The New York State Department of Health (DOH) regulates egg donation in New York. The DOH has established a cap on compensation for egg donors of $10,000. This cap is intended to protect egg donors from being exploited and to ensure that egg donation is a voluntary act.
In addition to the compensation cap, the DOH requires egg donors to undergo a mental health evaluation. The mental health evaluation is designed to assess the donor’s emotional and psychological well-being and to ensure that she is fully informed about the risks and benefits of egg donation.
The mental health evaluation must be conducted by a licensed mental health professional who is not affiliated with the fertility clinic or egg donation agency. The evaluation must include a discussion of the following topics:
- The risks and benefits of egg donation
- The donor’s motivations for donating eggs
- The donor’s understanding of the process of egg donation
- The donor’s ability to make informed decisions about egg donation.
The mental health professional must then complete a report that outlines the results of the evaluation. The report must be submitted to the fertility clinic or egg donation agency before the donor can begin the egg donation process.
The DOH also requires egg donors to meet certain medical criteria. These criteria include:
- Being between the ages of 21 and 35
- Having a body mass index (BMI) of 19 to 29
- Being in good general health
- Having a family history without genetic diseases
- Having a negative pregnancy test
Egg donors must also undergo a physical examination and a blood test to screen for infectious diseases.
The DOH’s regulations for egg donation are designed to protect the health and safety of egg donors. These regulations help to ensure that egg donation is a safe and ethical process.