How new technology is changing egg donation

Jun 03, 2025

New technologies are transforming egg donation by reducing injections, improving egg quality assessment, and reshaping donor experiences across global clinics.

(Nanowerk News) Egg donation is undergoing a technological shift that promises to make the process faster, safer, and less physically demanding. These advances matter because infertility affects approximately one in six people worldwide, creating an enormous demand for donor eggs and fueling a multi-billion dollar global industry. Women delay childbearing for career and personal reasons, while cancer survivors and those with genetic conditions often require donor eggs to achieve pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), donor egg IVF accounts for approximately 12% of all IVF cycles in the United States. Each cycle involves one donor providing eggs to help one or more recipients achieve pregnancy through in vitro fertilization, with over 20,000 donor cycles performed annually in recent years. In Spain, by comparison, approximately 37% of all IVF cycles involved donor eggs in 2022, according to the Registro Nacional de Actividad (pdf) published by the Sociedad Española de Fertilidad. This medical system exists because donor eggs represent hope for many who cannot conceive with their own eggs. But what motivates women to undergo this demanding process to help strangers achieve parenthood?

Why Women Choose to Donate: Beyond the Money

Research involving 92 prospective egg donors reveals three primary motivations: altruistic reasons, financial compensation, and desire to pass on genetic material. A University of Washington study of 80 egg donors found that nearly one-third (32%) said their motivations were completely based on helping others, while almost 19% said financial concerns were their sole reason, with the remainder citing a combination of factors. A European study of over 1,400 donors across 11 countries found that altruism is the main motivation why donors donate but financial compensation certainly helps persuade a number of donors. Notably, donors over 25 and those with higher education were generally more likely to donate for altruistic reasons alone, and only one-in-ten women donated specifically for financial reward. The financial aspect can’t be ignored, though it varies dramatically by location. In the United States, for one round of donation, egg donors can earn anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, with rates even higher for donors from certain ethnic backgrounds. However, compensation varies dramatically worldwide, with many countries offering minimal or no payment. For some, egg donation can be a means to fund education or pay off student loans; for others, a way to supplement income or help support family. However, the general donor profile is “someone who is well-educated, 27 years old, and living with a partner and child,” which “does not fit the idea that most people seem to have of a poor student who donates for money”. This complexity suggests that financial motivation and genuine desire to help are not mutually exclusive.

Today’s Donation Process: A Demanding Journey

Understanding why the new technological advances matter requires grasping what current egg donors endure. The traditional process is far from simple, involving weeks of medical intervention and significant physical commitment. The Traditional Timeline: Physical Demands: The stimulation medications can cause bloating, mood swings, breast tenderness, and fatigue. Some donors experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potentially serious condition causing painful ovarian swelling. The retrieval procedure, while brief, requires sedation and can cause cramping and spotting afterward. Time Commitment: Beyond the injections and clinic visits, donors must avoid alcohol, limit exercise, and carefully track their medication schedule. The total time investment often spans 6-8 weeks from start to finish, with multiple clinic visits requiring time off work or school. This demanding process explains why technological improvements that reduce injections by 80% and shorten cycles to just three days represent such a fundamental shift for donors.

The 80% Solution: Fewer Needles, Better Results

The Fertilo technology eliminates approximately 80% of hormone injections required with conventional IVF, reducing the donation cycle from nearly two weeks to just three days. Developed by biotechnology company Gameto, the method uses engineered “support cells” derived from stem cells to replicate the role of ovarian granulosa cells. These cells provide the hormonal and biochemical signals needed to support oocyte maturation in the lab, allowing eggs to develop outside the body without requiring the donor to undergo prolonged hormonal stimulation. In December 2024, the world’s first baby was born using this technology at Santa Isabel Clinic in Lima, Peru. The mother who underwent this groundbreaking procedure shared her experience: “The Fertilo method was the preferred option compared to traditional approaches. With fewer injections and a gentler, less invasive egg retrieval process, it gave me hope and reassurance during a deeply personal journey.” For egg donors, this represents a fundamental shift in the donation experience. Instead of weeks of daily injections disrupting work and personal schedules, donors using this technology face just a few days of minimal intervention. The approach reduces risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and alleviates side effects caused by high hormone doses.

Your Eggs, Perfectly Preserved: The Freezing Revolution

One of the most crucial aspects of egg donation is ensuring that donated eggs survive the freezing and thawing process. Higher survival rates mean your donation is more likely to result in a successful pregnancy, making your time and effort more meaningful. Recent meta-analyses show that mature oocyte survival rates reach 82.3% following modern vitrification methods compared with just 66.1% using older slow-cooling techniques. This ultra-rapid freezing process, called vitrification, transforms eggs into a glass-like state that prevents damaging ice crystal formation. Even more promising, new ultra-fast vitrification protocols published in 2025 show better conservation of cellular structures and higher survival rates compared to conventional methods. These advances minimize the toxicity of cryoprotective agents and reduce osmotic stress during the freezing process. For donors, these improvements mean several important benefits. Higher survival rates translate to fewer eggs needed per successful pregnancy, reducing pressure for multiple donation cycles. When more of your donated eggs survive and develop successfully, clinics can achieve better outcomes with smaller numbers of eggs, potentially meaning higher compensation for your contribution and more efficient use of your time.

AI: Your Digital Quality Assessor

Traditionally, embryologists have assessed egg quality through visual inspection under a microscope, a subjective process where experts often disagree. Recent research involving 10,677 oocyte images from eight IVF clinics across six countries has developed AI models that can predict which eggs will develop into viable embryos. This technological advance offers significant benefits for donors. Ovogene became the first egg bank to implement AI technology in oocyte selection, developing a system for objective morphologic determination. According to the company, “embryologists alone are not able to make exact calculations on the morphological parameters of oocytes.” While early results are promising, these AI models are still undergoing clinical validation, and their integration into standard practice will depend on continued testing across diverse populations and lab environments. AI-powered assessment means more scientific, objective evaluation of your egg quality, reducing subjective bias that might undervalue excellent donations. Better quality prediction also enables more precise matching between donor characteristics and recipient needs, potentially leading to higher compensation for objectively high-quality donations. While deep learning algorithms show promise for embryo selection using time-lapse imaging, most IVF laboratories still lack comprehensive time-lapse systems. However, as AI technology becomes more accessible, donors can expect fairer, more consistent evaluation processes that rely on data rather than individual embryologist preferences.

The Genetic Testing Reality Check: Less May Be More

The fertility industry has trended toward increasingly comprehensive genetic screening, with some programs testing donors for hundreds of conditions. However, recent research suggests this ‘more is better’ approach may not actually improve outcomes for young, healthy donor eggs. A large multicenter randomized trial found that among women with high-quality embryos, conventional IVF resulted in cumulative live-birth rates that were noninferior to extensive genetic testing approaches. Similarly, analysis of 133,494 IVF cycles showed that extensive genetic testing actually decreased success rates in younger patients. For potential donors, this research suggests several positive developments. You may face less extensive and expensive genetic screening than previously required, potentially accelerating the approval process. Rather than testing for hundreds of rare conditions, future programs may focus on the most clinically relevant genetic factors.

Global Perspectives: How Geography Shapes Donation

The experience of egg donation varies dramatically depending on where you live, with countries taking vastly different approaches to compensation, anonymity, and regulation. United States: Market-Driven Compensation The average payment for US donors was $3,965, with fees ranging from $1,100 to $7,300. In countries where compensation is market-driven, financial gain typically outranks altruism as a motivation. The US operates largely without federal regulation, allowing individual clinics and agencies to set their own payment structures and screening requirements. Spain: Europe’s Donation Hub Spain plays an outsized role in Europe’s egg donation landscape, accounting for approximately 50% of all donor egg cycles on the continent. According to the latest report from the Spanish Fertility Society, more than 13,000 donation cycles were carried out in Spain in a single year. Several factors contribute to this dominance. Spanish law mandates anonymity for all egg donors and classifies donations as “voluntary, anonymous, and altruistic.” However, a fixed compensation of around €1,000 (about $1,100) per cycle influences participation, particularly among younger women. For many aged 18–25, the payment is comparable to or more attractive than income from other temporary jobs. Spain’s high success rates further reinforce its status. Pregnancy is achieved in 83% of cases on the first attempt and 97% on the second, according to national data. These outcomes, along with cultural normalization of egg donation and liberal access policies, draw patients from across Europe. Spain’s regulatory framework allows fertility treatment regardless of marital status or sexual orientation, unlike countries that restrict access to heterosexual married couples. Its inclusion in the Schengen Area also enables visa-free travel for most European patients, making it a convenient and reliable destination for cross-border fertility care. United Kingdom: Limited Compensation Model In European countries where compensation is limited or completely outlawed, altruism dominates as a motivation. The UK allows only expense reimbursement (currently £750 per cycle), leading to chronic donor shortages. Countries Where Egg Donation is Prohibited Germany is one of only four countries in central and western Europe where donating eggs is illegal. According to the German Embryo Protection Act, only a woman’s own artificially fertilized oocyte may be implanted, and transfer of foreign eggs is prohibited and subject to penalty. However, in April 2024, a German expert commission recommended legalizing but strictly regulating egg donation, with the recommendation being considered after the February 2025 federal elections. Other countries where egg donation is banned include Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Thousands of German couples travel to countries like Spain, the Czech Republic, Austria and Denmark every year to receive fertility treatment, which is not only expensive and inconvenient, but also subject to different legal regulations. Scandinavian Countries: Strict Altruism Countries like Norway and Sweden permit only expense reimbursement, resulting in very limited donor pools and long waiting lists for recipients. Many Scandinavian patients travel to Spain or other countries for treatment. Legal Framework Differences Spain offers liberal legislation allowing fertility treatment regardless of marital status and sexual orientation, while other countries may restrict access to married heterosexual couples. According to the 2024 European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies, only 31 countries provide IVF with egg donation to single women. Download the 2024 European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies here (pdf) Anonymity policies also vary widely. In Spain and many other European countries, donor anonymity is mandatory by law. In contrast, the United Kingdom and several Nordic countries require identity-release donation, meaning offspring can request identifying information about the donor upon reaching adulthood. In the United States, both anonymous and open donation models exist depending on the clinic. These policies shape not only legal responsibilities but also personal preferences about future contact, and should be considered when choosing where to donate. These geographical differences significantly impact both donor experience and compensation, making location a crucial factor in donation decisions.

Timing Your Decision: When and Where to Donate

These technological advances raise important questions about when and where to donate. Because not all clinics have adopted new methods, prospective donors may benefit from strategically choosing timing and location to align with emerging technologies. In the United States, clinical trials are underway at 15 sites testing reduced-stimulation protocols like Fertilo. Some technologies—such as AI-based egg quality assessment or improved vitrification—are already being used in select clinics across Australia, Japan, Spain, and parts of Latin America. However, their availability can vary significantly, even within the same country. Before committing to a clinic, potential donors should ask specific questions:

Understanding these issues will help you evaluate not only the clinical options but also the legal, emotional, and ethical considerations of donation. Timing also matters. Clinics that adopt newer technologies early may offer improved outcomes and reduced physical burden but could still be refining protocols. Others may follow established procedures but lag in integrating newer tools. Donors seeking to minimize time, medication load, or health risks might find it worthwhile to wait for newer protocols to become more widely available—or to travel to a clinic already using them. Understanding regional differences in regulation, compensation, and technology availability can help you make an informed, strategic decision. Donation isn’t just a medical procedure; it’s a logistical and ethical choice shaped by evolving standards.

The Bottom Line: A Better Experience Ahead

The convergence of stem cell technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced cryopreservation is fundamentally reshaping egg donation. While widespread adoption will take time, these advances may reduce the physical and emotional burden for donors—by shortening cycles, minimizing risks, and improving comfort—while also increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes for recipients through higher egg survival and quality. For potential donors, this these changes offer a new model for donation—less medically taxing and more precisely managed—allowing donors to contribute meaningfully with fewer personal costs. Whether motivated by altruism, financial compensation, or a combination of factors, donors can look forward to a future where their generous contribution requires significantly less sacrifice. As these technologies continue evolving, staying informed about advances and researching clinics offering new protocols will help ensure the best possible donation experience while maximizing the impact of your contribution to helping others achieve parenthood. The future of egg donation is emerging now, and it’s designed with donor welfare in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. If I donate using traditional methods now, can I later participate in clinical trials for new technologies like Fertilo?
Most clinics require a 3-6 month waiting period between donation cycles, and participation in clinical trials often has stricter eligibility criteria. Previous donation history may actually make you an ideal candidate for comparative studies, as researchers can assess how different protocols affect the same donor. However, some trials exclude previous donors to eliminate variables, so timing your first donation strategically could preserve future options for participating in cutting-edge research. 2. How do insurance implications differ between traditional donation and emerging technologies?
Traditional egg donation typically isn’t covered by health insurance, and complications like OHSS may create coverage gaps if not properly documented as procedure-related. Experimental protocols may face additional insurance challenges, as complications from non-standard treatments could be disputed. Some donors arrange separate medical insurance or ensure clinic liability coverage before participating in trials. International donors should verify whether their home country’s insurance covers complications occurring abroad. 3. What happens if AI assessment contradicts human embryologist evaluation of my eggs?
This scenario is increasingly common as AI tools are integrated alongside human assessment. Currently, most clinics use AI as a supplementary tool rather than replacement, meaning final decisions still involve human judgment. However, if AI consistently rates your eggs higher than human assessors, this could indicate subjective bias in traditional evaluation—potentially affecting your compensation or acceptance into programs. Conversely, if AI rates eggs lower, this might reflect morphological features invisible to human evaluation but predictive of developmental potential. 4. How do cross-border legal complexities affect donors when recipients are in different countries?
Legal parentage, anonymity rights, and future contact policies vary dramatically between countries, creating complex scenarios when eggs cross borders. A donor in Spain (mandatory anonymity) whose eggs are used by recipients in the UK (identity-release required) faces conflicting legal frameworks. Some clinics navigate this through careful contract language, but enforcement across jurisdictions remains untested. Additionally, GDPR and other privacy laws may conflict with identity-release requirements, creating potential legal vulnerabilities for donors. 5. What are the long-term career implications of multiple donation cycles, particularly for women in demanding professions?
Traditional donation requires significant time off work and may affect performance due to hormonal side effects, potentially impacting career advancement in competitive fields. The new 3-day protocols could eliminate most workplace disruption, but multiple cycles over several years still require strategic planning. Some professions with random drug testing may flag hormone medications, requiring medical documentation. Additionally, certain careers involving radiation exposure or physical demands may have temporary restrictions post-retrieval that donors must consider. 6. How do relationship dynamics change when one partner donates eggs while trying to conceive naturally?
This complex scenario—donating eggs while simultaneously trying to get pregnant—raises medical and psychological concerns often inadequately addressed. Hormonal manipulation from donation cycles can temporarily affect natural fertility, and the psychological impact of potentially helping others conceive while facing personal fertility challenges can be significant. Some clinics prohibit concurrent natural conception attempts, while others require psychological counseling to navigate the emotional complexity of this situation. 7. What quality control measures exist for the new stem cell-derived support cells in Fertilo technology?
The Fertilo method relies on engineered support cells derived from stem cells to replace natural granulosa cells, but quality control for these manufactured biological components remains unclear. Unlike traditional protocols using well-established pharmaceutical hormones, these cellular products may have batch-to-batch variation or contamination risks. Regulatory oversight for such novel cellular therapies is still evolving, and long-term data on potential immune reactions or other complications is limited. Donors should inquire about the source, manufacturing standards, and quality testing of these cellular products. 8. How do genetic counseling requirements change when extensive screening is reduced?
While research suggests less extensive genetic testing may be appropriate for young donors, this creates ethical dilemmas about informed consent and disclosure. If a donor carries a genetic variant that wasn’t tested for due to streamlined protocols, but is later discovered in offspring, liability questions arise. Additionally, reduced testing may shift genetic counseling focus from rare diseases to more common but complex traits like mental health predispositions or late-onset conditions, requiring different expertise and counseling approaches. 9. What safeguards exist against commercial exploitation as donation becomes easier and less burdensome?
Simplified donation protocols could inadvertently encourage exploitation of vulnerable populations, particularly in countries with significant economic disparities. The reduced physical burden might normalize repeated donations beyond medically advisable limits, while international egg tourism could exploit regulatory differences. Professional ethics boards are grappling with whether easier donation requires stricter oversight or whether reduced medical risks justify more liberal approaches. Some advocate for international standardization of donor protection measures. 10. How might epigenetic factors affected by different stimulation protocols impact long-term offspring health?
Emerging research suggests that ovarian stimulation protocols can influence epigenetic modifications in eggs, potentially affecting gene expression in resulting children. Different hormone regimens, stimulation intensities, and even the timing of retrieval relative to natural cycles may create distinct epigenetic signatures. The long-term health implications for children born from various protocols—traditional high-stimulation, reduced protocols, or laboratory-matured eggs—remain unknown and will require decades of follow-up studies to fully understand.