Overcoming Egg Donation Disqualifiers: Who Can’t Donate Eggs and Why?

Many people are excited to donate eggs but quietly worried: “What if I don’t qualify?” But remember, egg donation disqualifiers are not about judging your worth. They exist to protect you as the donor, give intended parents the best chance of success, and follow strict medical and FDA rules.

Besides, some egg donation disqualifiers are temporary, while others are permanent for medical or legal reasons. The hard part is knowing which is which and if it’s worth trying again.

This guide walks you through both sides: the most common reasons you may not qualify right now, and overcoming egg donation disqualifiers through lifestyle changes, medical follow-up, and reapplying at the right time.

So, if you’ve been turned down before or you’re worried you might be, this page is here to help you understand your options and decide your next step with Lucina Egg Bank.

What are the top three automatic egg donation disqualifiers?

The three most common automatic egg donation disqualifiers are age, BMI, and nicotine use. These are usually checked first so you don’t waste time if you’re clearly outside the safe range for treatment.

1. Age

For Lucina Egg Bank, you cannot donate eggs if you are under 19 or over 31.

Most egg banks and fertility clinics set age limits because egg quality and quantity change over time and legal/psychological maturity matters.

• Under 19 – You’re still very young, and there can be concerns about informed consent, long-term decision-making, and psychological readiness.
• Over 31 – Egg quantity and quality start to decline, which lowers success rates for recipients and makes cycles less predictable.
• Lucina’s range (19-31) – This window balances your safety, emotional maturity, and the highest chance of healthy embryos for intended parents.

If you’re close to the limit (for example, recently turned 19 or 31), it can still be worth submitting an application so the medical team can review your situation.

2. BMI

A BMI range outside roughly 18-28 is a common egg donation disqualifier at egg banks like Lucina.

BMI is not a perfect measure of health, but it’s used as a quick safety screen for anesthesia and the egg retrieval procedure.

• Higher BMI can make egg retrieval riskier:
  • Increased risk with anesthesia and IV sedation
  • Ovaries can be harder to see on ultrasound, making the procedure more complex
    
• Very low BMI can mean:
  • Irregular or absent periods
  • Higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) once you start medications
    
• At Lucina, a BMI of 18-28 is the usual acceptable range, but the medical team reviews each case.

If your BMI is just outside the range, you may be advised to reach a safer range and reapply later.

3. Nicotine

No. Current nicotine use (smoking, vaping, or nicotine products) is an automatic disqualifier.

Nicotine has a direct, negative impact on egg quality and cycle success.

What counts as nicotine use:

• Cigarettes and cigars
• Vaping and e-cigarettes
• Nicotine gum, patches, and pouches

Clinics typically confirm this with urine or blood tests. If you’ve recently quit, you may need to be nicotine-free for a set period before you can be approved.

Reproductive health disqualifiers

These are the questions most potential donors ask. Some situations are automatic disqualifiers; others are reviewed case-by-case by Lucina’s medical team.

Irregular periods

If your periods are very irregular or absent, you may be disqualified until your cycles normalize.

Egg donation cycles rely on your ovaries responding predictably to medication.

• Mild irregularity (a few days difference each month) isn’t always a problem.
  
• Very long cycles, skipped periods, or no periods (amenorrhea) can signal hormone issues that make donation unsafe or ineffective.
  
• You may be asked to see a gynecologist or endocrinologist first and apply once your cycles are stable.
  

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

It depends. Severe PCOS is often a disqualifier; mild, well-managed PCOS may be accepted and reviewed case-by-case.

PCOS can affect how your ovaries respond to fertility medications.

How PCOS affects eligibility:

• Severe PCOS + very high AMH – Higher risk of OHSS, a serious complication; this is often a disqualifier.
• Mild / managed PCOS – You may still be eligible if your cycles and hormones are relatively stable.

If you have PCOS, be honest on your application. You may be asked for recent lab results or a doctor’s report.

Remember, at Lucina, a specialist reviews PCOS cases individually, and your safety always comes first.

Breastfeeding

No, you cannot donate eggs while you are currently breastfeeding.

You’ll need to stop breastfeeding and wait for your natural cycle to return before starting the donation process.

Why breastfeeding is a temporary disqualifier:

• Breastfeeding changes your hormone levels and often suppresses ovulation.
• Fertility medications used in egg donation can enter breast milk and are not recommended for nursing babies.
• Most clinics, including Lucina, ask you to wait 2-3 menstrual cycles after you stop breastfeeding before applying.

You are welcome to apply once you’ve weaned and your periods are regular again.

Birth control or IUD

Some birth control methods are compatible with egg donation; others are disqualifiers or must be stopped first.

Generally speaking, here’s what we follow at Lucina Egg Bank:

• Usually okay / flexible:
  • Hormonal IUDs
  • Copper IUDs
  • Standard birth control pills (you may need to switch or pause under medical supervision)
    
• Often disqualifiers or must be stopped well in advance:
  • Depo-Provera (shot)
  • Arm implants (e.g., Nexplanon), which suppress ovulation for a long time

At Lucina Egg Bank, the medical team will tell you if your current birth control needs to be removed or changed and help you plan the timing.

Genetic egg donation disqualifiers

Some disqualifiers are less obvious because they relate to genetics and family history rather than how you feel day-to-day.

Can I donate eggs if I don’t know my family medical history?

If you cannot provide basic medical history for parents and grandparents, you may be disqualified.

Intended parents and doctors need enough information to screen for inherited conditions.

Why family history matters:

• Clinics usually ask about at least three generations: you, your parents, and your grandparents.
  
• Adoption with completely unknown biological background can be a barrier, especially for certain laws and FDA guidelines.
  
• Some missing details are okay, but “no information at all” makes proper genetic risk assessment difficult.
  

If you’re adopted but know some medical information (for example, from an open adoption), include everything you do know in your application.

Genetic or mental health conditions

Serious inherited illnesses and certain mental health histories can be disqualifiers.

This is not about stigma. It’s about reducing the risk of passing on severe conditions.

Examples that may disqualify you:

• Known genetic mutations (e.g., BRCA, Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X)
• Strong family history of early-onset cancers
• Certain severe, inherited mental health conditions in close relatives (for example, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in multiple family members)

Every case is evaluated individually. If you have a known genetic risk, you may be referred for genetic counseling.

Also, psychological screening is part of the process. The goal is to protect your mental health during the intense hormone changes and appointments.

Lifestyle and logistical disqualifiers

Some disqualifiers have less to do with health and more to do with safety rules, reliability, and practical logistics.

Do STIs or STDs disqualify you from donating eggs?

Active, untreated STIs will temporarily disqualify you. Some infections are permanent disqualifiers, thought.

Temporary disqualifier:

• Untreated infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea
• You must complete treatment, retest negative, and then reapply.

You’ll be screened for STIs as part of the medical workup. Be honest about your history; many issues can be treated before moving forward.

Can unreliable schedules or “ghosting” disqualify you?

Yes. Missed appointments, late responses, or unreliable communication can disqualify you, even if you are medically eligible.

Egg donation cycles are time-sensitive.

Why reliability matters:

• Medication must be taken at specific times each day.
• Ultrasounds and bloodwork have narrow time windows.
• If you don’t show up or stop responding, the entire cycle—and the intended parents’ plans—can be cancelled.

Lucina looks for donors who respond promptly, show up consistently, and can commit to several weeks of monitoring and medications.

Does my location or immigration status disqualify me?

Location usually does not disqualify you at Lucina Egg Bank.

That’s because intended parents often covers travel for approved donors, so living far from the clinic does not automatically disqualify you.

That said, legal status can. To receive compensation, you must be:

• A U.S. or Canadian citizen, or
• Have valid legal residency (for example, a Green Card) so compensation can be processed and reported as taxable income.

If you have questions about your status, you can still submit an application and discuss it with the donor team.

Quick check: Are you eligible to donate eggs?

Use this quick checklist as a first filter. It is not a final decision, but it can help you decide if it’s worth applying.

You may be a good candidate if you can answer “Yes” to most of these:

• Age 19-31?
• BMI roughly 18-28?
• Nicotine-free (no smoking, vaping, or nicotine products)?
• Regular menstrual cycles (not completely absent)?
• No severe unmanaged PCOS or other major untreated hormone disorder?
• No history of HIV or Hepatitis C?
• No recent untreated STIs (or they’ve been treated and cleared)?
• No severe, unstable psychiatric history or recent hospitalization?
• Able to commit to appointments and daily medication for several weeks?
• U.S./Canadian citizen or legal resident able to receive taxable income?

If you answered “Yes” to most of these and you’re still interested, the next step is simple.

How to overcome egg donation disqualifiers

If you’ve faced disqualifications for donating eggs, it’s natural to feel disappointed.

That said, it’s not always hopeless. Overcoming egg donation disqualifiers often starts with small, realistic steps you can track and build on over time.

Health and lifestyle changes

• Working toward a safer BMI range with support from a doctor or nutritionist
• Quitting smoking or vaping and staying nicotine-free
• Improving sleep, diet, and stress management to help regulate cycles

Medical follow-up

• Treating and retesting after an STI
• Seeing a specialist for irregular periods, PCOS, or thyroid issues
• Talking to your provider about mental health medication stability and whether donation is appropriate for you

Planning for reliability

• Looking honestly at your work, school, or caregiving schedule
• Deciding when you could realistically attend multiple appointments and take daily medications on time

Keep records of any changes, such as test results, weight changes, or notes from doctors. These details can help the clinic reassess your eligibility and start overcoming egg donation disqualifiers.

When and how should you reapply after being disqualified?

Keep in mind: you should only reapply once the reason for your disqualification has actually changed.

• Lifestyle or BMI reasons – Wait until you’ve maintained healthier habits for a while, not just a few days.
• Recent STIs – Complete treatment, get retested, and keep your results; many clinics need documentation.
• Cycle-related issues – Reapply once your periods are more regular or after your doctor confirms things are stable.
• Reliability issues – Reapply when your schedule is calmer and you’re confident you can commit.

Timing can vary from a few months to longer, depending on the reason. The best way to know is to contact your egg bank and ask directly what changes would give you the best chance of overcoming egg donation disqualifiers when you reapply.

• What changed would you need to see?
• How long should I wait before reapplying?

At Lucina Egg Bank, you’re always welcome to ask for clarity before starting the process again.

You are more than your eligibility status

Being disqualified as an egg donor can hurt, but it does not define your health, your future fertility, or your value as a person.

For some people, overcoming egg donation disqualifiers is possible with time, support, and medical guidance; for others, the safest choice is not to move forward. Both outcomes are valid and come from a place of protection, not judgment.

If you’re unsure where you stand:

• Review the checklist above.
• Talk openly with a healthcare provider.
• Reach out to Lucina Egg Bank with your questions.

Whether you qualify now, qualify later, or find another way to support families, you still have options—and you still deserve clear, compassionate answers.

Disqualifiers