What is Egg Donation?
Egg donation is a process in which a young and healthy woman donates her eggs to help someone else fulfill their dream of having a child. Under medical supervision, the donor undergoes treatment that safely stimulates the ovaries to mature multiple eggs at once. The eggs are then collected by a doctor, fertilized, and the resulting embryo is transferred to the future mother.
Using donor eggs in fertility treatment is usually not the first option for patients — it often comes after a long fertility journey. There are different reasons why donor eggs may be needed: the woman’s own egg quantity or quality may have significantly declined, or hereditary diseases may run in the female line of the family.
Regardless of the patients’ story, egg donors give people the chance to experience the joy of parenthood through one of the most valuable gifts one person can give another.
Who Can Become an Egg Donor?
The health and well-being of both donors and future children are our top priority. Therefore, the main criteria for egg donors are:
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You are between 20–34 years old
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You are in good physical and mental health
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Your BMI is below 28 to ensure procedural safety
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There are no known hereditary diseases in your family
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You do not use medications that may affect the treatment or the safety of the process
STEP 1
Application and Initial Consultation
Filling out the application takes approximately 2 minutes. If your profile meets the initial criteria, the donor coordinator will contact you. During the first consultation, the donation process, consent forms, and contract terms are explained.
STEP 2
Clinic Visit, Meeting with Nurses and Doctor, and Medical Tests
After the initial consultation, suitable candidates are invited to the clinic to meet with a nurse and doctor. The medical team reviews the donor’s health information and explains the donation process and possible risks.
The doctor performs a gynecological examination and evaluates ovarian reserve. At our clinic, the first test is AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone), which provides an indirect assessment of a woman’s egg reserve.
STEP 3
Ovarian Stimulation
Stimulation usually lasts 9–12 days and involves hormone treatment designed to encourage multiple eggs to mature simultaneously in the ovaries. During this period, approximately two ultrasound examinations are usually performed at the clinic.
Women who freeze their eggs or undergo fertility treatment receive similar preparatory treatment.
STEP 4
Egg Retrieval (Puncture Procedure)
Egg retrieval is a short procedure performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the doctor aspirates the eggs from the follicles. Afterward, the donor remains at the clinic for a few hours to recover.
After donation, egg donors receive compensation of up to €1200. Travel expenses related to clinic visits can also be reimbursed if necessary.
Egg donation in Estonia is anonymous. Intended parents receive only general biological and social information about the donor, such as nationality, education, marital status, skin colour, height and build, hair and eye colour, and whether the donor has any children.
Donating is a kind act
What Tests Are Performed for Donors?
At Next Fertility Nordic, donors undergo a very thorough health screening. In addition to legally required tests, several additional analyses are performed to ensure the safety of the procedure.
The tests include hormone tests, blood tests, infectious disease screenings, and genetic studies (chromosome analysis and carrier screening for more than 100 common genetic diseases).
Main Tests and Examinations
- AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)
A hormone produced by small ovarian follicles that provides insight into ovarian reserve. - Blood Group
ABO / RhD - Complete Blood Count
Infectious Disease Screenings:
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HTLV I and II
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Treponema IgG (syphilis)
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HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc (hepatitis B markers)
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HCV antibodies (hepatitis C)
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HIV-1/2 antibodies and p24 antigen
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CMV (cytomegalovirus) IgG / IgM
Cervical and Gynecological Tests:
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Chlamydia trachomatis
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Trichomonas vaginalis
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Neisseria gonorrhoeae
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PAP test (cervical cell screening)
Genetic Tests:
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Karyotype (chromosome analysis)
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Carrier screening for over 100 common genetic diseases
All these examinations help ensure that the egg donation process is as safe as possible for the donor, the future mother, and the child, and that the donor selection is medically well considered.
“I’m happy that
I could help someone
fulfill their dream.” –
Egg Donor
Why Choose Next Fertility Nordic for Egg Donation?
As an egg donor, you will receive comprehensive medical and psychological counselling, as well as a thorough health assessment. In addition to helping others build their families, you will gain valuable insights into your own reproductive health and fertility.
We offer our donors extensive complimentary health examinations, consultations with a fertility specialist, fertility assessments, psychological support, and counselling from experienced donor coordinators. We also perform comprehensive genetic testing that goes well beyond the legal requirements, including chromosome analysis and carrier screening for more than 100 common genetic conditions. If needed, you will also have access to a consultation with a genetic counsellor.
Our multidisciplinary team includes experienced fertility specialists, nurses, midwives, donor coordinators, embryologists, and patient coordinators. This means you are never alone, you will receive both professional guidance and personal support throughout your entire donation journey.
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FAQ
An egg cell (female reproductive cell) is one of the most important cells in the body. Egg cells begin developing already during weeks 10–12 of fetal development. No new eggs are produced during life — the number continuously decreases.
At birth, a girl has approximately 1 million eggs, and by puberty around 400,000 remain. By age 35, approximately 25,000–50,000 eggs remain, and by age 40 approximately 5,000–15,000.
Each month, 10–20 eggs begin to mature, but usually only one (sometimes two) ovulates, while the others degenerate. During reproductive years, a woman ovulates approximately 400 eggs in total.
To allow the group of eggs that start maturing each month to fully mature simultaneously, hormone treatment is used to stimulate the ovaries. The same treatment protocol is used for IVF patients and women freezing their eggs.
The treatment plan is carefully designed and monitored by doctors and nurses throughout the process.
A typical treatment protocol includes:
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FSH hormone injections (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
Usually administered for 9–12 days to help multiple follicles develop simultaneously. -
Trigger injection
Administered approximately 36 hours before egg retrieval to initiate the final maturation of the eggs.
The entire process is carefully supervised by the medical team, and the dosage and timing are individualized to ensure maximum safety and the best possible outcome.
Egg donation generally does not affect your future fertility or ability to have children.
In fact, becoming an egg donor provides valuable information about your fertility, and our doctors also offer guidance on future family planning.
Egg donation does not reduce a woman’s ovarian reserve because only the eggs that begin developing during that particular menstrual cycle are collected. Normally, many eggs begin developing each month, but only one ovulates while the rest naturally degenerate.
During ovarian stimulation, all the eggs that have already started developing are matured instead, allowing them to be donated without affecting future fertility.
In Estonia, eggs from one donor may be used to help fertilize up to six women.
Following international recommendations and the guidelines of the Estonian Society for Fertility Treatment and Embryology, the recommended maximum number of donation cycles is six. At Next Fertility Nordic, donors usually donate 2–4 times.
Non-anonymous donation means that donor information is not completely hidden.
If desired, the donor may choose Open ID donation by giving separate consent. In this case, their donor cells may be used in countries where donation is not anonymous (such as Finland or Austria).
Open ID means that a child born from donated cells has the right, upon reaching adulthood, to request identifying information about the donor.
The donor has no legal rights or obligations toward the child.
Gamete donation in Estonia is strictly regulated by law and may only take place in clinics licensed by the Estonian Medicines Agency. Clinics are subject to regular supervision and inspections.