Egg Donation in Canada: Requirements, Screening & Process

Canada allows women to donate human eggs to infertile couples. This can be done for a friend, a family member, or a stranger. Canada has laws set up to protect the donor's identity.

Screening

• If you would like to be an egg donor, you must first be screened at a fertility clinic. The clinic will perform a physical examination and blood testing, looking for infectious agents. A complete medical history will be obtained and a psychosocial evaluation performed.

Process

• If you are accepted, you will undergo hormone therapy to stimulate the growth of multiple eggs in the ovaries. You will be sedated while a doctor removes the eggs vaginally with a needle. The eggs will then be fertilized outside the donor's body.

Compensation

• Canada approved the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) on March 11, 2004. The law prohibits payment to an egg donor. However, the donor may be reimbursed for any expenses resulting from the donation.

Disclosure

• Under the AHRA, the donor's identity will never be disclosed to the recipients of the donor egg, to the offspring conceived from the donation, or both, unless the donor gives written approval.