Egg Donation 2025 – Costs, Success Rates, and Legal Status in the USA

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Zappelphilipp Marx•
Laboratory analysis before an egg donation

More and more couples in the United States are exploring egg donation because natural conception is not possible. In America, egg donation is legal and widely practiced, but regulations vary by state. This guide covers everything you need to know—from the medical process to costs and success rates to the current regulatory landscape.

How Does Egg Donation Work?

After hormonal stimulation, a fertility specialist retrieves multiple mature eggs from the donor. In a laboratory, those eggs are fertilized via in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The resulting embryos are then transferred into the uterus of the recipient. Genetically, the child comes from the donor, but legally in the U.S., the birth mother is recognized as the mother.

Legal Status in the USA (June 2025)

Egg donation is legal at the federal level and governed by guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). There is no single national law banning or restricting it, but state regulations can differ on issues like donor compensation, anonymity, and consent. Clinics must follow Food and Drug Administration (FDA) screening requirements for donors to ensure safety. Recipients and donors sign detailed consent forms covering medical risks, privacy, and potential rights of offspring to learn donor identity.

Embryo Donation – Legally Permissible and Practiced

Embryo donation is allowed throughout the U.S. Many couples with surplus frozen embryos choose to donate them rather than discard them. Recipients can receive these embryos through adoption-like programs at fertility clinics. Federal guidelines require genetic screening and proper consent, but state laws vary on how donations must be handled. Because this process is well established, most fertility centers offer embryo donation services.

Parentage Law: Who Is Recognized as the Mother?

Under U.S. law, the woman who gives birth is the legal mother. If a child is born to a recipient after egg donation, that recipient is the child’s legal mother. Any dispute over parental rights must typically be settled in state court; however, most states have clear statutes or case law affirming that a birth certificate is definitive proof of maternity, regardless of genetic contribution.

Surrogacy – State Variations on Legality

Surrogacy in the U.S. is legal in many states but prohibited or restricted in others. Some states allow only traditional surrogacy (using the surrogate’s egg), others allow gestational surrogacy (using an egg from the intended mother or a donor), and a few ban all commercial surrogacy arrangements. Couples must consult state statutes: for example, California and Illinois have well-defined, supportive surrogacy laws, whereas states like Michigan and Louisiana heavily restrict or ban surrogacy contracts.

Medical Risks at a Glance

Donors: Typical side effects of ovarian stimulation include nausea, headaches, and mild abdominal discomfort. A severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurs in roughly 1 percent of cycles Braat 2014. Egg retrieval is minimally invasive but carries a small risk of bleeding or infection. Recipients: A large U.S. registry study found that pregnancies using donor eggs have a higher risk of preeclampsia compared to those using a woman’s own eggs Magnusson 2021. When procedures are performed in experienced clinics with careful monitoring, most egg donation cycles proceed without serious complications.

Current Success Rates

According to the latest report from the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), egg donation cycles showed a clinical pregnancy rate of 50.5 percent per fresh embryo transfer in 2019 ESHRE 2023. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported live birth rates of approximately 55 percent per cycle for recipients under age 30 using donor eggs CDC 2022. Top U.S. clinics that employ advanced laboratory techniques and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) often exceed 65 percent success rates per transfer Embriogyn 2024. Key factors influencing outcomes include the donor’s age and health, embryo quality, and the laboratory’s experience.

International Cost Comparison for 2025

Many U.S. couples travel abroad for egg donation to reduce costs. Typical total budgets (including medication, procedure, and one round-trip) range from $8,000 to $30,000, depending on the destination. Below are 13 popular countries listed in U.S. dollars:

  • Spain – $8,000–$12,000, anonymous donation, success rates up to 60%
  • Czech Republic – $7,000–$10,000, anonymous donation, short wait times
  • Greece – $7,500–$11,000, updated traceability laws since 2023
  • Portugal – $8,000–$12,000, no anonymity; child may learn donor identity at age 18
  • Bulgaria – $6,000–$9,000, anonymous donation, maximum five children per donor
  • Ukraine – $6,000–$9,000, liberal regulations but political risks
  • USA – $20,000–$30,000, open donation, extensive genetic screening
  • Canada – $18,000–$25,000, altruistic system, no donor compensation
  • Israel – $12,000–$16,000, anonymous donation, strict medical requirements
  • Japan – $10,000–$14,000, anonymous donation, limited disclosure laws
  • Hungary – $8,000–$11,000, only related donors allowed, no anonymity
  • Georgia – $6,000–$9,000, liberal regulations, short waiting periods
  • France – $8,000–$12,000, no anonymity since 2022

In addition to clinic fees, include airfare, lodging, and any required follow-up visits. U.S. couples should budget $25,000 to $40,000 when factoring in travel and accommodation for multiple attempts.

Outlook: Is Reform on the Horizon?

At the federal level, no new legislation is pending specifically on egg donation. However, individual states continue refining guidelines on donor compensation and anonymity. Significant changes are unlikely before 2026, so for now, U.S. recipients and donors must comply with existing ASRM and FDA guidelines.

Sperm Donation – A Quick, Legal Alternative

If male factor infertility is the issue, sperm donation is legal throughout the U.S. and easier than pursuing international egg donation. RattleStork connects intended parents with certified donors, offering secure messaging, cycle tracking, and standardized legal agreements—all within a user-friendly app.

RattleStork – the sperm donation app
Illustration: RattleStork – the sperm donation app

Conclusion

Egg donation in the United States is legal and regulated, but costs can be high. Many couples travel abroad to reduce expenses, which introduces additional logistical and medical considerations. Anyone considering donor egg treatment should work with experienced attorneys, carefully review state regulations, and choose reputable clinics. Thorough preparation remains the key to maximizing success.

Disclaimer: Content on RattleStork is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice; no specific outcome is guaranteed. Use of this information is at your own risk. See our full Disclaimer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes. Egg donation is legal in all 50 states, but regulations vary from one state to another. The FDA oversees screening and testing requirements, and professional guidelines (e.g., ASRM) set ethical standards. No federal law prohibits egg donation in general.

The U.S. has a relatively permissive approach to assisted reproductive technologies. Supporters argue that egg donation, when properly regulated, protects donor welfare and upholds the rights of intended parents. Critics often raise concerns about commercialization and the potential exploitation of donors.

While egg donation is broadly legal, specific restrictions can apply depending on the state. For instance, some states have explicit guidelines on surrogacy agreements or donor anonymity. Additionally, clinics typically follow ASRM recommendations, which may limit the number of cycles a donor can undergo and set guidelines on compensation.

The FDA regulates donor screening and testing to minimize risks of communicable diseases. Aside from these health and safety standards, there is no single federal law specifically banning or severely restricting egg donation. Most of the legal framework revolves around contracts, informed consent, and state-level legislation regarding parental rights.

The donor undergoes hormonal stimulation to produce multiple eggs, which are retrieved through a minimally invasive procedure. These eggs are then fertilized via IVF or ICSI using either partner or donor sperm. The resulting embryos are transferred to the intended mother or surrogate. Donors generally receive compensation for their time and effort.

Hormonal treatments can cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, or mood swings. Rarely, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) can become severe. During the retrieval, there’s a small risk of infection, bleeding, or anesthesia-related complications. Long-term impacts on donor health and fertility are still under study.

In the U.S., the intended mother (or the woman who gives birth) is typically recognized as the legal mother, often backed by a contract clarifying parental rights. State laws may differ, so it’s essential to have a legal agreement in place to ensure the intended parents’ status.

Egg donation is widely available at clinics across the U.S. Some individuals also travel abroad for cost reasons or specific donor preferences. Popular international destinations include Spain, the Czech Republic, and Greece, among others, where the legal frameworks and costs differ.

Yes, although it varies by clinic and state law. Many programs allow donors to remain anonymous, while others facilitate open or semi-open donation. Prospective parents must verify local regulations and clinic policies regarding anonymity, as well as future rights the child may have to learn about their genetic origins.

Expenses can vary widely, typically ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on donor fees, clinical procedures, legal contracts, and how many cycles are needed. Some programs offer package deals that include multiple IVF attempts.

Coverage is highly dependent on your insurance plan and state mandates. Some states require certain fertility treatments to be covered, at least partially. However, many policies exclude egg donation or limit coverage to diagnostic procedures, meaning intended parents often must pay out of pocket.

No. In embryo donation, already-fertilized eggs (embryos) are transferred, usually those left over from another person or couple’s IVF cycle. In egg donation, unfertilized eggs are retrieved from a donor, then fertilized before being transferred to the recipient. Both processes can help intended parents who cannot conceive with their own gametes.

Success rates vary among clinics and depend heavily on the donor’s age. On average, there is a 30% to 50% chance of pregnancy per cycle. State-of-the-art treatments like IVF with genetic screening can improve these odds. No clinic can guarantee results, so multiple attempts might be necessary.

Ethical debates center on the child’s right to know their genetic roots, fair compensation for donors, and the risk of exploiting women in challenging financial situations. Many clinics adhere to ASRM guidelines and encourage transparent counseling so that donors and recipients can make well-informed choices.

Social freezing—where a woman freezes her own eggs for future personal use—is legal and becoming more common in the U.S. However, using those eggs for donation later may involve additional legal and ethical considerations, as each clinic or agency may have distinct policies. Always clarify how frozen eggs can be used with your fertility provider.