A major part of the IVF treatment cost is the price of an egg donation compensation. The egg donor process cost is affected not only by the agency, fertility center, or attorney costs but also the fact some egg donors are paid more. Why is this? The fact is the average compensation for an egg donor
is $4,000 to $10,000, and reports of six-figure compensations are an urban myth.
There’s nothing shady going on here. A reputable agency will use various criteria to screen potential donors. Some of these involve the donor’s personal traits, background, and health. For example, a donor from an ethnic background that’s harder to find will be paid more. This increases the egg donor price for couples looking to work with a donor with a Chinese, Korean, Jewish, Ethiopian, or East Indian ethnic background.
Other personal traits that can increase payments to a donor include:
- Age: Younger donors are more in demand; The Donor Solution accepts egg donors between the ages of 21 and 28.
- Physical/psychological health: An absence of medical conditions makes the donor more desirable; we require donors to have two functioning ovaries and not be on prescription psychoactive drugs or have a history of drug abuse or treatment for psychiatric disorders.
- Family medical history: An absence of genetic disorders makes a woman a more viable donor, and one that potential recipients would pay more for.
Outside factors that can increase the payment to a donor:
- Geographic location: The more agencies in a given area, the more competitive the compensations are, which is particularly true in California and the northeastern United States. Still, it’s rare to see payments over $10,000. Starting compensations for donors in California and the Northeast range from $6,000 to $7,000, compared to around $3,000 for areas in the South and Midwest. Comparatively, Egg Freezing and Egg Banking programs start their compensation at $3,000 to $5,000 per donation.
- Number of cycles: After the application and screening, an interview, and a physical and psychological exam, a female egg donor takes birth control pills for about three weeks and then starts stimulation medication. Self-administered hormone injections then begin and last for about 10 to 14 days before egg retrieval. Additional cycles by an egg donor increases the compensation as donors are compensated for their experience in the process usually with an extra $500 to $1000 per cycle.
- Travel: Donors who must travel to another location for the cycle are compensated. Those traveling out of state, or long distances across their home state, may receive anywhere from $500 to $1,000.
- Education: Egg donors without a college degree or not enrolled in a degree-seeking educational program receive a slightly lower compensation. That’s because they’re usually harder to match. Compensation usually ranges between $4,500 and $5,000, but the compensation matches other donors after they successfully complete a donation cycle.
For more information on participating in egg donation with The Donor Solution, the egg donation process and risks, and earning egg donation money, visit our website, submit an online contact form, or call (713) 827-0301.
Source
1. https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20081226/egg-donation-most-donors-satisfied
Tags: Donor agency, Paying egg donors more