
The egg donor undergoes medical treatment to fertilize and transfer the donor eggs to the gestational carrier (recipient).
Becoming an egg donor applicant is a meaningful way to help others start a family. Moreover, it’s a profitable way to make money for beginners.
If you want to get paid to donate eggs, this guide lists egg donation centers, steps to becoming a donor, and more.
Unlike donating blood, you can get paid to donate eggs due to its global demand.
According to Global Market Insights, the human egg donation market size was over USD 3.1 billion in 2022, and it will grow by 6.8% CAGR from 2023 to 2032.
As infertility rates increase, the demand for egg donors also grows.
Registering for a legitimate egg donor compensation program will give you decent pay and proper care for the entire procedure.
Moreover, you can safely donate your eggs up to six times, enabling you to get more compensation per cycle.
How much do you get paid to donate eggs?
Bright Expectations says the usual compensation for egg donors ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 per cycle.
However, your fee depends on several factors, such as ethnicity and prior donations.
Some cities also pay more based on demand, so compensation varies between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston.
Moreover, this payment excludes other paid expenses that the intended mother or parent must shoulder, such as legal requirements, travel fare, and medical expenses.
Unlike sperm donation, egg donation receives a higher compensation since the entire egg donation process is complex and time-consuming.
Before submitting an egg donor application, prepare the following:
Here are a few places to submit your egg donor application.
Bright Expectations is one of the egg donor services in Beverly Hills, California, helping individuals and couples build families via egg donors.
They offer a wide selection of dedicated donors, giving intended parents various options.
Their egg donor compensation program offers $8,000 to $10,000 per cycle, making them one of the ideal agencies to join.
Other monetary includes paid expenses for your transportation, hotel, meals, and airfare if needed.
You will receive part of your donor fee when you start injecting the medications, while the rest will be available within five days of the procedure.
Bright Expectations offers decent compensation per donation, making them a profitable option for side hustlers.
Plus, they provide compensation before and after the procedure, ensuring you receive your due during the entire process.
Also, the agency protects the privacy of its donors and clients.
Since 2010, MyEggBank has become North America’s largest and most diverse egg bank network.
They’re one of the egg donor services using the cryopreservation methodology to get high-quality eggs to aspiring parents.
MyEggBank offers an egg donation payment ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, making this a highly lucrative side hustle for women.
Your fee depends on the total number of your egg donor cycle.
They also offer an egg donor referral reward depending on how many cycles your referral completes.
MyEggBank offers competitive egg donor compensation and additional benefits, like freezing your eggs for your future family and an egg donor referral reward.
Also, feel safe knowing that expert clinicians will conduct your physical exam, genetic testing, and more.
You can also choose between an asynchronous donor cycle program (around two months) and a synchronous donor cycle program (six to nine months).
The Egg Donor Agency is the in-house egg donation center at Pacific Fertility Center located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
They facilitate anonymous egg donors and provide clients with safety, privacy, and confidentiality.
The Pacific Fertility Center Egg Donor Agency also provides a diverse database of egg donors, from Jewish to Asian donors, allowing anyone to donate.
The compensation for egg donation at Pacific Fertility Center is $10,000 after completing a donor cycle.
They also pay for any expense you’ll incur during the donation cycle.
The Pacific Fertility Center Egg Donor Agency is a reputable facility, so rest assured your information and health are safe.
Moreover, this egg donation center ensures you’re comfortable throughout the process.
Plus, the Pacific Fertility Center offers a decent payout after completing your donation.
Founded in 1996, Growing Generations is an experienced fertility agency offering full-service surrogacy and egg donor services.
They pride themselves on being one of the first agencies to serve single and gay men and help men with HIV safely become biological fathers.
Growing Generations pay first-time donors $10,000, while returning donors receive at least $12,000.
Donors may also receive up to or over $50,000, depending on the demand.
Egg donor payments are split into two transactions.
You’ll receive $750 when starting the injectable medications and receive the rest after completing the procedure.
The intended parents also pay for medical and psychological expenses, legal fees, travel expenses, and egg donor insurance.
This agency offers a lucrative package for donors, especially if donors come back for more donation cycles.
Also, a part of the egg donation payment is given during the process, ensuring you’ll get paid.
Finally, they have trained and licensed health specialists onboard, ensuring your safety and comfort.
West Coast Egg Donation is an inclusive egg donation agency that works with individuals, couples, and families from all walks of life.
They thoroughly screen candidates for egg donation and provide a detailed donor database for the recipients, allowing them to match with the right donor.
The agency’s egg donor compensation program generally pays first-time egg donors $8,000.
This rate increases depending on egg quality and donation frequency.
The intended parents also pay for other expenses, such as fertility doctor fees and clinic monitoring expenses, so you don’t have to pay for anything during the process.
West Coast Egg Donation offers good pay, especially for frequent and high-demand donors.
They also have trained and compassionate health specialists and staff who will inform, guide, and care for you during the process.
A candidate for donation also doesn’t need to worry about paperwork and legalities, as the agency will take care of it.
The Donor Solution is the first and only agency to provide pre-screening services, cycle monitoring, and evaluations in their offices.
As a result, donors only need to drop by the office once or twice during the cycle.
With 17 years of experience, this fertility agency has offices in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Beverly Hills.
The Donor Solution’s compensation for egg donation ranges from $3,500 to $7,000, depending on several factors, such as being a successful egg donor in the past.
It also includes your travel costs going to the actual egg donation clinic.
Though The Donor Solution’s compensation is smaller than other agencies and clinics, it’s still decent pay, and they cover all your expenses during the entire process.
You also have the option to stay anonymous (only your health history, physical traits, and genetic history are shared), learn about the client and vice versa, and meet the recipient.
The ELITE IVF is a global network of fertility partner clinics, working with leading IVF specialists and fertility clinics worldwide.
They boast one of the highest pregnancy success rates in the field and have clinics in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama, Georgia, Spain, and more.
The clinic’s compensation ranges from $5,000 to $8,000 per donation depending on the number of mature eggs, education background, ethnic background, medical history, lifestyle, and more.
ELITE IVF has various locations available globally, making them easily accessible.
Plus, they offer a decent package, including payment for screenings, medications, legal fees, and other expenses.
They are also a Grantee of the European Union Tissue Directive Clearance, proving their legitimacy, egg donation quality, and overall service quality.
UCSF Health is located in Parnassus, Mount Zion, and Mission Bay in San Francisco.
They also partnered with several top-notch health institutions in San Mateo, Redwood City, Berkeley, and more throughout Northern California.
They offer donors around $14,000 after completing the donation process.
The clinic will also shoulder the pre-donation medical screening.
UCSF Health has several clinics and affiliates throughout Northern California, making them accessible in the region and nearby locations.
They also include a team of professionals, from a psychologist to a genetic counselor, to assist you through every step.
The Egg Donor America and Egg Bank America is a leading egg donation agency working with diverse clients, including single, gay, and lesbian would-be parents.
Fertility expert and founder Dr. Pierre Asmar oversees the egg donor program, and their goal is to make egg donation easy and comfortable for everyone.
The agency’s egg donor compensation program typically offers $5,000 to $10,000. Previous donors may receive better financial compensation.
The prospective parent also covers other donor expenses, such as medical insurance, attorney fees, and travel costs.
The Egg Donor America and Egg Bank America provides qualified egg donors with good compensation, especially repeat donors.
Like other agencies, they also pay for the expenses, so the procedure doesn’t cost you anything.
Since this side hustle involves a medical procedure, some might find it tedious or risky. However, consider the following perks of donating your eggs for extra money.
Although donating your eggs can be rewarding, it doesn’t suit everyone. Consider the following challenges and limitations before applying.
Note that this process includes the general steps you can expect when applying as an egg donor.
Most clinics offer an online application process, so you can fill out and submit the application form anywhere and anytime.
However, ensure you meet your chosen clinic’s requirements before applying. The basic egg donor requirements include:
– Between 21 and 31 years old
– Good physical health
– A BMI of 19-29
– A non-smoker
– Have regular periods
– Not using contraceptives like Depo-Provera injections and Mirena IUDs
– Have both ovaries
– Good psychological health
– No history of psychoactive drugs and substance abuse
– No family history of genetic disorders
– Can take injections
After applying, you may need to accomplish a detailed questionnaire to complete your initial screening. The matching process begins once you pass the donor approval process.
Matching with families may take time, but once a family wants you, you’ll undergo a screening appointment.
The screening process involves various tests, including psychological screening, genetic screening for inheritable genetic diseases, and medical tests for infectious diseases. Medical professionals will also run tests to see if you respond well to fertility medications.
After being medically cleared, your agency will conduct a donor attorney consultation. An attorney will assist you when reviewing your donor contract, ensuring you fully understand and consent to the procedure.
The contract also specifies your compensation details and ensures you don’t need to worry about legal issues related to your egg donation.
After agreeing with the terms, the egg donation cycle begins, where you’ll take birth control pills and synchronize with the recipient’s menstrual cycle.
After the cycle’s third week, you undergo a vaginal sonogram and begin daily injections of Lupron hormones for seven to 14 days. Then, you’ll self-inject a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to grow the egg follicles for eight to ten days.
During this period, you’ll be monitored daily and undergo vaginal sonograms and blood tests to monitor follicle growth. Finally, you’ll complete another screening for STI before retrieving the egg.
During this period, you must also refrain from sexual activities to prevent getting pregnant.
Once the follicles mature and after clearing tests, you’ll receive a human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) injection to help release the eggs. Then, the egg retrieval procedure happens around 36 hours after the HCG injection.
The egg retrieval process lasts around 30 minutes, and you’ll be under light IV sedation. After the procedure, you’ll be under observation before going home. Donors usually receive their full payment after the process.
You can go back to your usual routine one day after the retrieval. However, refrain from strenuous activity or exercise. Days after the egg retrieval, your agency may check on your condition.
As with other side hustle ideas, there are factors you need to consider before committing. After all, it involves your body and can impact your well-being.
Donors have three options: join an agency, sign up for a clinic, or make a direct egg donation.
Egg donation agencies usually pay according to the city’s cost of living, including your expenses during the entire process.
Meanwhile, clinics sometimes offer better pay and are more accessible since every state has a fertility clinic.
Lastly, a direct egg donation allows you to transfer your eggs to a close friend or family member, eliminating the matchmaking process. You’ll still undergo regular screenings for this option.
Expect intensive preparation before the procedure, especially if you have to travel for doctor appointments.
Also, consider if you’re comfortable disclosing your medical history and undergoing protocols, such as a genetic screening and genetic counseling.
Plus, remember that the preparation before the procedure takes months. See if you can commit to this.
Since you’ll take medication for egg production, you must abstain from sexual activities before the procedure to avoid getting pregnant.
After the procedure, you can return to normal activities, but donors must refrain from high-impact activities or sports since the ovaries have enlarged. It takes around a month to recover and return to its standard size.
Although egg donations are in high demand, only some potential egg donors are chosen, and only some receive the pay an egg donor compensation program advertises.
Also, this compensation is taxable, so you don’t get the full amount. Consider this and other factors when negotiating your contract.
According to an article, Shelley Smith, the President of the Egg Donor Program, said the highest price they gave to their donors was $100,000.
Although this is uncommon, compensation can increase to this amount, depending on several factors.
Although donating eggs is safe, it still has risks, as with other medical procedures.
These include complications with blood draws and injections, side effects of the fertility medication, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), and complications in retrieving the egg.
Consider these alternative ways to get paid:
The gift of donation is invaluable, but given the amount of preparation for the procedure, donors receive fair compensation.
Hopefully, this comprehensive guide gave you valuable knowledge about donating your eggs and how much you can gain.
Let us know in the comments if this is one of the best side hustles for you, and don’t hesitate to share this with others who need extra cash.