According to the World Health Organization, approximately 50 million couples worldwide had problems with having children in 2010. For many of these couples, this happens because a woman is unable to use her own eggs to conceive a baby.

Many of us are willing to donate eggs and help couples fulfil their dream of becoming parents. It can be both a gesture of solidarity and something more personal. At IVI Donor, we always make sure to give you all the information you need before you decide to commit to the process.

Although there are many women who want to help by donating eggs, it may turn out not to be possible for a number of reasons.

If the process of egg donation has drawn your attention, it’s important to have an understanding of the reasons why you might not be able to. We hope the information below is helpful, but if you are still unsure, the best thing to do is get in touch with us. Our team would be happy to help.

If you are over 35 years old

If you’re over 35 years old, you have many more years to become a mum. Your body is still very young! However, for egg donation purposes, it is fundamental not to cross the 35-year old threshold. This is because between the ages of 18 and 35, you are more fertile and your eggs are more prone to produce a successful pregnancy. This is because the eggs are of a better quality when you are younger, which is something that slowly decreases with age.

If you have a lower ovarian reserve

Donating eggs does not affect your ability to get pregnant later in life, or make you any less fertile. When you visit us for your first consultation, we will a simple Anti-Müllerian hormone blood test. This hormone is produced by cells into the ovarian follicles and the level detected in your blood can tell us your current level of fertility. If the level seems too low, we will advise against donating eggs and we will provide fertility advice.

If you have a chronic or genetic illness

If you have a genetic or serious chronic illness, it is not advised that you become an egg donor. You may be feeling perfectly fine and managing your condition in a way that works for you, but you must take into consideration that donating eggs is a medical treatment which involves and affects others. To be considered suitable for egg donation, you must be as healthy as possible, both physically and emotionally. If you are unsure whether you have a chronic or genetic illness, we can run a test for you to establish whether you can be become a donor based on these factors.

If you have a body mass index (BMI) over 30

It is well established that having a high body mass index (BMI) is not good for your health. One of the reasons why you cannot donate eggs if your BMI is over 30 is the increased risk for complications during the treatment. At IVI Donor, we care about your health and want to keep you safe. This means we do not want you to be exposed to any risks during the process.

If you have a higher BMI, it could also mean that you do not respond properly to the hormonal treatment you receive as part of the egg donation process, which can cause complications or even for the cycle to be cancelled altogether. That is why it is advisable that your BMI is under 30 for you to become an egg donor.

If you have poor mental or psychological health

We’ve discussed the importance of being physically healthy in order to donate eggs, but we cannot emphasise enough the importance of mental health. Like any medical procedure, it is vital you understand the process.

If you struggle with a mental, depressive or psychological disorder, we do not recommend donating eggs. 

If you are unsure about what is involved in becoming an egg donor or have questions about your eligibility, we are here to help. All you need to do is contact us.