Donor egg compensation is a way for the agency to thank a donor for their essential contribution and pay them for incurring expenses. By providing your genetic material, you are making it possible for an individual to achieve their wish of becoming a parent.
The compensation amount and payment schedule will vary slightly across agencies. The next section covers current trends in this industry:
Amount
The typical compensation amount begins at around $4,000 and can go as high as $10,000. The actual figure depends on the individual donor and will depend on numerous variables such as:
- Age
- Ethnic Background
- Travel Requirements
- Mental/Physical Health
- Medical History
- Location
- Number of Donation Cycles
Only in rare circumstances does the compensation amount exceed $10,000. Unfortunately, some women assume that they can earn $100,000 and more. In addition, they feel the degree level will influence their pay, i.e., the higher the degree, the larger the payment amount. Both of these assumptions are myths. All agencies follow a specific method to determine the exact payment amount. A woman’s education level will NOT influence her compensation figure.
Compensation Does Vary Across States
As stated above, your geographic location will influence your compensation amount. Generally, the number of egg donation agencies in a particular area will influence your payment figure. The more agencies in a particular area, the more competition and the higher the compensation amount. This is indicative of coastal areas such as the Northeast and California. Starting compensation rates for donor egg compensation can begin at $6,000 to $7,000. In Midwestern states, the base rate is $3,000.
Expenses Paid By Intended Parents to the Agency
A majority of all expenses are paid to the agency by the Intended Parents. Some examples of expenses include:
- Initial Deposit
- Psychological Evaluation
- Agency Fee (donor recruitment, travel, management, etc.)
- Legal Fees
- Insurance
- Donor Compensation
Expenses Paid by Intended Parents to You
Some expenses may be paid to you directly or through a non-agency professional who might be assisting you, i.e., an attorney or doctor. Typical examples of such expenses include:
- Additional Medical Costs such as medications, genetic testing, health monitoring, genetic counseling, etc.
- Fee reimbursement to get an independent attorney to review your donor agreement.
- Additional agreed-upon support
Payment Schedule
The payment schedule varies according to the agency, but most provide compensation after you have completed the egg retrieval procedure. Any other financial compensation that you are supposed to receive will be based on an agreement drawn up by you and the Intended Parents.
Even though the agency works with you to ensure you are compensated fairly, we recommend your motivation for helping another person be the primary reason for wanting to provide the gift of life.
If you have questions regarding donor egg compensation or would like to become an egg donor, please get in touch with Rite Options.
Rite Options 