If you’re thinking about donating your eggs, it’s important that you check the requirements. Every reputable clinic has a list of requirements that you will need to meet to be eligible for egg donation.
The reason behind this is simple: they want to ensure that the eggs are as healthy as possible and they want to ensure the donors are as healthy as possible (thereby reducing the risk of complications during the process).
When looking at the requirements for egg donation, you’ll see that there is a BMI requirement. The BMI is one of many factors used to consider a person’s overall health and whether you’re healthy enough to undergo the egg donation procedure.
What is BMI?
The term “body mass index” (BMI) refers to a value that is calculated by using an individual’s weight and height. This can be achieved through the use of an online calculator or a simple formula, which are both based on the guidelines created by the World Health Organization (WHO).
There are specific BMI ranges that are considered underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. And while there are some people who may fall into the “overweight” or “obese” categories but are still considered healthy (due to their muscular build or other factors), it’s generally accepted that having a BMI outside of the healthy range does come with some health risks.
Why BMI Matters
For women who are looking to become egg donors, having a BMI under 30 is important for a few reasons. The primary reason why BMI is taken into account is because donors must be put under sedation during the egg retrieval process. A healthy BMI is critical to helping to reduce any potential risks during sedation.
BMI requirements for egg donation
The average BMI requirements for egg donors can vary depending on the specific fertility clinic or agency that is handling your application. However, most clinics and agencies will require that donors have a BMI within a certain range in order to be eligible to participate in the egg donation process.
At most fertility clinics and agencies, this range typically falls between 18 and 30. These numbers are based on the guidelines established by the WHO, which defines a “normal” BMI as falling between 18.5 and 24.9. Here at KindEos, we require donors to have a BMI equal to or less than 30. A BMI over 30 is considered by WHO to be obese.
How high BMI impacts egg quality and development
As previously mentioned, there are BMI requirements in place to help ensure the quality of the eggs that are being donated. The following are a couple of specific reasons why a high BMI can affect the quality of your eggs:
Presence Of Fat Tissue (Adipose Tissue)
Eggs are cells. And like all cells in the body, they are surrounded by a layer of adipose tissue. This tissue helps to protect the eggs and also plays an important role in egg maturation and development.
However, when a woman has too much adipose tissue in her body (as is often the case with women who have a higher BMI), it can affect egg development and make egg retrieval more challenging. This is because adipose tissue produces hormones that can cause swelling and inflammation.
How low BMI impacts donor’s physical wellbeing
Although there are no restrictions on how low your BMI can be, it’s important to note that donating eggs can pose some risks if you have a low BMI. This is because having a low BMI can put you at a higher risk for developing a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Increased Risk Of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
OHSS is a condition that can occur when the ovaries are stimulated too much during the egg retrieval process. This stimulation causes an increase in the amount of fluid that’s released into the abdomen, which can potentially lead to complications.
Women with low BMIs are at a higher risk for developing OHSS because their bodies don’t have as much fat tissue available to act as a buffer against the effects of the fertility medications and egg retrieval process.
This can sometimes result in an excessive amount of fluid being released into their abdomen, which puts them at increased risk for developing OHSS and other related complications.
Find out if your BMI qualifies you as an egg donor
Here at KindEos, we have strict requirements in place to not only ensure the quality of the eggs being donated but also to help protect the health of our donors. To help minimize any potential risk, we perform thorough physical screenings of potential donors to ensure that potential donors are healthy enough to undergo the process.
If you are interested in becoming an egg donor and would like to find out if you qualify, we encourage you to contact us today.
Our standard is 30 or lower as a general rule. We don’t accept any donors with a BMI higher than that because we simply do not want our donors to take even a minor risk when it comes to egg donation. Here is a calculator to help access where you are at.
Our team of experienced professionals will be happy to answer all of your questions and help get you started on the path to donation.
