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× Home Treatments for Adults Infertility Treatment For More Information Call us at 855-855-6484 Infertility Treatment Menu

• Infertility Treatment
• Egg Donation
• Fertility Preservation
• IVF Success Rates
• LGBTQ+ Fertility Options
• Male Infertility
• Psychological Services
• Duke Fertility Center

• Infertility Treatment
• Egg Donation
• Fertility Preservation
• IVF Success Rates
• LGBTQ+ Fertility Options
• Male Infertility
• Psychological Services
• Duke Fertility Center

Becoming an egg donor allows you to be part of a life-changing experience for people dreaming of a family. The fertility specialists at Duke Fertility Center will help you understand what's involved and support you through the process.

You will be compensated $7,500 for each completed donation.

Complete an Application of Interest

If you are interested in becoming an egg donor, please complete the application form. A nurse will contact you to discuss the next steps after it is submitted.

Apply Here

Why Become an Egg Donor

Many people donate eggs to help someone achieve their dream of having a family. While egg donors receive compensation, financial gain is not the main reason donors choose this path. Learning what motivates you to become an egg donor is part of the initial screening process. Our fertility specialists and psychologists discuss why you’re exploring egg donation so you and our team can better understand what’s important to you.

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Becoming an Egg Donor

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility and Informational Survey

The application process starts by confirming basic eligibility to become an egg donor.

To be eligible:

• First-time donors must be between 21 and 30 years old. If you’ve previously had a successful donation, you may be eligible to donate up to age 35.
• Body mass index (BMI) must be below 30.
• No tobacco or drug use.

After meeting the eligibility requirements, you will complete an in-depth survey, providing additional medical information and insight to allow our team to get to know you better. For example, there might be questions about your strengths and hobbies. This allows the Duke Fertility Center to create a fuller profile of who you are.

Step 2: In-Depth Screening

After we receive your application, you may be contacted to schedule additional appointments with our team.

• In-person physical exam, including a pelvic exam. You will be asked to give blood and urine, which will be used to screen for genetic disorders, infectious diseases, and substance use.
• Psychological screening, which includes an interview and a written questionnaire.

These appointments help us determine if you’re a good match for egg donation. If you are, you’ll be entered into our donor registry.

Duke Fertility Center

Visit our Morrisville location, which offers easy access from Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and other parts of the Triangle.

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What to Know About Egg Donation

Egg donation is a way to help someone achieve their dreams of becoming a parent. Donating eggs is a safe process.

According to peer-reviewed medical research by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, there is NO link between egg donation and:

• Infertility
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Any other diseases

Hormone Injections

Hormone injections are used to stimulate egg production. These injections may cause soreness and/or bruising at the injection site.

Other side effects may include:

• Fatigue
• Cramping
• Mood swings
• Temporary water weight gain
• Headaches

Egg Retrieval

Egg retrieval is a minimally invasive procedure performed under anesthesia. It carries standard surgical risks, including bleeding, infection, and damage to pelvic organs, though the risks are very minimal.

After Egg Retrieval

On rare occasions, you may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is the result of fluid shifts that take place within the body, which can lead to bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, and/or vomiting. Most commonly, these symptoms resolve on their own, but severe cases may require a hospital visit for IV fluids, pain medications, or a procedure to drain fluid from the pelvis.

Getting Pregnant After Egg Donation

Donating does not impact your production of eggs in the future or prevent you from having your own children.

Additional Insurance Coverage

As an added layer of security, Duke Fertility provides donors with medical insurance that covers the cost of treatment for any complications related to egg donation.

This coverage is provided at no cost to you and cannot be used for appointments or treatments other than those related to egg donation. It lasts throughout the donation process and three months after you donate.

It is in addition to any insurance you may already have. You should not discontinue your current health insurance.

Duke Fertility Center staff will file all necessary paperwork on your behalf and ensure you’re covered. Our team will provide you with a special insurance card for this additional medical coverage during and after the donation process.

Timeline

There is no standard timeline for how long you may wait between completing all your screenings and when a match is made with a potential recipient.

Matches are based on the preference of the recipient. The donation process doesn’t begin until there’s a match.

Anonymity

With the rise of publicly available genetic testing, completely anonymous donation is not possible. However, Duke Fertility offers various donor/recipient contact methods.

Your options are:

• Identified before, at the time of the donation
• Identified once the donor-conceived child has reached age 18
• Not identified

You'll learn more about this during your appointment with our psychology team.

Donor Sibling Registry

You may choose to be part of the Donor Sibling Registry, a non-profit organization that provides donors and recipients a way to communicate anonymously. Joining is optional.

Participating in this registry can be helpful if the egg recipient has questions about your health history after the donation.

Duke Fertility reaches out to recipients and donors annually to request updates in order to provide the most up-to-date health information after the match.

Call for an Appointment 855-855-6484

The Egg Donation Process

Once you’re matched with a recipient, we will work with you and your recipient to create a timeline for the donation cycle.

Step 1: Medications

You will be prescribed birth control pills to align your cycle with that of your recipient. It’s typical to take this medication for up to three weeks.

Once your cycle is in sync with the egg recipient’s, you will start the hormone injections to stimulate egg production. These injections are typically administered for eight to 12 days.

During this time, you’ll also visit our clinic for routine checkups so we can monitor your response to the medications. These visits may include a transvaginal ultrasound and blood work to check your hormone levels.

Step 2: Egg Retrieval Procedure

Once the hormone injections are complete, you return to Duke Fertility Center for an egg retrieval procedure, in which a small needle is inserted through the vagina to retrieve eggs from the ovaries.

You will receive anesthesia to help you sleep during the 20 - to 30-minute, minimally invasive procedure.

Step 3: Recovery

You will be monitored at Duke Fertility Center for about an hour after the egg retrieval.

You must have a support person present to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after the procedure. You'll continue to rest at home while the sedation medication wears off.

Most donors resume normal activities the following day. You may feel slight bloating or cramps that can be alleviated with pain medication like ibuprofen.

You may be restricted from sexual intercourse or intense exercise during the stimulation cycle and for up to one week after the retrieval.

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Compensation

As an egg donor, you will be compensated $7,500 at the egg retrieval appointment.

This payment is made by check and is taxed by the IRS. You will receive a W-2 form to file with your taxes the year you receive the payment.

Our financial coordinator will walk you through these steps. If the donation is canceled for medical reasons or the recipient cancels the procedure, you’ll receive a portion of the $7,500. The exact amount will be outlined in consent forms once you are matched.

Donating Eggs More Than Once

After a successful first donation, you may be eligible to donate additional eggs up to five more times prior to age 35.

A successful donation occurs when you have a safe response to the medications, eggs are retrieved, and healthy embryos are created or a pregnancy is achieved.

There is no required waiting period between donations. Donation is reliant on matching with a recipient, which has no set time frame.

To remain an active donor, you’ll need to update your medical records and psychological evaluation every year.

This page was medically reviewed on 06/05/2025 by Shelby A. Neal, MD | Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist Back to Top Support Duke Health research or honor a loved one with a tribute gift. Giving to Duke Health