5 Myths about Egg Donation

Janene Oleaga, Esq.
13 hours ago
3 min read

Busting the Top 5 Myths About Egg Donation

For many hopeful parents, the path to parenthood includes the assistance of an egg donor. Egg donation (also called oocyte donation) is a process during which a donor provides eggs to another couple or individual for the purpose of conceiving a child or multiple children. The donor neither retains property rights to the eggs donated, nor parental rights to any child born from the donated eggs.

Although an increasing number of individuals turn to egg donation as a means of growing their family, myths and misunderstandings still surround the process. Let’s set the record straight.

Myth #1: You’ll run out of eggs when you're older

The truth: Women are born with 1–2 million eggs, but only 400–500 will mature over a lifetime. Egg count naturally declines with age, especially after 35. While a 21-year-old may have 75–90% viable eggs, that number drops to just 5–10% by age 40.

Quality also declines over time. As eggs age, they're more prone to chromosomal issues due to changes during cell division (meiosis). Still, many women conceive in their late 30s and beyond—egg quality just plays a larger role.

Bottom line: Fewer eggs doesn’t mean no fertility—just that the odds shift. Testing can help assess egg health.

Myth #2: Anyone can donate their eggs

The truth: Not everyone qualifies. Clinics follow strict guidelines to protect donors and recipients. Common requirements include:

Age: 21–33
Lifestyle: No smoking, no recreational drugs
BMI: 19–29.9
No recent tattoos/piercings (within 12 months)
Health history knowledge (yours and your family’s)
Fluent English (for clear communication)
U.S. resident eligible to work

Bottom line: Egg donation isn’t for everyone—it’s a serious medical process with screening for physical and emotional readiness.

Myth #3: Donating eggs causes early menopause

The truth: Nope. Donation doesn’t deplete your egg reserve or speed up menopause. The body naturally selects one egg per cycle, but each month it "recruits" many. Hormone treatments simply mature more of those recruited eggs—ones that would otherwise be reabsorbed.

Bottom line: Donors return to their regular cycles post-donation with no long-term impact on fertility.

Myth #4: Egg donors do it just for the money

The truth: While compensation is part of the process, it’s not the only motivator. Research shows women donate eggs for many reasons:

Helping others become parents
Freezing their own eggs at the same time
Supporting the infertility community
Giving their genetics a future if they don’t plan to have kids
Gaining insight into their health through clinic screenings

Bottom line: It’s often a deeply personal and altruistic choice—not just a paycheck.

Myth #5: Egg donation is painful

The truth: It’s more discomfort than pain. Donors self-inject hormones for ~10 days using a small needle. The egg retrieval itself is quick (20–30 minutes), done under sedation with anesthesia, and painless. Afterward, mild cramping (like a period) is common and usually fades within a couple of days.

Bottom line: Most donors recover quickly and feel back to normal in no time.

Egg Donation: A Powerful Gift

Donating eggs can be life-changing—not just for the recipient, but for the donor, too. Whether helping a loved one, or supporting a couple navigating infertility, it’s a decision rooted in compassion and courage.