Find out here why South African law allows compensation for egg donors, what the compensation covers and how much it is, and how to ensure you not only receive the full compensation immediately when donating, but also that you are safe and protected during the egg donation process.

In South Africa, and around the world, there is a legitimate and fast-growing need for donor eggs. The reason is that thousands of couples worldwide are facing infertility caused by problems with the female partner’s eggs, which prevent them from falling pregnant naturally. For example, there may not be enough eggs to enable a pregnancy, or the eggs may be of poor quality, or it might be that the eggs carry a genetic disorder.

For these couples, the only way to have their own baby is to find an egg donor, willing to donate a few healthy eggs. These precious donated eggs are then fertilised with sperm from the male partner or a sperm donor in a lab, before being implanted in the mom-to-be’s uterus, where the fertilised egg will hopefully become a pregnancy.

It is easy to imagine how this can completely change the lives of infertile couples, bringing endless joy as new families are created thanks to the amazing gift of an egg donation.

Most egg donors donate their eggs for this reason: to bring endless joy to a couple they will never meet. However, in recognition of the time, effort and expense involved in an egg donation, egg donors are also legally entitled to some compensation.

Why does South African law allow compensation for egg donors?

People are often surprised to find out that South Africa law entitles women who donate their eggs to compensation. This could be due to the fact that it may appear that the compensation is payment for the eggs. This is certainly not the case! The eggs are donated – however, the egg donors may be compensated for their time, effort and expenses that are part of the donation process.

It is easy to understand why compensation for egg donors is allowed by South African legislation, once you understand the process of egg donation, which we share below.

Understanding the egg donation process

To bring the joy of having a baby to another women, egg donors really do go the extra mile.

Unlike, for example, donating blood, which takes a half an hour or so, or donating an hour of your time at a soup kitchen, donating eggs requires quite a bit more time and involvement.

At Cape Fertility’s Premium Egg Donor Program, we have streamlined the egg donation process into a 7-step process. Even so, the brief overview of our process of donating eggs will make it easy to understand why egg donors are allowed to receive compensation, and why it is right and fair that they do.

1. Apply to become an egg donor by simply filling in your contact details here https://eggdonationcapefertility.co.za/contact-us/, or contacting our Egg Donor Fairy God Mother, Linda, on 066 22 55 003 or donors@capefertility.co.za, who will answer all your questions and guide you step-by-step.

2. A confidential medical questionnaire must be completed to determine if you are suitable to be an egg donor.

3. A completely anonymous and confidential Egg Donor Profile is created for you with Linda’s help.

4. Your Egg Donor Profile is then added to Cape Fertility’s world-class and secure database of egg donors, from which moms-to-be can select a donor.

5. When you are selected, you will be required to attend a 2-hour appointment with our fertility specialists and our psychologist. (If you do not live in Cape Town, we will arrange for you to travel to our Cape Town clinic, at no cost to yourself!) These experts will explain the entire egg donation procedure in detail and answer any questions and concerns you may have.

6. The next step – completing an egg donation cycle – starts with fertility injections for 10-12 days to grow the eggs. This is followed by egg retrieval day, for which you will need to take a full day off work or activities, even though the medical procedure takes only around 30 minutes under a mild general anaesthetic. You will be able to go home about an hour after the procedure. On the day of and after your egg donation, you will receive the maximum permissible compensation allowable in South Africa, which is paid directly to you by Cape Fertility.

7. Our team will remain in contact with you after your egg donation experience to make sure there are no problems following your donation and to invite you back. Should you decide to donate again, the maximum permissible compensation is paid to you for every egg donation cycle.

What is covered by the legal egg donor compensation?

The compensation allowed by law is intended to cover an egg donor’s input of time and effort, which – as explained above – is quite a bit more than that required for donating in other ways.

By law, egg donors in South Africa can be compensated for reasonable expenses – which include, for example, travel expenses to and from the clinic for the various appointments, medications, consultations, examinations, blood tests and for the procedure on egg donation day, all of which require time, effort and commitment from the donor.

How much compensation do egg donors receive?

Since 2022, the maximum permissible compensation allowable in South Africa under the National Guidelines from the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine (SASREG), is R8000 per donation cycle.

Because this compensation is only for the donor’s time, effort and expenses, and not for the eggs, all egg donors in South Africa receive the same regulated amount of compensation for an egg donation, regardless of how many eggs are collected.

The compensation to egg donors ensures that the process of donating does not cost more than these selfless women are already giving in time, effort, and expenses.

Protect yourself when donating your eggs

Having understood the egg donation process, we are certain you will agree with our team at Cape Fertility that it is right and fair that donors are compensated for their giving a considerable amount of time and effort, and to cover any expenses they may incur in making this substantial donation that can help another experience the joy of their own baby.

This is why when you donate through our Cape Fertility Egg Donor Program, we make sure your donation does not involve any costs to you, when you are already giving so generously!

The best way to ensure that you receive the maximum permissible compensation allowable and to protect your health when donating eggs is to donate at a reputable, certified and registered fertility clinic with an excellent track record. (You can visit the South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) at https://sasreg.co.za/ for a list of accredited clinics.)

At Cape Fertility, one of the largest and most reputable fertility clinics in South Africa, you will be cared for by specialist fertility doctors and nurses, who have been looking after egg donors for many years and have safely completed thousands of previous treatments. Attention to the medical safety of our egg donors during the procedure is our primary concern.

To find out more, simply fill in your contact details here, or contact our Egg Donor Fairy God Mother, Linda, on 066 22 55 003 or donors@capefertility.co.za. Your information is 100% confidential and will under no circumstances be made available to anybody else.
Contact us now to join our friendly, professional and leading Egg Donor Program!