What is the exact age range for egg donors and why is it so strictly enforced?

Egg donors must be exactly 21-28 years old as of their application date. This strict age range is enforced for critical medical and legal reasons: peak fertility occurs between ages 20-29 with highest egg quality and quantity, FDA regulations require donors to be 21+ for informed consent, success rates decrease significantly after age 28 with lower AMH levels and increased chromosomal abnormalities, legal liability protections for clinics and agencies require adherence to ASRM guidelines, insurance coverage typically follows these age restrictions, and international shipping regulations often have age-based requirements. No exceptions are made regardless of circumstances.

Typical workflow (high level)

1. Application + screening: health history, labs, and psychological screening.
2. Matching: preferences and profile selection.
3. Legal + consent: agreement review before medications.
4. Medication + monitoring: clinic-guided injections and frequent appointments.
5. Retrieval + recovery: outpatient procedure with short recovery window.
6. Wrap-up: follow-ups, records, and next steps if donating again.

What can vary (and why)

• Clinic schedules and medical protocols (individualized to the situation).
• State and international legal requirements (especially for parentage workflows).
• Matching preferences and availability (fit matters).
• Insurance and financial structure (coverage details can change).
• Logistics like travel, time zones, and appointment availability.

Questions to ask (so you don’t get surprised later)

• What are the next 2–3 steps in my specific situation?
• What documents or records should I prepare before we start?
• Which decisions should I make now vs later?
• Who will be my primary point of contact during the journey?
• How will we communicate and share updates (email, calls, portal)?
• What are the typical milestones from start to finish?
• What should I expect during screening, medications, and recovery?
• How are privacy and future contact handled?

Next steps

• Egg donor requirements
• Egg donor process
• Apply as an egg donor
• Contact our care team

Important note

This page is educational information only and is not medical, legal, or tax advice. Always confirm specifics with qualified professionals and your care team.

See the sources section below for reference links when available.