6 Tips for Applying to Be an Egg Donor

So, you’ve decided that you want to apply to become an egg donor –congratulations and thank you! Becoming an egg donor is a meaningful way to help a family achieve their dreams of having a child, while also earning a substantial amount of money to help you on the path to achieving your own goals.

Because the egg donor screening process is so extensive, less than 3% of all applicants actually become egg donors. Here are a few ways to help make your application stand out:

1. Choose photos that are representative of what you actually look like.

While filtered selfies and fun animations are very on-trend right now, a photo of you with dog ears and noses is cute, but not the best representation of how you actually look. Remember that the first image you choose to display is the first impression you will be making when someone looks at your profile – the best photos are those taken in natural lighting at a straight-on angle, highlighting your natural eye color, hair color, skin tone, smile, body type, etc. as accurately as possible. If we were to bump into each other on the street, would you resemble your photo?

When selecting additional current photos for inclusion, consider choosing ones in which you are enjoying your hobbies, graduating from school, or celebrating an exciting milestone – basically, happy moments where you are out living your life and chasing your dreams! 

2. Be thoughtful and thorough in your responses.

The egg donor application asks a lot of questions, and we totally get the impulse to race through it as quickly as possible to check it off your “to-do list” and hopefully move forward to the next step. It is important, however, that you take the time to answer each question completely (and honestly!). The application process prioritizes your health and wellbeing, so answering with as much detail and as accurately as you can, will help our team evaluate if egg donation is right for you. We value your time and recognize that applying to be an egg donor is just one of the many important things you’re pouring your energy into, so submitting a thorough application now can help prevent us from bumping into unexpected obstacles further along into the process that could inhibit your ability to donate.

3. Don’t be afraid to showcase what makes you unique.

If you ultimately become an egg donor, your questionnaire answers will become part of your donor profile – which means that intended parents will use the information you’ve shared to decide if you’re the best match for them and their future family! Do you have a talent or hidden skill you’re particularly proud of? Tell us about it! Have you earned any awards or achieved any exciting accomplishments? Now’s your time to brag about them! At the end of the day, intended parents are hoping to imagine some of the amazing things their future child could be and do as they learn about the incredible person you are right now.

4. Get clear and honest about your “why.”

There’s no wrong reason to donate your eggs, but since this is a very important decision, you should make sure you know why you’re making it. If you are applying to donate because you know someone who has used donor eggs to start their family – that’s great! If your main motivator is financial compensation – that is a totally valid reason, too! Being upfront not only with us, but with yourself, sets the appropriate tone for what will keep you motivated through the process and help our NEST team know how to best support you. 

Some important questions to ask yourself before applying to be a donor include, but are certainly not limited to: Can I prioritize this process for the next 6 weeks? Am I able to commit to the (temporary) lifestyle changes that might be asked of me? Do I want to stay anonymous as an egg donor, and how would I feel if the child learns who I am one day (i.e. through home DNA tests)?

This is a good time to think about your own future family planning goals, too! If you think that freezing your eggs for use later in life might be a part of that experience, you can consider donating your eggs as part of NEST’s egg share program, which makes it possible for you to donate a cohort of your eggs to the Cryobank in exchange for your own cohort to keep and utilize should you one day want or need them!

5. Write like you’re talking to a new friend.

The tone of your questionnaire answers is important to consider when you’re completing your application, too! Though the application may feel like you’re applying for a job or filling out medical paperwork, at times, make sure to take advantage of those moments where you can tell a story through your writing. Imagine that the person who is reading those answers about your youth, favorite things, current goals, future plans, etc. is a new friend – someone you can talk to casually and warmly while inviting them to get to know you better and see if the friendship is a compatible fit! The best answers are ones in which we can hear your voice and feel your personality while we read them.  

6. Reach out and ask questions if you get stuck along the way.

As valuable as all these tips are, the most important thing for you to know is that you do not need to navigate the application on your own. It is normal, and expected, for you to have questions of your own when filling out the questionnaire – and the NEST team is here to answer them for you. Once you have completed your initial prescreen questionnaire, we are available via phone call, email, and text message to support you through the process if there’s anything you’re not sure about, or if any concerns arise that you’d like to talk through. If you have any questions before starting the application, please email us at [email protected].

Remember that the egg donor application process is designed with everyone’s safety and best interests in mind – especially yours! If your application does not ultimately get accepted, please know that it is in no way a reflection on you as a person. The fact that you were willing to take the time to complete an application shows what an incredibly selfless, motivated, and kind individual you are – without people like you, egg donation wouldn’t be able to exist and so many families never would have been able to get started!

Ready to apply? Click here to start your Nest egg donor application!