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Egg sharing
Can I Get Free IVF Through Egg Sharing?
Globally, there is a shortage of egg donors. At the same time, egg freezing and IVF is criticized as being inefficient as some people retrieve more eggs than they need or will likely use. The idea behind egg sharing is to help make the process more efficient, affordable, and ethical for all involved. In this article, we will answer all of your questions about egg sharing.
What’s inside this guide:
- What is egg sharing?
- Who is egg sharing for?
- What does the research say about egg sharing?
- Egg sharing pros and cons
- Egg sharing requirements
- Can I get IVF for free through egg sharing?
- How can I freeze and share my eggs?
What is egg sharing?
So what is egg sharing? Egg sharing is a fertility treatment option in which a woman undergoing egg freezing or in vitro fertilization (IVF) donates some of her eggs to another person or couple in exchange for discounted (or free) fertility treatment for herself. The eggs she keeps are hers to use as she wants – now or in the future. The eggs she donates are fertilized with sperm from the recipient's partner or a sperm donor, and the resulting embryos are transferred to the recipient's uterus in an effort to achieve pregnancy. Let’s dive into some of the most common questions about this exciting option.
Who is egg sharing for?
An egg sharing donor (or who we at Cofertility call a Split member) is someone who wants to freeze their eggs for their own personal use for free by donating half of the eggs retrieved to a family that can’t otherwise conceive. After the egg retrieval, the egg sharing donor has her eggs stored for 10 years for free, though she can use them anytime she wants before then. Some egg sharers decide to fertilize the eggs immediately to make embryos, and that’s okay too.
Read more in Should I Freeze Eggs or Embryos?
An egg sharing recipient (also known as the Intended Parent) can be turning to donor eggs for many reasons, including:
- Infertility due to low ovarian reserve
- Repeated IVF failures with own eggs
- Infertility due to recurrent miscarriage
- LGBTQ+
- Single males
- People without ovaries
What does the research say about egg sharing?
Egg share donors do not risk their own treatment outcome. A 2003 study of 276 egg-sharing cycles concluded that egg sharing “provides a good opportunity for recipients and egg-sharing donors to achieve a live birth.” Specifically, the study found that by sharing (donating) their eggs with another family, the egg sharers did NOT reduce their chances of pregnancy and live birth.
“Those patients participating in an egg-sharing programme are providing a valuable resource of donor eggs,” the authors noted, “while not compromising their own treatment outcome or putting themselves at any additional risk of complications.”
Egg share donors and recipients both have positive experiences. A 2017 systematic review looking at 11 studies concluded that “Egg sharing provides a practical option for more patients to access IVF, whilst also providing more donor oocytes. Improved information provision will result in greater awareness of egg sharing, with the potential to recruit more donors and meet the needs of recipients currently on long waiting lists.” Looking at the findings from the 11 studies, the authors found that:
- Egg sharing recipients regarded their experience positively and the majority were glad to have taken part in egg sharing
- Egg share donors are happy with their decision: 83.3% would donate again and only 2.1% regretted their decision to participate
- Egg share donors felt that egg sharing was a win-win solution for donors and recipients alike
Egg sharing pros and cons
There are a lot of things to consider when exploring egg sharing, whether you’re someone who is sharing eggs, or you’re an intended parent looking to receive eggs.
The benefits for egg sharing donors through Cofertility’s Split Program include:
- Freeze and store your eggs for 10 years, entirely for free
- Connect with others going through the process in our private online community
- The opportunity to make someone’s family building dreams a reality
The benefits for egg sharing recipients through Family by Co:
- Increase your chances of success with IVF
- Usually a lower total cost vs. paying a donor cash compensation
- Support your egg sharing donor in preserving her own fertility at the same time
- Connect with others going through the process in our private online community
- The opportunity to meet the egg share donor in advance (usually virtually)
Egg sharing donation is a complex and personal decision that should be made after careful consideration and consultation with a fertility specialist and other healthcare professionals. There are medical, emotional, and legal considerations to take into account, and it is important to thoroughly understand the pros and cons of egg sharing before making a decision.
Egg sharing requirements
For women interested in Cofertility’s Split Program, in which they can freeze their eggs for free when donating half the eggs retrieved (aka egg sharing), there are a few requirements. These requirements are in place to ensure the patient has a successful and healthy retrieval. Requirements include:
- You are between the ages of 21 - 33
- You are in good health with a healthy BMI
- You know your biological family medical history
- You are not a smoker
Read more in What are the Qualifications for Being an Egg Donor?
For women who want to do egg sharing as part of IVF, you have to be doing IVF for reasons unrelated to the health of your eggs. This usually means IVF due to tubal factor infertility or male factor. Egg sharers doing IVF have to undergo the same medical screening as egg sharers who are freezing their eggs for future use.
Can I do IVF for free by donating half my eggs retrieved?
People who participate in our Split program can freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the eggs retrieved to a family who can’t otherwise conceive. Since the egg retrieval process is the same for egg freezing and IVF, it is up to the woman if she wants to freeze eggs or go on to make and transfer embryos after the retrieval. Our program covers the cost of retrieving the eggs and 10 years of storage. Any medical expenses related to fertilizing the eggs, creating embryos, and transferring the embryos would not be covered.
So, how can I freeze and share my eggs?
Cofertility’s Split program offers women a chance to both freeze their own eggs and donate half the eggs to a family who cannot conceive otherwise. If you qualify for the program and decide to give half of your retrieved eggs, every expense associated with the egg freezing procedure — medications, supplements, travel if necessary, insurance, and 10 years of storage — are completely free of charge. We don’t even need a payment or credit card up front, as the family you match with covers all the expenses. It’s free and easy to see if you qualify – just fill out this quick form!
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Halle Tecco, MPH, MBA
Halle Tecco is a healthcare founder and investor, and women's health advocate. She previously founded Rock Health and then Natalist (acquired by Everly Health). She is a Board Director at Resolve and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School. Halle received her MBA from Harvard Business School and her MPH from Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in Women’s and Reproductive Health.
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Halle Tecco, MPH, MBA
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