Egg Donation in Ukraine: Requirements, Stages, and Payment

Egg donation is a program in which a woman provides her eggs to treat another person's infertility. In medical documents it's also called oocyte donation. Participation involves screening, hormonal stimulation, and egg retrieval. The donor does not carry the pregnancy: the retrieved eggs are used for fertilization outside her body.

To understand whether such a program is right for you, it's worth finding out in advance the participation requirements, the visit schedule, and the financial terms. Below is the essential information worth knowing before your first consultation.

Requirements for egg donors are set out in the Procedure for the Use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, approved by Order No. 787 of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Key conditions include: age 18 to 36; having a healthy child already born; and satisfactory health, with no hereditary diseases, contraindications to donation, or dependencies listed in the Procedure.

At the same time, a specific clinic may apply narrower selection criteria. For example, Medical Plaza states an age range of 20–28, while the Nadiya clinic states 21–32 and adds further health requirements. So meeting the general age limit doesn't guarantee acceptance into any given program.

Can you be a donor without children? Under the Ukrainian Procedure — no: having a healthy child already born is explicitly listed among the requirements in clause 5.5.

The final decision on participation is made after a medical examination. Feeling well, having a regular cycle, or a previous pregnancy do not replace an assessment of the ovaries, general health, and medical history. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends exactly this kind of comprehensive approach to donor screening.

The screening needs to answer two different questions: whether there are any contraindications to participation for the donor herself, and what risks might be associated with using her eggs. This requires not only lab tests but also a conversation about past illnesses, surgeries, medications, and family medical history.

The list of examinations includes a gynecological exam, a pelvic ultrasound, a complete blood count, a coagulation panel, blood type and Rh factor testing, tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and hormone testing, among others. The clinic determines the full list and testing timelines in line with regulatory requirements.

Special attention is given to ovarian reserve — the supply of eggs in the ovaries. It's assessed using, among other things, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and an antral follicle count on ultrasound. These indicators help predict the response to stimulation, but they don't give a precise answer on whether a woman will be able to conceive naturally now or in a few years.

The scope of genetic screening is worth discussing separately. It's important to know exactly which conditions are being checked, what a detected carrier status would mean, and who will explain the results. Screening reduces risk but cannot guarantee the absence of every possible condition. International guidelines also call for psychological counseling for donors — a chance to discuss the decision and its long-term implications.

Before the consultation, it helps to prepare a list of medications you take and any prior medical reports. Don't buy a ready-made "donation test package" without checking with the clinic first — ask for the exact list, how long results remain valid, and who pays for the testing.

After selection, the doctor draws up a program plan. During stimulation, the donor takes hormonal medication that helps several follicles — small structures in the ovaries that may contain eggs — develop. Treatment usually involves daily injections and monitoring visits. The doctor assesses the ovaries' response via ultrasound and, if needed, blood tests.

Stimulation often lasts about two weeks, but the exact schedule depends on the protocol and how the body responds. This is only part of the program — prior consultations, testing, and preparation take additional time.

The goal of stimulation is not to retrieve as many eggs as possible at any cost. The updated guidelines from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) call for individualized dosing for donors, prioritizing their safety.

Once the follicles are ready, the doctor prescribes a medication for final egg maturation, often called the trigger shot. Timing matters: the retrieval procedure is scheduled within a specific window after the injection. This timing shouldn't be changed on your own.

During retrieval, the doctor uses ultrasound guidance to pass a thin needle through the vaginal wall and draw fluid from the follicles. An embryologist then looks for eggs in that fluid. The procedure usually takes about 20–30 minutes and is performed with pain relief, often including sedation. The type of anesthesia should be discussed in advance.

Not every follicle contains an egg. Sometimes fewer eggs are retrieved than expected, and occasionally none at all. So the follicle count on ultrasound is not a guarantee of the retrieval outcome.

Observation at the clinic is required after retrieval. Clear your schedule for the day of the procedure and arrange for someone to accompany you home. After sedation, you shouldn't drive for at least 24 hours; the medical team will explain any other restrictions.

In the first few days, moderate cramping similar to menstrual cramps and light spotting are possible. You should feel gradually better. The exact timing for returning to work and physical activity depends on how the procedure went and your doctor's recommendations.

The Ukrainian Procedure requires monitoring the donor until her next period begins. In other words, medical follow-up shouldn't end on the day of the retrieval itself.

As a benchmark, you can look at the published terms of specific programs. For example, as verified on September 21, 2026, the Life for Life page states compensation of 55,000 to 65,000 hryvnias. This is one clinic's offer — not an average figure for Ukraine and not a guarantee of payment in another program.

A single figure isn't enough to understand the real financial terms. Before starting a program, ask for a written explanation of exactly how much you'll receive, when payment will happen, and under what circumstances the amount might change. Wording like "up to 65,000 hryvnias" doesn't by itself mean every participant will get the maximum amount.

Compensation and expense coverage are worth discussing separately. Clarify who pays for testing, medication, anesthesia, travel, accommodation if needed, and support in case of complications. Also ask about the financial terms if the program has to be stopped before retrieval.

ASRM's ethical guidelines emphasize that compensation should not be tied to the number or quality of eggs retrieved. This isn't a Ukrainian payment rule, but it's a useful benchmark for evaluating an offer. Terms that create an incentive to hide symptoms or continue a program against medical advice deserve particular scrutiny.

The Ukrainian Procedure recommends no more than eight controlled ovarian stimulation attempts in total, with a repeat attempt no sooner than two months later. International guidelines can be more cautious: ASRM advises limiting donation to six cycles because of possible cumulative risk. These are different recommendations, not interchangeable rules.

Neither number means that this exact number of programs is recommended for every woman. Before participating again, you need to discuss your previous response to stimulation, recovery, and any complications with your doctor. Disclose donations at other clinics too — switching facilities doesn't reset your medical history.

Before signing any documents, it helps to have answers to four groups of questions.

Who is responsible for the medical side? Which clinic performs the stimulation and retrieval, who is your doctor, and how do you reach them? You can check the clinic's license in the Ministry of Health's licensing registry.

What will the program look like in your daily life? How many visits are expected, is travel needed, and when should you clear your schedule for the retrieval? Also discuss physical activity, sex life, and contraception during the program.

What happens if the plan changes? What are the terms for stopping the cycle, and for payments and expense coverage? Who arranges help in the evenings, on weekends, or after you get home?

How will your data and eggs be used? Who has access to your medical information, is storage or further use of the eggs planned, and what information might other program participants receive?

Confidentiality deserves its own discussion. Even if a program is designed so the donor's identity isn't disclosed, lifelong anonymity can't be guaranteed: genetic databases and consumer DNA tests can help establish a genetic connection, including through the donor's own relatives. ASRM specifically flags this.

It's also worth giving yourself time to think through the fact that a child genetically related to you may be born as a result. Psychological counseling can be a space to ask about your own boundaries, your family, and your feelings about possible future contact — not just a screening step.

You don't need to agree to a program while conditions that matter to you remain unclear. Asking to review documents, requesting further explanation, or asking for time to decide are a normal part of preparing.

On Ovomama, you can create a donor profile, browse clinic and agency programs, and start a conversation with other participants. The platform helps people find each other, but it doesn't perform medical screening and doesn't provide medical or legal services.

Registering is a step toward getting acquainted and discussing terms — not confirmation that you're eligible to donate. Start with questions, compare the answers, and discuss the medical side with a reproductive specialist. The decision to participate should remain yours.