Compensation for Egg Donors: How Much Can You Make?

Egg donors voluntarily give a few of their eggs for the benefit of others who do not have eggs to build their family. This can be as a result of infertility, medical or genetic conditions, illness or disease, on the part of the female partner. As well, some family structures, such as those of same sex couples, also use donated eggs to build their families.

Egg donors go through a meticulous screening process before they can even begin the medical  process of donating their eggs. The process itself also takes time, about three to five months. During this time egg donors attend many medical appointments and undergo medical treatments. For their time, energy, and any inconveniences they may incur, egg donors are compensated.

We shall delve deeper into the compensation that egg donors receive for their services in this article. We shall address how much one can potentially make, what costs are considered, how one receives their payments, and of course, what goes to the tax man. So let us get into it.

Average Payout for Egg Donors

The payout for egg donors varies from one egg donor program to the next. However, on average an egg donor can expect a payout ranging between $8,000 and $20,000. As well, some agencies have a fixed rate per donation, while others may offer a different amount for subsequent donations. There are several factors that are put into consideration when calculating the total payout. We shall break these down in the following section. 

Factors That Influence Compensation

Time

From start to finish the egg donation process takes three to five months or longer if their eggs will be used fresh. As well the egg donation process works on a schedule that is closely monitored. It could possibly include taking time off work, and additional travel time. For an egg donor this means rearranging their schedule.

Location

The cost of living, medical costs and legal costs vary from one state to another. These costs influence the compensation package that an egg donor would get. The recommendation is to typically donate your eggs at a location that is close enough to where you live.   

Expenses

In the duration of egg donation, egg donors are likely to incur costs such as transport for a start. Additionally, there may be costs for meals and accomodation, including other incidentals. An out of the ordinary expense that would require the egg donor to pay out of pocket would be refunded, for example using an alternative transport method if your car breaks down.

Ethnicity 

While the world struggles to make peace with matters of race and ethnicity, for the most part intended parents, even those using donor eggs desire to have children who resemble them. This is surprisingly a major consideration in the list of criteria for egg donor selection. At the same time, the freedom of choice in this matter has revealed that there are some traits that tend to be more desired. This creates a high demand for eggs from egg donors with these particular traits. For this, egg donors possessing these traits may be compensated more. 

Fresh or Frozen?

Intended parents can choose whether to use the donated eggs fresh, or frozen. If they choose to use them fresh, the person carrying the pregnancy will have to undergo treatments to prepare their uterus. The egg donation cycle and uterus preparation cycle have to be synchronised. As a result, there will be more appointments for the egg donor than if they were to donate their eggs for freezing. Egg donors who donate for fresh fertilization will likely be compensated even more as a result.

Previous Donation

Egg donors who have donated their eggs before may be compensated differently. This compensation is  not standardized. Sometimes, they may get more, other times they may get less. Again parameters such as ethnicity and whether they are donating fresh or frozen come into play. There is a limit on egg donation however, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Egg donors can only donate up to six times in their lifetime. As well, they must wait a certain period of time before they can donate each time. 

Highest-Paying Egg Donation Clinics

Having seen some of the factors that come into play when it comes to egg donor compensation, an egg donor can expect to receive compensation upward of $5,000. Some egg donation clinics offer more, from $10,000 and $12,000, to $20,000 per cycle.  This could mean that if a donor does only one cycle and receives $10,000, if they donate more than once, at the sixth cycle, they  would have received va total of $80,000.

Payment Schedule & Tax Considerations

Payment Schedule

The practice is to pay the egg donor after their eggs have been retrieved. It is prudent for an egg donor to plan their finances before they begin the process. One can arrange for more flexible work hours, or take advantage of their paid time off. As well, one needs to make sure that their insurance can cover any additional medicare costs required. While the intended parents are required to take out an insurance for their egg donor, there is no telling whether or not it will be a  comprehensive cover; having a backup does no harm. Savings could come in handy for any unexpected situations as well.

Tax Considerations

Since the compensation that egg donors receive is considered an income, it is expected that egg donors will pay taxes on their egg donation compensation.  Consult with a professional tax advisor to determine how much you can expect to pay, based on how much you are compensated. Depending on your current income status, egg donor compensation may put you in a new tax bracket, resulting in higher taxes.

Conclusion

Compensation for egg donors is generous and fair, in consideration of the service they give. In order to benefit the most from this payout, it is important for one to plan ahead of time. Planning includes cushioning your expenses with savings, health insurance, and wise spending. As well, excluding the taxes that would be paid from this revenue prior to spending will ensure that you do not owe the IRS. For more information on how you can become an egg donor, contact Dallas Fertility Center. Our team of fertility experts will gladly walk you through what you can expect from egg donation.

FAQs

Are there additional benefits besides payment?

Yes. There is the benefit of having helped many people to build their families. Additionally, egg donation will require screening and fertility assessments which you can get for free as an egg donor. You can also have your own eggs frozen for your own future family building.