What People Get Wrong About Egg Donation

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are horribly long and super hard. Neither of which are true. Sure it takes a long time to get accepted into an agency (about three months for me) and possibly even longer to get picked by a couple. But in reality it only takes about 2.5–3 weeks to complete a cycle, and each subsequent cycle can take less time since you know what is going to happen.</p><h2 id="94c5">2. You have to be in perfect health</h2><p id="a92d">Now this one has some truth to it, but not as much as people think. Applications ask for ALL your health information, including that of close family. They generally want healthy people with no health concerns or mental health issues. However, this doesn’t mean that if you have one or two you can’t be a donor. Patients with STI’s/STD’s can also donate, just most states require it be an ‘open’ donation where you meet the parents.</p><p id="c6f0">I, myself have a thyroid problem and am a carrier for a pretty severe disease. But that disease requires both parents to carry the gene, so all of my intended parents have been tested and then decided if they would like to proceed with the donation. Think of egg donation listings as a dating profile where you can’t hide anything. If the parents are aware of your health issues, it’s not too severe or genetic, and they don’t care…you’re good to go! My thyroid issue has never been an issue with any of the intended parents.</p><h2 id="a370">3. That it is actually a donation</h2><p id="fb55">Plot twist, in America egg donation is only called that because of tax loopholes. However, in other countries,

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like Australia, it is true that donations are truly that and that patients do not receive any financial gain.</p><p id="694b">But America is America, and we earn money for our time and genetics here. The fun part comes with taxes. My first donation I didn’t have to pay taxes on what I earned ( $10,000) because the gift tax law states that you can receive up to$ 13k without being taxed. So the intended parents “gifted” me money for my time and the actual genetic material was a donation. It’s technically illegal to sell genetic material in the USA!</p><p id="ceeb">So did any of those things surprise you about egg donation? I know I’ve received a number of other questions on the topic, but leave yours down below! I’m sure I can do a part two, or three to this!</p><p id="6862">Thanks for following along! If you’d like to read more, or try your hand at making money from writing on Medium, use the link below.</p><div id="a24b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@marriney/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Mar Riney</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*8GgbIUFWDa0XbSxH)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

What People Get Wrong About Egg Donation

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I am lucky enough to say that I am a four-time egg donor. Two of these donations went off without a hitch, one had some problems but was overall good, and one was horrible. There’s no real way to sugarcoat it. However, I wouldn’t change any of my experiences. I’ve been able to talk openly about my donations with the support of my friends and family. Which has lead to me answering a lot of questions, and helping other ovary owners decide if donation was right for them.

These are some of the common questions and assumptions I’ve heard from people!

1. Donation is fast and/or slow process

It is amazing what preconceived notion about time people have for egg donation, mainly because it’s all over the map. Some time people will message me asking if it is a good way to get funds for a trip they’re wanting to do in a couple months. I have to break it to them that it’s not a guaranteed thing, and if you even get picked it can take years. It took me two years before I got my first successful match!

On the other hand, a lot of people (who haven’t done a donation or egg retrieval of their own) swear that donations are horribly long and super hard. Neither of which are true. Sure it takes a long time to get accepted into an agency (about three months for me) and possibly even longer to get picked by a couple. But in reality it only takes about 2.5–3 weeks to complete a cycle, and each subsequent cycle can take less time since you know what is going to happen.

2. You have to be in perfect health

Now this one has some truth to it, but not as much as people think. Applications ask for ALL your health information, including that of close family. They generally want healthy people with no health concerns or mental health issues. However, this doesn’t mean that if you have one or two you can’t be a donor. Patients with STI’s/STD’s can also donate, just most states require it be an ‘open’ donation where you meet the parents.

I, myself have a thyroid problem and am a carrier for a pretty severe disease. But that disease requires both parents to carry the gene, so all of my intended parents have been tested and then decided if they would like to proceed with the donation. Think of egg donation listings as a dating profile where you can’t hide anything. If the parents are aware of your health issues, it’s not too severe or genetic, and they don’t care…you’re good to go! My thyroid issue has never been an issue with any of the intended parents.

3. That it is actually a donation

Plot twist, in America egg donation is only called that because of tax loopholes. However, in other countries, like Australia, it is true that donations are truly that and that patients do not receive any financial gain.

But America is America, and we earn money for our time and genetics here. The fun part comes with taxes. My first donation I didn’t have to pay taxes on what I earned ($10,000) because the gift tax law states that you can receive up to $13k without being taxed. So the intended parents “gifted” me money for my time and the actual genetic material was a donation. It’s technically illegal to sell genetic material in the USA!

So did any of those things surprise you about egg donation? I know I’ve received a number of other questions on the topic, but leave yours down below! I’m sure I can do a part two, or three to this!

Thanks for following along! If you’d like to read more, or try your hand at making money from writing on Medium, use the link below.