Conceiving through egg donation and medical fertility advances has allowed couples to build families who would not be able to do so otherwise. Up to 13 million babies were born thanks to assisted reproductive technologies (ART) since 1978.
When it comes to couples with fertility issues or members of the LGBTQ+ community, egg donors are a conduit through which they can fulfill their dream of having a family.
But with more donors available today than ever before, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming. You’re not just selecting based on medical criteria. You’re choosing the person who will help shape your child’s future. It’s a deeply personal process, and it’s okay to want more than “healthy.”
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most important factors to consider when choosing an egg donor—from medical history and genetic screening to personality traits, education, and more. Our goal is to help you make a confident and informed decision.
Before you dive into donor profiles and start analyzing health histories or physical traits, take a moment to reflect on what matters most to you.
Ask yourself:
Being clear on your goals before you start will simplify the decision-making process and help your agency or clinic guide you toward the best possible match. And remember: your ideal egg donor doesn’t have to check every box. She just has to feel like the right choice for your family.
Your fertility clinic of choice will have relationships and connections with different egg donation agencies, and some will be more promising than others. Through our sister agency, you can access egg donors within the top 5% of candidates nation-wide to make your search process as smooth as possible. When you're choosing an egg donor, consider these four criteria:
Your donor needs a pristine health history and genetic health report if you want to move forward with her. When evaluating donors, your clinic or agency will walk you through detailed medical and genetic screening reports.
This includes:
If you're also a carrier of a genetic condition, you'll want to choose a donor who doesn’t carry the same mutation. Some donors are pre-screened, while others may need to go through this process after selection, so be sure to ask what's already completed.
When choosing an egg donor, it’s natural to want some resemblance between your future child and your family. That could mean shared features like eye color, hair texture, height, or even skin tone.
Some parents also want a donor who shares their ethnic or cultural background, especially if passing down cultural traditions is important to them.
Here are a few traits you might consider:
You don’t have to feel guilty about caring how your child might look. These are personal preferences that help you feel connected to your future family. Focus on what feels most meaningful.
Considering the education and test scores of an egg donor is very normal. Genetics don’t determine everything, but some cognitive traits can be inherited to a degree.
If this is a priority for you, look at:
You might also want to explore hobbies or interests that align with your own. A donor who writes poetry, plays the violin, or builds robots might feel like a better match than someone with a generic profile
While personality and appearance are important, egg quality is what determines success rates. This is where biomarkers and experience come in.
Look for:
A “proven donor” is someone who has already gone through the process with positive outcomes. If this brings you peace of mind, ask your agency or clinic for profiles that meet this criterion.
You might fall in love with a donor’s profile, then feel unsure once you see her video. Or, the opposite might happen: the video gives you a sense of connection you didn’t expect.
A short video can reveal:
Not all agencies provide videos, but if that’s important to you, ask. Sometimes, seeing someone move and speak is what transforms a donor from a list of stats into someone you feel truly good about.
Would you like your child to have the option of contacting their donor in the future? Or would you prefer a fully anonymous arrangement?
There are three common types of donor relationships:
Think about your comfort level now and what might matter to your child later. Some parents prefer privacy, while others appreciate the option for future connection.
Be sure to clarify your preferences early so your agency can guide you to the right match.
Most intended parents work with either a fertility clinic that has its own egg donor database or a third-party egg donor agency. Both can be great options, but the choice depends on what kind of experience and support you’re looking for.
Here’s what to consider:
At Hatch, for example, you get access to the top 5% of donor candidates nationwide with personalized guidance from our team.
One of the biggest decisions you'll make early on is whether to use fresh or frozen donor eggs.
If you're on a tight schedule or want to avoid delays, frozen eggs can be a great option. But if you're hoping to attempt multiple pregnancies or want the highest possible egg yield, a fresh cycle might be the better fit.
The cost of using an egg donor in the US typically ranges from $20,000 to $50,000 per cycle.
Costs can vary significantly depending on the type of donor, whether you're using fresh or frozen eggs, and what level of support you receive.
Typical expenses may include:
Make sure you ask for a detailed breakdown so there are no surprises down the line. And if you're working with a bundled program—like Hatch’s Peace of Mind program—you may benefit from more streamlined pricing and fewer third-party vendors.
Picking the perfect egg donor for your family might be a bit more challenging than when you were a kid at Easter, but it can still be equally as fun. If one donor doesn’t work out, fear not. The perfect donor is the one with whom there will be relatively few hiccups. The process can require some patience. But know that you will find the perfect donor for you and your spouse.
It can be a challenge to sift through so many profiles. For references to pick the best egg donors available, contact us today.