Using an egg donor to grow your family is a deeply personal decision—and a significant financial investment. The total amount you will pay can vary widely, depending on whether you opt for a fresh or frozen egg donor cycle, work with an agency, and other factors.
In this article:
- Understanding Donor Egg Costs
- How much does it cost to work with an egg donor?
- Fresh vs. Frozen Donor Eggs
- Do fresh donor eggs have a higher success rate?
- Additional Costs to Consider
- Ways to Reduce Donor Egg Costs
- Egg Donor Cost FAQs
- What can egg donor compensation legally cover?
- How much do egg donors make?
- Are donor eggs covered by insurance?
- Are donor eggs tax deductible?
- How much does it cost to work with an egg donor agency?
- Why is donor egg IVF so expensive?
Making the decision to use an egg donor is rarely simple, and the emotions surrounding that choice often correlate to your path to parenthood.
For some, like dads-to-be pursuing family building through surrogacy, using an egg donor is an expected, exciting, and empowering step in a long-anticipated journey.
For others, such as opposite-sex couples who have struggled to conceive on their own, arriving at this decision can be far more difficult, accompanied by complex layers of grief, loss, or anger.
No matter what has brought you to this point, understanding each of the costs involved in working with an egg donor will help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
Quick Summary
How Much Do Donor Eggs Really Cost?
Working with an egg donor can cost anywhere from $11,000 to $60,000+. Factors like choosing fresh vs. frozen donor eggs, and whether you work with an agency, egg bank, or your clinic's in-house donor program, can all significantly impact the final cost.
Looking to save? Don't forget to explore options like frozen donor eggs, shared cycles, or fertility grants.
Note: All costs mentioned in the following section are current as of August 2025 and are provided for informational purposes only. Pricing is subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, please contact Illume Fertility.
Illume patients interested in a fresh donor egg cycle can gain access to our exclusive, in-house egg donor pool by submitting a $2,000 program deposit. This fee will be applied towards the total amount you pay, which is $28,861.
Once you are matched with an Illume donor, you will have five days to make the remaining payment. If payment is not received, the donor will be released back into the donor pool.
Here's what is included:
*Recipient medications are not included in this fee, and typically cost around $900. If you are working with a gestational carrier, there may be additional costs.
Even if your insurer doesn't cover donor eggs, they may cover other aspects of the IVF process, including fertilization, embryo storage, or biopsy for embryo testing.
Your financial responsibility will be your deductible and coinsurance, as well as any outstanding balances. This amount will be collected during your financial clearance.
With all that in mind, let's break down each part of the process and explore the various factors at play when utilizing donor eggs. All estimates below assume the intended parent (egg donor recipient) has no insurance coverage and will be paying entirely out of pocket.
Disclaimer: The amounts referenced below are national averages and do not reflect Illume Fertility's in-house plan pricing.
The total expense largely depends on whether you opt for a fresh donor egg cycle or use frozen donor eggs. Each option has its own distinct advantages and cost implications, which we'll explore in more detail below:
A fresh donor egg cycle involves recruiting a donor, the cost of her egg retrieval, and fertilizing the resulting eggs in an embryology laboratory before transferring an embryo to the recipient parent (or their surrogate, in some cases).
This process is typically more expensive but offers higher success rates compared to using frozen eggs. We'll dive deeper into the pros and cons of fresh and frozen donor eggs later.
Key Takeaways
One of the biggest benefits of a fresh donor cycle is the ability to retrieve multiple eggs, increasing the likelihood of viable embryos. However, the higher cost and more complex logistics (such as donor synchronization and travel) can make this option less accessible for some intended parents.
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Using frozen donor eggs is often more cost-effective and convenient. These eggs are retrieved and frozen in advance, eliminating the need for donor synchronization and making the process faster.
Key Takeaways
While frozen eggs may have a slightly lower success rate per egg compared to fresh cycles, advancements in egg-freezing technology (vitrification) have significantly improved outcomes.
Many egg banks also offer guarantees, such as a minimum number of viable embryos from a purchased batch.
A large-scale study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that IVF cycles using frozen donor eggs may result in lower live birth rates than those using fresh donor eggs.
Researchers analyzed over 11,000 donor egg cycles from fertility clinics across the U.S. and found that 50% of IVF cycles using fresh eggs led to live births, compared to 43% when frozen eggs were used.
When looking at individual embryo transfers, the success rates were 56% with fresh eggs and 47% with frozen eggs.
While egg freezing has become much more common, and is no longer considered experimental thanks to advancements like vitrification—this study is one of the first to compare outcomes on such a large scale.
Note: It’s important to remember that the data wasn’t adjusted for donor characteristics like age or health, so results should be interpreted with some caution.
It’s also worth considering that this research looked specifically at eggs from young, healthy donors, not eggs frozen for personal fertility preservation, which are often retrieved at a later age. Since egg quality tends to decline over time, outcomes for people using their own frozen eggs may differ.
Still, this study gives us valuable insight into the potential differences in success between fresh and frozen donor egg cycles.
Beyond the basic expenses of purchasing donor eggs and undergoing IVF, there are several other costs to factor into your budget:
The intended parent or gestational carrier will require hormonal medications to prepare their uterus for embryo transfer. These medications can cost between $3,000 and $5,000 per cycle.
If you have any remaining embryos after a successful IVF cycle, you may choose to freeze them for future use. Storage fees range from $500 to $1,000 per year, depending on the facility.
Contracts between intended parents and egg donors (particularly in fresh cycles) require legal agreements to clarify parental rights and responsibilities. Legal costs typically range from $3,000 to $7,000.
If the egg donor is located in another state or country, travel expenses may include flights, accommodations, and other related costs, adding another $2,000 to $5,000 to the total.
Compare egg donation options by type, cost range, and what’s included in each path.
While the cost of using donor eggs can be substantial, there are several strategies that can help make this path to parenthood more affordable and accessible. Here are a few tips:
Some fertility clinics or agencies offer shared donor egg programs, which allow two or more recipients to use eggs from the same donor, significantly reducing the cost per family while still maintaining a high chance of success.
Other models, such as Cofertility's Split Program, allow eligible donors to freeze half of their eggs for free while donating the other half to a family in need, covering all medical, medication, and storage costs.
It’s an ethical, non-compensated model that empowers donors to preserve their fertility while helping others build their family.
Ask your clinic whether shared-cycle options are available with both fresh and frozen eggs, and clarify exactly how many eggs or embryos are guaranteed.
Note: Illume Fertility does not currently offer a shared egg donor program.
Illume Fertility is proud to offer an exclusive, in-house egg donor program that gives intended parents direct access to a diverse pool of thoroughly screened, compassionate egg donors.
Benefits of working with our in-house team:
Our in-house donor pool offers fresh donor egg cycles only.
However, if you opt for frozen donor eggs, you can transfer them in to Illume from an outside donor bank. In these cases, you would only pay Illume for the egg fertilization process, which ranges from $11,000 to $14,000.
Note: If there is active insurance coverage for any part of your treatment cycle, Illume Fertility will submit the bill directly to your insurer.
There are several financial support options that can ease the burden of upfront donor egg costs, including fertility loans, grants, and scholarships.
At Illume, we work directly with financing partners like LendingClub, Sunfish, and Future Family. We also encourage you to explore all available fertility treatment grants and scholarships, such as:
Pro tip: Apply early! Many of these grants have strict deadlines, income criteria, and limited application windows (often only open a few times per year).
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While insurance coverage for donor egg IVF is limited, some plans do offer partial coverage for certain aspects of the process, so it's worth investigating your policy. Your plan may cover:
Contact your insurance provider directly and ask the following questions:
Note: If you’re working with the team at Illume, your assigned Financial Coordinator will help you confirm and maximize any insurance benefits you may have.
Frozen eggs are generally more affordable than fresh donor cycles due to reduced medical and logistical costs. Key savings typically include:
Another perk? Frozen eggs are often available immediately, while fresh cycles with an egg donor can involve 3–6 months of coordination.
Still have questions? You’re not alone.
Navigating the financial side of using an egg donor is overwhelming, especially when costs vary so widely. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions intended parents have about egg donor compensation, insurance coverage, financial assistance, and more.
Egg donor compensation is not payment for the eggs themselves, which would be illegal and unethical. Instead, it is a reimbursement to the egg donor for:
All compensation must comply with ASRM's ethical guidelines and applicable state laws.
At Illume Fertility, our in-house egg donors receive $15,000 per cycle and can donate up to six times, for a lifetime maximum of $90,000.
Nationally, first-time egg donors typically earn between $5,000 and $10,000, while repeat donors may receive $10,000 to $12,000 or more for subsequent cycles.
Several factors can impact the compensation amount, including donor experience, location, and the policies of the agency or clinic they are working with.
In most cases, donor eggs are not fully covered by insurance, though there are exceptions.
Some insurance plans may cover parts of the process (i.e. fertility medications, monitoring appointments, or embryo transfer), but they often exclude costs directly related to egg donation, such as donor compensation, agency fees, or legal expenses.
Coverage also depends on:
Because coverage varies so widely, it’s important to take the following steps:
KEY TAKEAWAY
Even if donor eggs aren't covered under your plan, you may still be eligible for financial support through grants, loans, or fertility benefit programs like Carrot or Progyny.
In general, the costs associated with egg donation may be tax deductible, but it depends on your specific circumstances and how the expenses are classified. According to the IRS, medical expenses related to fertility treatment are deductible if they are incurred to affect a taxpayer’s own reproductive function.
For intended parents using an egg donor, some associated costs (such as medical procedures, medications, and legal fees) may qualify as deductible medical expenses if the IRS considers them directly tied to the taxpayer’s ability to conceive.
However, not all costs are guaranteed to be deductible, and the IRS has not issued specific rulings on all aspects of third-party reproduction. For example, expenses related to compensating the egg donor or agency fees may fall into a gray area and require individual interpretation.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Always consult with a tax professional experienced in reproductive medicine to determine what can be legally deducted based on your specific situation.
Using an agency egg donor typically costs more than using a clinic's in-house egg donor pool - anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 or more. Agency fees, donor compensation, and other associated expenses can drive up the total cost.
Keep in mind: While some agencies are upfront about their fee structures, others charge a blanket fee that can be harder to break down. If you're uncertain about any costs, be sure to ask for clarification before moving ahead with the process.
The cost of using donor eggs reflects the many moving parts involved, from compensating the donor for their time and effort, to covering agency coordination, legal contracts, and medical procedures like screening, medications, and egg retrieval.
Travel, insurance, and labor-intensive lab work (like fertilization and embryo freezing) can add additional expenses.
While the price tag can feel overwhelming, it’s tied to the complexity and coordination required to ensure a safe and successful process for everyone involved.
We know that making the decision to grow your family with the help of an egg donor is a deeply personal and emotional decision. At Illume, we’re here to help you understand all of your options (including how to make this process more affordable) so you can take the next step feeling empowered and supported.
Whether you decide to use fresh or frozen donor eggs, it’s crucial to work with a reputable fertility clinic or egg bank, understand all associated expenses, and consider ways to reduce costs.
If you’re considering using donor eggs and want personalized guidance, our expert team is ready to answer any questions and help you find the best path forward - while always taking your unique needs, preferences, and financial situation into account.
Have questions about donor egg costs or want to explore Illume's in-house egg donor program? Contact us today to schedule a consultation.