Is Egg Donation Size Discriminatory? Why Your BMI Matters

Egg donation has higher and lowers BMI limits – but there's a lot of misunderstanding about why this is the case. To donate eggs, you must have a BMI range of 18 to 35. 

It's about the health of you and your eggs

This criterion doesn't have anything to do with being discriminatory against people who are underweight or overweight. It's also not related to how 'desirable' an egg donor's physical characteristics are to potential patients or how to fit you are, regardless of your BMI. BMI matters solely because of your own health as an egg donor and the impact a higher or lower BMI has on your fertility and egg quality.

Women with a higher or lower BMI outside what is considered a 'normal' range may not respond well to the ovarian stimulation needed to be an egg donor. You may also have an increased risk of complications such as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.

As a responsible and donor-focused egg donation scheme, we do not accept any woman as an egg donor if there's a risk her own health would be compromised.

I've already had children of my own. Why can't I donate? 

Women who fall outside the recommended BMI range cannot donate their eggs, even if they have their own children. We ask potential donors to remember that donor eggs are fertilised outside the body in a laboratory. They may also be frozen and thawed before being used for treatment. It is of the utmost importance that they are as healthy as possible. This is why we still require our donors to be within the BMI range and lead a healthy lifestyle, regardless of their conception history. 

Why are their egg donor criteria like BMI? 

Donated eggs must be of the best quality, maintain viability, and give patients the highest chance of having a baby. It's why you're donating eggs, after all, and as the egg donor, you'd want to be assured that your eggs have a good chance of resulting in pregnancy.

So whilst egg donation excludes certain women, it's for a good reason. It's all about protecting the health and well-being of egg donors; whilst giving people who need donor eggs the best chance of a family.

If you want to join an award-winning egg donor programme, apply to Manchester Donors. Explore more about the criteria to be an egg donor with us and why we're the trusted choice for women who want to donate eggs in the North West.

As an altruistic egg donor, you receive £750 compensation per cycle with the reassurance of a fully supported, personalised egg donation journey from our caring team. Chat with our dedicated Donation Team for more information at 0161 300 2734.