If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably decided to help another person build a family. That is great news! Now that you have made the decision, your next question may be “What now? How do I do that?” Luckily, we’re here to tell you exactly how you can Become an Egg Donor or Become a Surrogate Mother.
Egg donation and surrogacy are two good options to consider. However, the two options are quite different from each other. Thus, we recommend that you do your research before settling on one option. While both are excellent options, the question of which one is ideal for you depends on your preference.
Here, we will give you a comprehensive overview and description of what both egg donation and surrogacy entails. We will cover everything from their requirements, to their benefits, and even their drawbacks. This should help guide you towards feeling confident and well informed enough to make an educated decision before applying.
What are the differences between the Egg Donor and Surrogate Mother?
Here are some important differences between a Surrogate and an Egg Donor you probably don’t know:
Egg Donation is:
- Usually anonymous
- Your genetic material
- Can be done even if you haven’t had children
- For singles, gay couples, or those who can carry their own baby but have no viable eggs
- Require a shorter time commitment (usually a few months)
Being a Surrogate is:
- A long-time commitment is required (typically 12 to 18 months)
- You must have had your own baby
- In no way are you biologically related to the child
- Being matched with known Intended Parents (IPs)
- For women who cannot carry a child on their own.
How do the requirements differ?
It’s good to know what each process requires from you before you decide which route to go. If you’re not eligible to be an Egg Donor or Surrogate (vice-versa), you can cancel that option out – making your decision much easier.
Here are the Basic Requirements You Need to Meet to Become a Surrogate:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 37
- Be a non-smoker and be residing in a non-smoking home
- Have zero criminal record
- Have a BMI lower than 32
- Must have given birth and should be raising the baby
- You must be free from any drug use
- Must agree to physiological and medical screenings
Here are the Basic Requirements You Need to Meet to Become an Egg Donor:
- A healthy lifestyle
- Must be between the ages of 19 and 29
- Your BMI must be lower than 28
- Be able to follow instructions given by a doctor
- Be a non-smoker and be residing in a non-smoking home
- Agree to psychological and medical screenings
- Agree to take injectable fertility medications
- Ready to undergo an outpatient procedure for egg retrieval
Generally, the requirements for potential Surrogates are stricter compared to Egg Donor requirements. This is because gestational Surrogates, in some sense, have to carry the baby to full term. While Egg Donors only donate their eggs, and someone else carries the baby. In the case of surrogacy, your lifestyle choices and habits are more relevant to your eligibility. Clinics need to make sure that you lead a good, healthy lifestyle, especially when you’re pregnant so that the baby is born healthy.
In the case of egg donation, however, your ability to take injectable medications and follow the doctor’s instructions are very crucial to ensure a successful egg retrieval. Also, your genetic traits and personal health are going to be observed carefully since Intended Parents (IPs) would like to ensure you can provide them with the viable eggs they need. Your family’s medical background, your own health problems, and genetic conditions will be kept into consideration when you’re applying as an Egg Donor.
What are the Benefits & Drawbacks of Each?
If you qualify for the two options, then you need to start considering their advantages and drawbacks to make a decision. The most significant difference between becoming an Egg Donor and becoming a Surrogate is that the latter requires a longer time commitment. Surrogates donate their whole body for nine months, carrying another family’s baby in their womb. That may sound overwhelming to some people. If you are one of those people, Egg Donation may be a better option for you. However, some women consider donating eggs to another person a bigger sacrifice than donating their body temporarily. This is because, with egg donation, the child they will have will be genetically related to you. In the case of surrogacy, the baby is not genetically related to the carrier what so ever. They are simply a vessel for the birth.
Another thing you may want to consider before making your choice is the amount of compensation. women who are becoming a Surrogate for the first time are handsomely compensated for their efforts and time, while experience Surrogate mothers receive better compensation for their second journey. Egg Donor compensation can vary based on different factors, for example, high-demand traits like a high IQ, Ivy League education, etc.
Do You Have to Be in Your Twenties to Be a Surrogate?
Surrogate mothers can be a bit older than Egg Donors. At some fertility clinics, women as old as 37 are accepted into surrogacy program. However, prospective Egg Donors need to be younger since egg quality decreases once a woman enters her thirties.
What If You Would Like To Be an Egg Donor And a Surrogate?
If you are among the fortunate few that qualify to become both an Egg Donor and a Surrogate, then you can! There is no rule barring you from doing both. However, you can not be an Egg Donor and a Surrogate at the same time. You can become an Egg Donor after completing a Surrogate cycle or vice versa, but not both at a time. While Egg Donation requires that you take fertility medications to boost egg production, surrogacy requires you do the opposite. Hence, doing both simultaneously is impossible. Moreover, Surrogates rarely make use of their own eggs, unless the Intended Parents are her relatives or someone she knows.
Conclusion
Surrogates and Egg Donors share some similar requirements. Both of them must be physically and psychologically healthy, non-smokers, not on recreational drugs, and ready to commit to helping another person start a family.
Coastal Fertility has partnered with Physician’s Surrogacy, the nation’s only OB-managed surrogacy agency. If you are interested to become a surrogate, apply with Physician’s Surrogacy through the application form.
Coastal Fertility has partnered with Lucina Egg Bank to make the egg donation process faster and safer for everyone. If you are interested to become an Egg Donor, apply with Lucina Egg Bank.
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