When I started working at IntegraMed, I became aware of egg donation and was interested in donating as soon as I heard how much money I could make. Granted, donor compensation varies by region, depending on demand, but to a college student, even the lowest compensation sounded like a fortune!

After a few minutes of reflection, I realized that maybe being a donor was about a lot more than the financial compensation and that I was interested for all the wrong reasons. So, I did a little research on egg donation and found out that it definitely wasn’t about the money, and it wasn’t as simple and easy as I thought.

Here’s what I learned…

Because an egg donor must be producing ample healthy eggs, there are certain aspects that make up an ideal egg donor. Age is considered to be one of the most important factors in egg donation, with an ideal egg donor falling somewhere between the ages of 21-35. As a healthy, 22-year-old female, I am considered a prime candidate for egg donation.

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Originally published: Friday Jan. 29th

Hello! I’m Shelly Galvin and this is my first post on Fertility Focus… so I’m a little nervous as well as excited. I’m what you could call a part-timer at here at IntegraMed. I’m not a medical professional by any means! What I am, however, is the lady who’s helping plan and create our new website, AttainFertility.com, which will debut in a couple of months. (More on that as we approach The Big Reveal.)

Joining the Fertility Focus family is very important to me since talking with you helps us know what’s important to you and allows us to write articles that we hope you’ll find useful. I want to thank you for letting us into your lives as you try to conceive. I’m deeply honored to be part of your conversations.

Something I hope to do here is also give back to you by providing access to information on topics that you’ve expressed interest in. So let’s jump to it…

Earlier this week, Lynne, a member of our community, asked about egg donors and their legal rights. It’s an excellent question and one to understand as you consider using donor eggs.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, most egg donors are required to be at least 21 years old. You should check with your local clinic for the specific requirements.

Ultimately, it’s up to you regarding what kind of relationship you want to have with your egg donor, if any. The majority of the time the donor remains anonymous during the process and has no contact with you or your child. Some programs allow the donor’s identity to be revealed once the child is of legal age. And some families choose to have an open and ongoing relationship with the donor.

Laws regarding egg donation vary by state. It’s best to contact a lawyer to understand the regulations in your state before beginning your egg donor search or choosing a program.

And now I’m opening it up to the floor… do you have words of wisdom for others who are considering using an egg donor?

I just love this time of year when all the “best of” lists come out. One in particular caught my attention: Conceiveonline.com’s “Top 50 Fertility- and Adoption-Friendly Companies in the U.S.: The List.”
Interestingly, there are a number of financial institutions on the list.
The article brings two important thoughts to mind:
1. If you’re in the job market, think about targeting fertility- and adoption-friendly companies.
2. This is the time of year when most employers have an open enrollment period where you can make health insurance selections. (Companies oftentimes offer two or more plans to choose from.) Remember to keep your family-planning needs in mind when comparing plans!
Fertility Journey provides helpful advice and questions you can ask your insurance company when making your healthcare plan elections.