There is no single US egg donor rulebook. Every program sets its own gates, and the published numbers really do differ. The lowest published entry age we found is 19, and the highest first-time ceiling is 34. Published BMI caps run from 26 to under 30. Some programs accept donors from anywhere in the country and fly them in, while others require you to live within an hour of a clinic. For this guide we read the requirement pages of egg banks, agencies and clinic-run programs and quoted their own sentences. Where a program doesn't publish a number, we say so instead of filling the gap.
Age: the ranges programs publish
Age is the requirement programs publish most consistently, but they don't agree on it. Some start at 19, most start at 21, and the upper limits run from 28 to 34. For reference, ASRM's 2024 Gamete and Embryo Donation Guidance says oocyte donors should be "preferably between the ages of 21 and 34 years old," which is exactly the window Shady Grove publishes. Several programs set a lower ceiling for first-time donors and allow proven or repeat donors to stay longer. Colorado is a special case at Fairfax EggBank, which states "21–30 in Colorado." The table below gives each program's own wording.
| Program | Type | Published age line |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax EggBank | Egg bank | "Between 19 and 30 years old*" (blog: "or 21–30 in Colorado") |
| Donor Egg Bank USA | Egg bank | "Between the ages of 21-28 (Donors whose eggs have successfully resulted in a child may donate until age 33)." |
| MyEggBank | Egg bank | "Between 21 to 31 years old (donation cycles must be completed before you turn 32)" |
| Egg Donor America | Agency/bank | "Between the ages of 21 and 31" |
| ConceiveAbilities | Agency | "Between 21-28 years of age" |
| Circle Surrogacy | Agency | "Be 21 to 29 (up to 31 for experienced donors)" |
| Tiny Treasures | Agency | "Egg Donors must be between the ages of 21 and 32 and in good health." |
| Ovation Donor Services | Clinic network | "Women aged between 21 and 29 or up to 33 as a repeat donor" |
| Shady Grove Fertility | Clinic | "Women between the ages of 21 to 34 with good overall health" |
| CCRM (national page) | Clinic | "Age: Between 21 to 33 years old" |
| CCRM Minneapolis | Clinic | "Be 19 to 33 years old" |
| CCRM Seattle | Clinic | "Age 18-30 years" |
| Pacific Fertility Center | Clinic agency | "Women between the ages of 21 and 31 (can donate up to age 34)" |
| Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine | Clinic | "Age: 21-32 years old" |
| Spring Fertility | Clinic | "Motivated young adults aged 21 to 30" |
| Penn Medicine | Clinic | "Female between the ages of 21 and 30" |
| Invia Fertility | Clinic | "You must be between 21 and 29 years of age." |
BMI: caps from 26 to under 30, and some programs give no number
BMI is where published rules vary the most. Programs that explain their limits point to donor safety on the medications, not appearance. MyEggBank says "These BMI restrictions are in place to protect the safety of our donors." MyEggBank says that "donors who are outside of this BMI range have a higher risk for medical complications." Some programs set a floor as well as a ceiling. Others publish only a cap, and some publish no number at all.
| Program | Published BMI line |
|---|---|
| MyEggBank | "At least 5 feet 0 inches tall with a BMI of 18 to 26" |
| ConceiveAbilities | "BMI under 28" |
| Penn Medicine | "Body mass index (BMI) under 28" |
| Circle Surrogacy | "Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no more than 29" (another Circle post says "lower than 28") |
| Fairfax EggBank | "BMI in the range of 18-29" (same page's FAQ: "Having a BMI over 26 or under 18") |
| Tiny Treasures | "Egg Donors' Body Mass Index must be between 18 and 29" |
| Egg Donor America | "Have a BMI 19-29" |
| Shady Grove Fertility | "Body mass index (BMI) between 18 to 29.9" |
| CCRM | "Body mass index (BMI): Between 19 to 29.9" |
| Invia Fertility | "Your BMI (body mass index) must be below 30." |
| Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine | "BMI: Under 30" |
| Pacific Fertility Center | "Body mass index (BMI) under 30" |
| Ovation Donor Services | No number published: "Donors must be in the normal weight range for their height." |
| Donor Egg Bank USA | Unpublished on the donor pages checked |
| Spring Fertility | Unpublished on the donor criteria checked |
Nicotine, drugs, tattoos and birth control
Every program we checked that published lifestyle rules requires donors to be non-smokers, but they phrase it differently and some go further. Fairfax EggBank says "No smoking and vaping before and throughout the egg donation program." Tiny Treasures says donors "must have abstained from smoking for at least six months prior to submitting an Egg Donor application" and notes that "Urine toxicology tests may be completed." Invia Fertility warns "Your nicotine levels will be tested" and "You will be drug tested." MyEggBank lists "No nicotine or drug use," and Donor Egg Bank USA lists "Drug and tobacco free."
Recent tattoos and piercings come up at several programs. CCRM, Tiny Treasures and Spring Fertility all publish a lookback window, but the windows differ. Tiny Treasures excludes "any tattoos, body piercing or blood transfusions within the past 12 months," and Spring lists "No tattoos or piercings in the last year." Birth control rules are about specific methods, not contraception in general. Egg Donor America excludes donors "using Depo-Provera injections, Mirena IUD's or implants." ConceiveAbilities says "Mirena IUD and Norplant implants are not compatible with egg donation and will need to be removed." Fairfax EggBank, by contrast, says "Yes, you can still be an egg donor if you have an IUD." These rules point in different directions, so check the program you are applying to.
Cycles, ovaries and medical history
Programs that address reproductive health usually ask for regular cycles and two ovaries. Egg Donor America lists "Have regular, monthly menstrual periods" and "Have both ovaries." ConceiveAbilities requires donors to "Have regular monthly periods" with "No reproductive disorders or abnormalities." Fairfax EggBank's eligibility checklist asks "Do you have regular periods, both ovaries, and normal reproductive function?" and its FAQ says the program "requires two functioning ovaries." Penn Medicine lists "Regular menstrual cycles." Several programs, including Donor Egg Bank USA and Fairfax EggBank, also require a three-generation family medical history. Invia Fertility states the adoption rule outright: "If you are adopted, you must have full medical records on both of your biological parents. If you do not, please do not apply."
You don't need to have had a child. Donor Egg Bank USA says "having children is not a requirement to become a donor," and Fairfax EggBank says "having a history of pregnancy is not a requirement to be an egg donor." Shady Grove says "Whether you have had no children or you have had multiple children, you are welcome to pursue this endeavor."
Genetic and psychological screening
Meeting the published basics only gets you to screening. Pacific Fertility Center describes its screening as "a vaginal ultrasound & bloodwork to evaluate ovarian reserve (or "egg count"), genetic testing, infectious disease testing, physical examination and psychological evaluation and testing." Its recipient pages add a "Genetic review of three generations of family genetic health history, performed by a licensed certified genetic counselor." The Pacific Fertility Egg Bank page says new applicants since 2/08/2015 receive the "Horizon™ carrier screen 274 condition panel." Fairfax EggBank lists being a "Carrier of certain genetic conditions" among its possible disqualifiers. On the psychological side, Invia Fertility names its test: "the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test." Shady Grove lists a profile only after "you receive both medical and psychological clearance." Spring Fertility says donors "undergo a medical and psychological screening process." Both are in line with ASRM guidance, which says "Psychological evaluation and counseling by a qualified mental health professional is strongly recommended for all donors."
Location, travel, education and work status
Programs fall into two groups on location. Local-only programs require you to live near their clinic. Travel programs fly donors to the recipient's clinic. Education and work status appear only where a program states them, and we have not assumed a rule for programs that are silent.
| Program | Location or travel line | Work status or citizenship line (only if stated) |
|---|---|---|
| Shady Grove Fertility | "Live or work within 1 hour of one of our full service locations in CO, DC, FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA." | Not stated on the eligibility list |
| Penn Medicine | "Living or working within 90 minutes of center city Philadelphia" | Not stated |
| CCRM Minneapolis | "Live within 2 hours of a CCRM Minneapolis located Edina, MN" | National page: "U.S. residency and eligibility to work in the country" |
| Fairfax EggBank | Disqualified if "Not living within 2 hours of one of our partnering satellite clinics or not willing to be part of our travel egg donor program" | " Be a U.S. Citizen, or have a valid work visa or green card" |
| Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine | "all visits, blood draws, and procedures conveniently taking place locally at our Idaho Center" | Not stated on the pages checked |
| Tiny Treasures | "Donors must be able to travel anywhere within United States to complete an egg donation" (exceptions for CA, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI) | Not stated |
| Circle Surrogacy | "prepared to travel twice to the intended parents' fertility clinic" | " Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen" |
| Donor Egg Bank USA | Accepts applicants near partner clinic cities | " Legally allowed to work in the U.S."; "Donor Egg Bank USA does not provide visa sponsorship." |
| ConceiveAbilities | Not stated on the requirements list | "United States citizen or resident" |
Education requirements vary just as much. Shady Grove lists "Graduated from high school." Tiny Treasures says donors "must have obtained a High school diploma or GED," and Fairfax EggBank asks for "at least a high school diploma or GED." MyEggBank lists "Educated beyond high school (strongly preferred)," and Circle Surrogacy says "donors must have some formal education beyond high school."
Pay is published separately and is not an eligibility rule
Some programs publish compensation next to their requirements. These are the programs' own published figures, not guarantees. Shady Grove says "The total compensation for a completed cycle is traditionally $7,000 for first-time donors." Ovation lists "Receive $5,000-$7,000 for your time, after egg retrieval." Egg Donor America states "Qualified egg donors receive $5,000 for each completed donation cycle." CCRM's page is headed "Earn up to $9,500 as an egg donor." The Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine does not publish a pay amount on its donor pages. In a staff reply to DonorIndex dated 2026-09-30, ICRM gave $5,000 for a first cycle and $8,000 for a repeat cycle. That is a staff reply, not a published page amount. Shady Grove notes that "Donors will receive a 1099 form for tax reporting purposes," so talk to a tax professional.
- 1
Check the age and BMI lines first
These two filters reject the most applicants, and they vary the most between programs. Compare your numbers against each program's own wording.
- 2
Confirm location rules
Find out whether the program is local-only (for example within 1 hour or 90 minutes of a clinic) or runs a travel program.
- 3
Gather three generations of family history
Several programs require it. Adopted applicants may be ineligible without it.
- 4
Review nicotine, tattoo and birth control windows
Lookback periods differ, from six months for smoking at Tiny Treasures to 3 or 12 months for tattoos depending on the CCRM page.
- 5
Ask about anything unpublished in writing
If a number isn't on the page, don't assume a typical value. Ask the program.
What is the youngest age to donate eggs in the US?
It depends on the program. Fairfax EggBank publishes "Between 19 and 30 years old," and CCRM Seattle lists "Age 18-30 years." Most programs we checked start at 21, including Donor Egg Bank USA, Shady Grove, and the Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Is there a universal BMI limit for egg donors?
No. Published limits range from MyEggBank's 18 to 26 up to under 30 at Pacific Fertility Center and ICRM. Some programs, such as Donor Egg Bank USA and Spring Fertility, publish no number on the pages we checked.
Do I need to be a US citizen?
Only some programs say so, and their wording differs. Fairfax EggBank accepts "a valid work visa or green card." Donor Egg Bank USA requires being "Legally allowed to work in the U.S." Circle Surrogacy says "Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen." Many clinic pages say nothing, so ask.
Can I donate with an IUD?
Programs disagree. Fairfax EggBank says yes. Egg Donor America excludes Mirena IUDs, and ConceiveAbilities says Mirena IUDs "will need to be removed." ICRM says "In most cases" an IUD is fine.
Do I need to have had children?
No, at the programs that address this. Donor Egg Bank USA, Fairfax EggBank, and Shady Grove all say it isn't required.
Is this guide medical or legal advice?
No. It summarizes what programs publish. For medical, tax, or legal questions, talk to a qualified professional.
Sources · checked Oct 2026
- Fairfax EggBank – Egg Donor Requirements — Fairfax EggBank age, BMI, nicotine, education, work eligibility"Between 19 and 30 years old* • BMI in the range of 18-29 • No smoking and vaping before and throughout the egg donation program • Have at least a high school diploma or GED • Eligible to work in the U.S." FAQ on same page: "Being younger than 19 or older than 33 Having a BMI over 26 or under 18." Page checked October 2026.
- Fairfax EggBank – Egg Donor Requirements — Fairfax EggBank location/travel disqualifier"Not living within 2 hours of one of our partnering satellite clinics or not willing to be part of our travel egg donor program." Page checked October 2026.
- Fairfax EggBank – Home — Fairfax EggBank citizenship/work visa"Be a U.S. Citizen, or have a valid work visa or green card." Page checked October 2026.
- Fairfax EggBank – How Old Do You Have to Be to Donate Eggs? — Fairfax EggBank Colorado age"If you're between 19 and 30 years old (or 21–30 in Colorado)…" Page checked October 2026.
- Fairfax EggBank – DMA Egg Donor Eligibility — Fairfax EggBank cycles and ovaries"Do you have regular periods, both ovaries, and normal reproductive function?" Page checked October 2026.
- Fairfax EggBank – Egg Donor FAQs — Fairfax EggBank IUD, prior pregnancy, two ovaries"Yes, you can still be an egg donor if you have an IUD." "Unlike surrogate requirements, having a history of pregnancy is not a requirement to be an egg donor." "Our egg donor program requires two functioning ovaries." Page checked October 2026.
- Donor Egg Bank USA – FAQs — Donor Egg Bank USA age, tobacco, work status, children"Between the ages of 21-28 (Donors whose eggs have successfully resulted in a child may donate until age 33)." "Drug and tobacco free." "Legally allowed to work in the U.S." "Note: Donor Egg Bank USA does not provide visa sponsorship." "having children is not a requirement to become a donor." Page checked October 2026.
- MyEggBank – Egg Donor FAQs — MyEggBank age, height, BMI, nicotine, education, BMI rationale"Between 21 to 31 years old (donation cycles must be completed before you turn 32)" "At least 5 feet 0 inches tall with a BMI of 18 to 26" "No nicotine or drug use" "Educated beyond high school (strongly preferred)." "These BMI restrictions are in place to protect the safety of our donors." Page checked October 2026.
- Egg Donor America – Become an Egg Donor — Egg Donor America requirements and pay"Between the ages of 21 and 31" "Have a BMI 19-29" "Non-Smoker" "Have regular, monthly menstrual periods" "Not using Depo-Provera injections, Mirena IUD's or implants as a form of birth control" "Have both ovaries." "Qualified egg donors receive $5,000 for each completed donation cycle." Page checked October 2026.
- ConceiveAbilities – Egg Donor Requirements — ConceiveAbilities citizenship, age, BMI, cycles"United States citizen or resident" "Between 21-28 years of age" "BMI under 28" "Have regular monthly periods" "No reproductive disorders or abnormalities." Page checked October 2026.
- ConceiveAbilities – Egg Donor Pay — ConceiveAbilities IUD/implant rule"Mirena IUD and Norplant implants are not compatible with egg donation and will need to be removed." Page checked October 2026.
- Circle Surrogacy – What Are Egg Donation Requirements? — Circle Surrogacy age, BMI, citizenship, travel"Be 21 to 29 (up to 31 for experienced donors)" "Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of no more than 29" "Be a U.S. or Canadian citizen." "prepared to travel twice to the intended parents' fertility clinic." Page checked October 2026.
- Circle Surrogacy – 7 Top Questions About Becoming an Egg Donor — Circle Surrogacy alternate BMI line"Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) lower than 28." Page checked October 2026.
- Circle Surrogacy – 5 Common Questions About Egg Donation — Circle Surrogacy education"donors must have some formal education beyond high school." Page checked October 2026.
- Tiny Treasures – Egg Donor Requirements — Tiny Treasures age, education, smoking, travel, BMI, tattoos"Egg Donors must be between the ages of 21 and 32 and in good health." "Egg Donors must have obtained a High school diploma or GED." "Egg Donors must have abstained from smoking for at least six months prior to submitting an Egg Donor application." "Donors must be able to travel anywhere within United States to complete an egg donation." "Egg Donors' Body Mass Index must be between 18 and 29." "within the past 12 months." Page checked October 2026.
- Ovation Donor Services – Egg Donor Qualifications — Ovation age, BMI wording, screening"Women aged between 21 and 29 or up to 33 as a repeat donor." "Donors must be in the normal weight range for their height." "Screening includes thorough medical, genetic, & psychological testing." Page checked October 2026.
- Ovation Donor Services – Egg Donors — Ovation pay"Receive $5,000-$7,000 for your time, after egg retrieval." Page checked October 2026.
- Shady Grove Fertility – Become an Egg Donor — Shady Grove age, BMI, smoking, location, education, pay, tax form"Women between the ages of 21 to 34 with good overall health" "Body mass index (BMI) between 18 to 29.9" "Non-smoker" "Live or work within 1 hour of one of our full service locations in CO, DC, FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, TX, VA." "Graduated from high school." "The total compensation for a completed cycle is traditionally $7,000 for first-time donors." "Donors will receive a 1099 form for tax reporting purposes." Page checked October 2026.
- CCRM – Egg Donor Program — CCRM national requirements and pay"Earn up to $9,500 as an egg donor." "Age: Between 21 to 33 years old" "Body mass index (BMI): Between 19 to 29.9" "No body piercings or tattoos within the past 3 months" "Residency status: U.S. residency and eligibility to work in the country." Page checked October 2026.
- CCRM – Egg Donation Eligibility — CCRM eligibility page tattoo window"No body piercings or tattoos within the past 12 months." Page checked October 2026.
- CCRM Minneapolis – Egg Donation Eligibility — CCRM Minneapolis age and location"Be 19 to 33 years old" "Live within 2 hours of a CCRM Minneapolis located Edina, MN." Page checked October 2026.
- CCRM Seattle – Become an Egg Donor — CCRM Seattle age, BMI, periods"Age 18-30 years" "Must have regular periods" "Body Mass Index of less than 30." Page checked October 2026.
- PFC Egg Donor Agency – The Donation Process — Pacific Fertility Center age, BMI, screening"Women between the ages of 21 and 31 (can donate up to age 34)" "Body mass index (BMI) under 30." Screening "includes a vaginal ultrasound & bloodwork to evaluate ovarian reserve… genetic testing, infectious disease testing, physical examination and psychological evaluation and testing." Page checked October 2026.
- PFC Egg Donor Agency – Donor Egg Recipients — PFC genetic counselor review and acceptance rate"Genetic review of three generations of family genetic health history, performed by a licensed certified genetic counselor." "On average, only 1-2% of donor applicants will end up becoming an egg donor." Page checked October 2026.
- PFC Egg Donor Agency – Recipient FAQs — PFC 10% acceptance claim"we accept only 10% of applicants into our egg donor program." Page checked October 2026.
- Pacific Fertility Egg Bank – Egg Donor Screening Process — Pacific Fertility Egg Bank carrier screening panel"All new donor applicants as of 2/08/2015 receive screening by Horizon™ carrier screen 274 condition panel." Page checked October 2026.
- ICRM – Become an Egg Donor — Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine age, BMI, genetics"ICRM egg donor candidates should be between the ages of 21-32, have a body mass index (BMI) < 30, be generally healthy, and without familial genetic diseases." Page checked October 2026.
- ICRM – Egg Donation Program — ICRM local care"all visits, blood draws, and procedures conveniently taking place locally at our Idaho Center." Page checked October 2026.
- ICRM – Donating Eggs in Idaho — ICRM IUD"In most cases, you can still become an egg donor if you have an IUD." Page checked October 2026.
- Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine – staff reply to DonorIndex — ICRM pay: $5,000 first cycle / $8,000 repeatStaff reply 2026-09-30, not a published page amount. The linked donor page publishes no pay figure.
- Spring Fertility – Become a Donor — Spring Fertility criteria and screening"Motivated young adults aged 21 to 30" "Nonsmoking and in good overall health" "No tattoos or piercings in the last year" "Donors must meet FDA and ASRM guidelines, and undergo a medical and psychological screening process with our team to ensure they're ready." Page checked October 2026.
- Spring Fertility – Resources & FAQ — Spring Fertility qualification rate"While many people apply to be egg donors each year, only 3% usually qualify." Page checked October 2026.
- Penn Medicine – How to Become an Egg Donor — Penn Medicine age, BMI, location, cycles"Body mass index (BMI) under 28" "Female between the ages of 21 and 30" "Living or working within 90 minutes of center city Philadelphia" "Regular menstrual cycles." Page checked October 2026.
- Invia Fertility – Egg Donor Program Expectations and Requirements — Invia Fertility age, BMI, adoption records, nicotine and drug testing, MMPI"You must be between 21 and 29 years of age." "If you are adopted, you must have full medical records on both of your biological parents. If you do not, please do not apply." "Your BMI (body mass index) must be below 30." "Your nicotine levels will be tested." "You must not use recreational drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, or "downers". You will be drug tested." "This includes an HIV test and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test." Page checked October 2026.
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine – Gamete and Embryo Donation Guidance (2024) — ASRM recommended oocyte donor age range and psychological evaluationProfessional guidance, not a program rule: "Oocyte donors should be of legal age in their state, preferably between the ages of 21 and 34 years old." "Psychological evaluation and counseling by a qualified mental health professional is strongly recommended for all donors." Document: gamete-and-embryo-donation-guidance-2024.pdf on asrm.org, checked October 2026.
- Cryos International – Egg donor requirements (Denmark) — Cryos egg donor requirements page found is Denmark-only"Be able to attend a few appointments at Cryos in Aarhus during the donation process." Denmark page, not used as a US rule. No US egg donor requirements page found, October 2026.