Egg Donor Requirements in Texas
Becoming an egg donor in Texas starts with understanding the egg donor requirements and qualifications that fertility clinics and agencies expect. This page covers what it takes to donate eggs, including age, health history, medications, mental health, and the specific questions we hear most from applicants.
These guidelines reflect ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) standards and the clinical framework developed by TDC founder Sunday Crider, PhD, HCLD/ELD (ABB). When you understand what clinics actually need from donors, you can make a more informed decision about whether this is the right fit for you.
Health and Reproductive History Requirements
General Health
Donors should be in good general health at the time of application. Conditions that are well-managed and do not affect reproductive health may not disqualify you -- this is worth discussing with Jossie during the prescreen rather than assuming.
Reproductive History
You do not need to have had a child to be an egg donor. Donors with or without prior pregnancies are considered. What matters is that there are no known reproductive conditions that would prevent a successful egg retrieval or compromise donor safety during ovarian stimulation.
Good Ovarian Reserve
TDC screens donors for ovarian reserve as part of the prescreen process. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is the primary marker we look at -- it reflects the size of your remaining egg supply and helps predict how your ovaries are likely to respond to stimulation medication.
Donors with a low AMH may not be cleared for donation, not because of anything they have done wrong, but because the stimulation protocol may not yield enough eggs to make the cycle viable for the donor or the intended family. If your AMH has been tested previously and was flagged as low, mention it during your prescreen.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
A prior STI diagnosis does not automatically disqualify a donor. Many common infections -- including those that are treated or in remission -- may still allow you to participate, depending on timing and clinical guidance. The fertility clinic coordinating your cycle will conduct a full infectious disease panel as part of the standard medical screening process. TDC will walk you through what to expect at each stage.
Genetic and Family History
Donors are asked about personal and immediate family history of hereditary conditions -- including chromosomal disorders, early-onset cancer, significant neurological conditions, and other inheritable diseases. You will also complete a genetic carrier screening as part of the formal screening process. A family history of a particular condition does not always result in disqualification. It depends on the specific condition and the clinical risk assessment.
If you were adopted or do not have access to your biological family's medical history, this does not automatically disqualify you. TDC and the coordinating fertility clinic will work with you to determine what information is available and how to proceed.
Donors of Indigenous American heritage associated with a federally recognized tribe should be aware that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) may have implications for egg donation agreements. If this applies to you, please raise it during your prescreen so TDC can discuss it with you directly.
Medications
Hormonal Birth Control
Being on hormonal birth control -- including the pill, patch, ring, or hormonal IUD -- does not disqualify you. In fact, many donors are on birth control at the time of application. The fertility clinic will provide guidance on timing and protocol adjustments as part of your cycle preparation.
Antidepressants and Psychiatric Medications
A current prescription for an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication does not automatically disqualify you. The clinical evaluation looks at the nature and stability of the underlying condition, not the fact of medication use alone. Donors who are well-managed and stable are often eligible. This is one of the most common questions Jossie receives -- ask her directly rather than assuming you are not eligible.
Other Medications
Medications that typically disqualify donors include those used to manage active serious chronic illness, those incompatible with ovarian stimulation, and controlled substances. The safest approach is to disclose all current medications during the prescreen and let TDC and the fertility clinic make the clinical determination
Mental Health Evaluation
Why It's Required
All egg donors are required to complete a psychological evaluation with a licensed mental health professional before being cleared for a cycle. This is a standard ASRM-recommended part of the screening process -- it is not a pass/fail test designed to eliminate applicants.
Its purpose is to ensure that you have had an honest, supported conversation about what donation involves, how you feel about it, and what the experience may mean for you over time. Having a history of anxiety or depression does not disqualify you. Donors who are currently in active, unmanaged mental health crisis are not able to proceed until they are stable and have appropriate support in place.
Lifestyle Factors
Smoking and Substance Use
Current tobacco, nicotine, or marijuana use is incompatible with the ovarian stimulation protocol. Donors are asked to be free of these substances during the donation cycle. Prior history is evaluated case by case.
Tattoos and Piercings
A tattoo or piercing received within the past 12 months may affect eligibility depending on the clinic's infectious disease protocols. If it has been more than a year since your most recent tattoo or piercing, this is generally not an issue. If you received one recently, let Jossie know during your prescreen so it can be flagged appropriately.
Geographic Requirements
You do not need to live in a specific Texas city to apply with TDC. Donors in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and surrounding communities are all welcome to apply. Most monitoring appointments during your cycle take place at a fertility clinic near you. TDC works with partner clinics across the country to coordinate local monitoring, so you will not need to travel to a single central location.
What Can Disqualify You
Common Disqualifications for Donating Eggs
-
Age outside the 21-30 range
-
Active, unmanaged serious medical or psychiatric conditions
-
BMI outside the range accepted by the coordinating fertility clinic
-
Recent significant substance use (nicotine, marijuana, or controlled substances)
-
A genetic or family history condition that represents a meaningful hereditary risk
-
Infectious disease test results that are incompatible with donor participation under ASRM guidelines
The most common disqualifications for donating eggs happen either at the TDC prescreen stage or during formal clinic medical screening. This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers the factors that come up most often.
Common Questions About Specific Conditions
Can I donate eggs with an IUD?
Yes, in most cases. A hormonal or copper IUD does not typically disqualify you. The fertility clinic may recommend removal of a hormonal IUD before or during the stimulation protocol -- but this is a clinical timing question, not a disqualification.
Can I donate eggs with PCOS?
Possibly. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is evaluated case by case. Because PCOS can affect how ovaries respond to stimulation medication, it requires careful clinical review. Some donors with PCOS are cleared and participate successfully; others are not cleared because of elevated OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) risk. TDC will discuss this with you during the prescreen.
Can I donate eggs if I have herpes?
Herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2) does not automatically disqualify a donor. An active outbreak may defer treatment. Disclosure is required, and the fertility clinic's infectious disease protocol and ASRM guidelines apply.
Can I donate eggs after a tubal ligation?
Yes. Tubal ligation is not a disqualifying factor for egg donation. Eggs are collected directly from the ovarian follicles using a transvaginal ultrasound-guided procedure, which does not involve the fallopian tubes, so your ovarian function is unaffected.
Can I donate if I am on an antidepressant?
Possibly. The clinical team looks at whether the underlying condition is well-managed, not simply whether you take medication. If you're unsure whether you qualify, mention it during your prescreen and we can walk you through it directly.
What if I have a tattoo?
Depends on timing. Ink or piercings from the past 12 months may need to be disclosed under the clinic's infectious disease protocol; anything older than a year typically isn't an issue. Flag it during your prescreen either way.
What can disqualify me that I might not expect?
Some donors are surprised to learn that the following can affect eligibility -- a BMI outside the range accepted by the coordinating clinic, certain genetic carrier screening results, or a family history of conditions flagged during screening. None of these are automatic rejections, but they need to be discussed early so TDC can give you an accurate picture before you invest time in the formal application.