Six Common Reasons Why You Can't Donate Eggs

UK egg donors are in demand. However, not all women who apply to Manchester Donors are suitable to be egg donors. We'd love to say that anyone can donate -but as we ensure our recipients receive the highest quality of donation, we require our donors to undergo a few tests and meet some basic criteria before they begin the process.  

Here are six of the most common reasons why you could be prevented from being an egg donor, some of which you may not be aware of:

• Your age: We only accept egg donors of a maximum of 35 years old. This is because natural fertility and egg quality generally decline once you reach your mid-thirties. We have to ensure that the eggs we offer our patients are of the highest quality to give them a good chance of pregnancy.
• Your ovarian reserve: As part of the egg donation process, we'll check your fertility, including your ovarian reserve – the number of eggs you have left. Low ovarian reserve can affect women of all ages. Having fewer eggs doesn't mean you can't get pregnant, but it may mean you don't respond well to stimulation and produce enough mature eggs for donation.
• Your medical history: The donor eggs we offer mustn't carry any health risks to our recipient patients or the children they have. If you have a medical condition or a family history of a hereditary or genetic condition, you may not be able to donate your eggs. As part of the process, we'll go through your medical history as far back as your grandparents. If you don't know your family medical history and can't find out - because you're adopted, for instance - this would prevent you from becoming an egg donor.
• You're a smoker: Smoking can affect your fertility in many different ways, from your ability to conceive to compromising egg quality. The good news is that this is one of the factors preventing egg donation that you can change. You may be able to donate eggs if you can quit smoking – including e-cigarettes - for at least three months before egg donation, as this gives your fertility health – and egg quality - the chance to recover.
• Your weight: To donate eggs, you need to have a BMI within a range of 19 to 35. This is because being underweight or overweight affects your fertility and eggs and how you respond to fertility medications for egg donation. At Manchester Donors, we focus on safe and responsible egg donation. So we don't accept egg donors who have a too high or too low BMI – even if you've had children and have proven fertility - as there's a risk that egg donation could compromise your own health and well-being. But again, you can actively change BMI through diet and lifestyle.
• You've recently had a tattoo or piercing: It may seem bizarre, but if you've had it in the last six months, it will prevent you from donating eggs because of the risk of passing on infectious diseases. You'll need to wait six months after your tattoo or piercing to apply to be an egg donor.

Donate eggs with Manchester Donors

Explore more about the criteria to be an egg donor and how it works. If you'd like to apply to our award-winning programme, apply online or chat with our dedicated Donation Team on 0161 300 2734.