Egg Donation: Should You Choose a Clinic Program or an Agency?

By Alyssa Schoenemann

Third Party Reproduction Director, Ivy Fertility

If you're exploring egg donation, you've probably noticed there are dozens of programs across the country to choose from. With so many options, it can be tempting to simply go with whichever program offers the highest compensation. But the decision is more layered than that — and understanding the differences can help you find a program that fits your life, your values, and your long-term wellbeing.

At the most basic level, egg donor programs fall into two categories: agency programs and clinic programs.

• An egg donor agency is a company that recruits donors and matches them with intended parents. Agencies operate independently of any single fertility clinic.
• A clinic egg donor program operates directly within a fertility clinic, under the oversight and management of physicians and clinical staff.

Agency Programs: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Often offer higher or more flexible compensation
• Work with clinics across the US, giving you the option to travel to different cities

Cons:

• Wait times for a cycle are often longer — sometimes months to a year or more
• Medical screening typically happens after you're matched with intended parents
• This often means traveling to the intended parents' clinic for screening — and if you don't meet their specific requirements, the cycle can't move forward
• Screening is frequently repeated with each new match and cycle, since every fertility clinic sets its own requirements
• Disclosure and contact with intended parents can vary by match

Clinic Programs: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• You work directly with medical professionals from the start
• Screening happens when you apply, not after you're matched
• You receive copies of your own test results and learn more about your fertility
• If your results disqualify you from donating, the clinic walks you through what that means for your own future fertility and family-building goals
• Travel is limited. The clinic is often near where you live, so there's minimal disruption to your daily routine (though if the clinic is part of a larger fertility network, you may still have the option to travel to other locations for retrieval)
• If the clinic has an internal egg bank, cycles can often move faster with more flexible scheduling
• Clinics are held to standards set by professional organizations (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Genetics Association), FDA regulatory oversight and inspection, and the laws of the state where they're located
• Care is streamlined — you work with the same team throughout
• You have a dedicated team supporting you through screening, cycling, and post-cycle care

Making the Right Choice for You

Becoming an egg donor is a deeply personal decision, and the program you choose can shape your entire experience — from how supported you feel to how much you learn about your own health along the way.

At Ivy Fertility, our dedicated egg donor teams and physicians are here to walk with you through every step of the process, answer your questions, and help you feel confident in your choice, all while helping intended parents achieve their dream of building a family.