The reason I decided to donate eggs in the U.S. was actually quite practical—during the pandemic, my job became unstable while I was raising two children. In Taiwan, I had already waited for months with several fertility centers but never got matched. Then, surprisingly, after filling out the application form and uploading a few nice photos on Global Egg Donor, I quickly received a response! It was completely legitimate—not a scam!
So I’d love to share my full experience with everyone about how the U.S. egg donation process works and what I personally went through.
The questions people ask me most often are: What are the requirements? How much does it pay? What are the costs? What’s the height or education criteria? How many times can you donate?
Honestly, the requirements are quite simple. You just need to be a female between 19 and 27 years old, at least 160 cm tall, and preferably with a college education. Of course, donors with higher education, taller height, and attractive appearance tend to have an advantage. Since the intended parents select donors based on photos, it’s important to choose your pictures carefully—features like double eyelids, big eyes, a defined nose, and a pleasant smile are often preferred.
If you can, record a short self-introduction video too! Good communication skills and confident body language can make a big difference and help you stand out during the selection process.
After completing the long online application and uploading my photos, a recruitment manager from LuanLove contacted me to confirm a few personal details. Once everything was cleared, and since I was able to stay in the U.S. for at least two weeks, my information was forwarded to one of their partner IVF centers in the United States. There, the medical team reviewed my profile, and once I was approved, they listed out the benefits and compensation for donors.
For example, donors who have never done genetic testing before usually start with around $8,000 USD for their first donation cycle. Beyond the basic requirements mentioned earlier, you’ll also need to undergo an antral follicle count test on the third day of your menstrual cycle—you must have at least 20 follicles and an AMH level above 3 to qualify.
One of the most common reasons applicants get rejected early on is due to genetic carrier results. Most people don’t realize they carry recessive genes for certain conditions, simply because they’ve never done a genetic test before. But don’t worry—being a carrier doesn’t automatically disqualify you unless it’s something severe (like certain blood disorders). For this step, you’ll need to pay around $2,000 NTD for shipping the saliva test kit to a U.S. genetics lab for analysis.
A quick note here: because some donors in the past disappeared after getting their travel arrangements, U.S. clinics now require that all medical exam and flight expenses be paid upfront by the donor. These will be reimbursed together with your final compensation after egg retrieval.
The standard pre-donation medical tests include:
- Follicle count & hormone tests
- Chromosome and genetic screening
- STD (sexually transmitted disease) testing
- Drug screening
Below is a breakdown of the upfront medical and travel expenses I personally covered before reimbursement.
At that time, PCR was also required, which cost a lot!
I won’t go into too much detail about the medical tests themselves, but one very important reminder — once your application is approved, don’t forget to apply for your ESTA before traveling to the U.S.!
Here’s a summary of the main tests and preparation timeline I went through:
- AMH test – to evaluate egg quality
- Vaginal ultrasound – to count antral follicles
- DNA saliva test kit – for genetic screening
- Chromosome analysis – full 23-pair karyotype check
- STD, drug, nicotine, and hepatitis B tests – required for health clearance
- Birth control pills – to help regulate ovulation timing before the cycle
- Apply for U.S. ESTA visa – mandatory for entry
- Book round-trip flight to the U.S.
- Customs interview and pre-departure orientation (online)
- Prepare for travel – packing documents, medications, and essentials for the 2-week stay
Once all these steps were done, everything was set for my trip to the United States to officially begin the egg donation process!
Since I had never been to the U.S. before, I was honestly really nervous—especially about not being able to speak English well. Thankfully, LuanLove arranged Chinese-speaking medical staff who gave me training sessions beforehand. They patiently taught me how to answer the basic questions I might get asked by U.S. customs officers or clinic staff, which really helped calm my nerves.
The flight to the United States at that time
You can take a taxi from American Airlines.
This is an IVF center in the US that uses egg donation. It’s so different from Taiwan!
Next, you will have to go to the hospital repeatedly to monitor your follicles!
This is the injection.
After the egg retrieval, I had 22 eggs. I’m very satisfied! The US stipulates that individuals can donate eggs six times in their lifetime. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to go to the US to donate eggs again next summer or the year after!
