Egg donors in Los Angeles are paid from $10,000 per cycle at Poppy

If you are thinking about donating eggs, you want to know what you will be paid and why. You also want to know what is covered on top of that, and what to watch for in ads. This guide explains how pay works at Poppy and what to ask any agency or clinic in Los Angeles.

Poppy pays from $10,000 per completed cycle

Egg donors at Poppy are paid from $10,000 per completed cycle. A cycle is complete when the egg retrieval takes place.

Pay is a flat amount. It does not change with how many eggs are retrieved. It does not change with your education, your looks, your ethnicity, your test scores or any other trait. Your exact amount is written into your agreement before you start any medication.

Flat pay follows ASRM's ethics guidance

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) publishes ethics guidance on paying egg donors. It says compensation should not vary with a donor's characteristics, such as ethnicity or education, or with the number or quality of eggs retrieved. It also says information about compensation should be accurate and transparent.

We follow that as our practice. Every donor gives the same time and effort, so every donor is paid on the same terms. A donor whose cycle produces fewer eggs has done the same work as anyone else.

California requires this notice

California Health and Safety Code section 125325 requires anyone who advertises for egg donors to include the following notice. Here it is, word for word.

Egg donation involves a screening process. Not all potential egg donors are selected. Not all selected egg donors receive the monetary amounts or compensation advertised. As with any medical procedure, there may be risks associated with human egg donation. Before an egg donor agrees to begin the egg donation process, and signs a legally binding contract, she is required to receive specific information on the known risks of egg donation. Consultation with your doctor prior to entering into a donor contract is advised.

Pay is for your time and effort

Egg donation is real work. Pay recognizes your time, effort and discomfort. It is not a price for your eggs.

Here is what that time looks like:

• Screening. Appointments for a medical exam, bloodwork, an ultrasound, genetic testing and a psychological evaluation.
• Injections. Small hormone injections, usually once or twice a day, for about ten to twelve days.
• Monitoring. Short clinic visits every few days during the injections, usually early in the morning.
• Retrieval. A short outpatient procedure under sedation. Someone drives you home, and you rest for the day.
• Recovery and limits. A few days of feeling bloated or tired. During the cycle, your clinic will also ask you to avoid some activities, such as hard exercise.

For the full picture of screening and the cycle, read Egg donors need to meet clear health and age requirements.

The intended parents cover the rest separately

Your pay is yours. The costs of the donation are paid by the intended parents on top of it, as your agreement sets out. They include:

• Medical costs. Screening, genetic testing, medications, monitoring visits and the retrieval.
• Travel. Mileage, and flights, hotels and meals if your clinic is not local.
• Your own lawyer. An independent lawyer who reviews your donor agreement and advises only you.
• Complication insurance. A policy that covers medical complications from the cycle.
• The psychological evaluation. Your meeting with a licensed mental health professional.

None of these come out of your pay. If a cost connected to the donation lands on you, tell us, and we will sort it out.

Pay comes from escrow on a set schedule

Funds for your pay and agreed costs are held by an independent escrow company, not by Poppy. Payments go out according to your signed agreement.

Pay is usually released after the retrieval.

Sometimes a cycle is stopped after medications begin, for example if your body responds too strongly or not enough. Your agreement says what you receive if that happens. Read that part with your lawyer before you sign.

Ads can make pay hard to compare

You may see ads in Los Angeles offering much larger amounts for donors with certain traits or from certain schools. Those offers pay more for who you are, which ASRM's guidance advises against. They can also mix pay with costs that are paid anyway, or with amounts you only receive if certain things happen.

When you compare any program, ask:

• What is my pay for one completed cycle, stated on its own?
• Does it change with how many eggs are retrieved?
• Who pays for my medical costs, my lawyer and my insurance?
• When is pay released, and what happens if a cycle is cancelled?
• Who holds the funds?

Taxes deserve their own plan

Donor pay is generally treated as taxable income. You may receive a Form 1099 for it. It helps to set aside part of your pay for taxes when it arrives.

Tax rules depend on your situation, and we do not give tax advice. Talk to a tax professional before you sign, and keep a copy of your agreement and your payment records.

You can donate more than once, within limits

Many donors donate again. ASRM recommends that a donor complete no more than six cycles. Your clinic will tell you what applies to you, and each cycle has its own agreement.

The first step takes a few minutes

Egg donors at Poppy are 21 to 31, in good health and non-smokers. Our partner clinics are on the Westside. If you meet the basic requirements, you can start with our short pre-screen. A real person on our team reads every application and will follow up with you.

This article is general information. It is not legal, medical or tax advice.