Why Canadian Intended Parents Are Turning To US Egg Donors

For Canadians pursuing parenthood through egg donation, the search for a donor can be an emotional and logistical maze. Many assume that staying within Canada will be the most straightforward option. After all, it’s close to home and aligns with the country’s supportive approach to family building. But the reality is more complicated. 

Limited availability of donors, long waitlists, and legal ambiguity have led many Canadian families to explore US-based options. One path gaining attention is egg sharing, a unique model offered by Cofertility, where donors freeze their eggs for their own future use and share half with a family who can’t conceive without help. This approach not only attracts more donors, but also opens the door to matches that are thoughtful, transparent, and grounded in mutual respect.

In this article, we explore why more Canadians are choosing US egg donors, how egg sharing fits into the picture, and what intended parents should consider when deciding whether to look beyond Canadian borders. From legal differences and diversity of donor profiles to cost, logistics, and emotional readiness, we’ll break down the key factors helping families move forward with confidence.

More donors—and more choices—in the United States

Egg donation is legal in Canada, but only altruistic donation is allowed. Donors can be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses like travel to the clinic, but not compensated for their time, energy, or the medical risks involved. That means there are simply fewer people volunteering to donate.

As a result, many Canadian clinics report long waitlists for intended parents. And even when a match is eventually found, there may be limited choice in terms of donor characteristics, openness to contact, or timing.

In the US, where compensated egg donation is legal and clearly regulated, there’s a broader pool of donors. Intended parents can often match with a donor within days or weeks. And with more choices comes the ability to prioritize the traits that matter most to your family.

Egg sharing adds another layer of accessibility. At Cofertility, donors aren’t paid cash; instead, they get to freeze and store half of their retrieved eggs for free. The other half goes to a family who needs them. It’s a model that’s proving effective in bringing in a wider variety of donors who are thoughtful about the process and see value in a mutual exchange.

Legal clarity makes a difference

The Canadian Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA) was created to ensure ethical standards in fertility care. But it has left many in a gray area. What exactly counts as a reimbursable expense? Can you cover lost wages? What about child care for a donor during appointments? Because the law doesn’t spell this out clearly, some clinics err on the side of caution, limiting what can be covered and adding more red tape to the process.

In the US, things are more straightforward. Compensation is legally permitted, and contracts clearly define the donor’s rights, responsibilities, and compensation. Intended parents working with US donors usually have a clearer path forward, with support from clinics and legal teams that are accustomed to managing these arrangements. It is, however, worth noting that there aren’t official laws around the amount that donors can be compensated. This has created a system where, despite ASRM guidance that compensation remains under $10,000, donor compensation for women of certain backgrounds can well exceed this threshold. 

Cofertility’s approach is grounded in transparency. Because there’s no cash compensation (instead, donors keep half the retrieved eggs for their own future use), the legal and ethical concerns surrounding payment don’t apply. Donors are matched based on shared values and long-term alignment, which can offer additional peace of mind for intended parents, especially those navigating a system that already feels murky. What’s more, an intended parent will never pay more based on a donor’s education, heritage, or other facets of their background. 

Wait times to find a donor in Canada can feel endless

There’s no gentle way to put this: intended parents in Canada often wait a long time to be matched with the right egg donor. In many cases, it’s not just months—it’s over a year.

That wait can feel even longer if you’re juggling age-related fertility concerns, financial planning, or the emotional weight of uncertainty. And it can be incredibly frustrating to feel stuck—not for lack of effort, but because the system isn’t built to support the level of need.

By contrast, we at Cofertility have a large pool of pre-screened donors for fresh egg donation as well as the option for already frozen eggs. This can dramatically shorten the timeline.

At Cofertility, intended parents can view in-depth donor profiles and match on their own timeline. This flexibility allows families to move forward faster without compromising on the qualities that matter most to them.

A wider, more inclusive donor pool

Canada is proudly diverse, but a population’s diversity is not always reflected in its egg donor pool. Because the number of altruistic donors is small, it can be especially hard to find a match based on ethnicity, physical traits, personality, or cultural background.

This matters to many intended parents, not out of vanity, but because shared heritage can help children feel connected to their roots. Others may want a donor with a specific educational background, career path, or openness to future communication.

US-based programs typically have much broader representation across ethnicities, backgrounds, and personalities. Donor profiles tend to be more detailed, offering insights into their values, lifestyle, education, and medical history.

Cofertility’s model also encourages a different kind of donor: people who are thinking long-term about their own family-building future. They’re often thoughtful, informed, and interested in a transparent, respectful match. This can be especially meaningful to Canadian intended parents who want to feel good about how—and with whom—their family is being created.

Cost matters—but so does predictability

There’s no getting around the price tag: working with a US egg donor is often more expensive than pursuing an altruistic match in Canada. 

However, egg sharing through Cofertility offers a more accessible route. Because donors aren’t paid cash and are motivated by freezing their own eggs, the financial structure is different—and often more manageable. The goal isn’t to bypass cost entirely, but to bring down barriers while maintaining transparency and fairness.

It’s also important to weigh financial cost against emotional cost. Long waits, canceled cycles, and unclear legal protections can be draining. Some families are willing to pay more in exchange for a clearer, faster, and more predictable path.

Cross-border coordination isn’t as complicated as it sounds!

Working with a clinic or agency outside your home country may feel overwhelming at first, but many US-based programs are well-versed in helping international intended parents—especially Canadians.

In general, embryos will have to be made in the US. Then, you can either travel to the US for the embryo transfer or have the frozen embryos shipped to your clinic in Canada.

With support from your clinic, lawyer, and Cofertility, these logistics can be managed in a way that keeps the process moving and minimizes surprises. At Cofertility, we work with families from across North America and can help coordinate all aspects of the match and cycle, including timelines, legal documentation, and embryo transfer planning.

What about openness and future contact?

One concern some intended parents have with US donors is whether future contact is possible. The idea of raising a donor-conceived child without the option for connection, whether medical, emotional, or curiosity-driven, can feel limiting.

We do not believe in anonymous egg donation. We encourage families and egg donors to explore and understand their options. Most relationships are open to some level of future communication. You can learn more about disclosure options here.

Why more Canadians are going this route

There’s no single reason Canadian intended parents are looking to the US for egg donors—it’s a combination of factors. Wait times. Legal clarity. Donor diversity. Emotional bandwidth. Financial tradeoffs. A desire for more control in a process that often feels anything but.

Egg sharing is adding a new option to the mix—one that’s appealing to Canadian families who want ethical, accessible, and transparent matches. At Cofertility, we’re seeing growing interest from Canadian intended parents looking for just that: a better path forward, even if it means crossing the border.

Final thoughts

Choosing to build your family through egg donation is never simple. And navigating the Canadian system, with all its constraints and uncertainties, can add even more pressure to an already high-stakes decision.

Looking to the US—and programs like Cofertility’s—won’t be right for everyone. But it may offer something many Canadian intended parents are craving: clarity, choice, and a real chance to move forward.

If you’re exploring your options, we’re here to help you understand what’s possible. Whether you're just starting to research or you’re ready to find a donor match, Cofertility offers a supportive, ethical, and modern approach to egg donation—one that’s designed with families like yours in mind.