Do you remember when you used to go to the movies and there was a coin box in which you could drop quarters and dimes for charity?
Yeah, neither do we, but it used to be a thing. Then came online Kickstarter and GoFundMe campaigns, asking for donations of time, effort and money. So, while the medium of giving changed, the act of giving has persevered.
Well, girl, it’s changed yet again, and young women just like you – yes, you – are at the center of the new thing. That thing is egg donation, and it’s growing in popularity around the world. Instead of donating money to charity, women are donating their eggs – yes, you’re reading this right – the eggs inside their ovaries that are responsible for half the baby equation.
But what drives these women to do so? Here are three reasons why egg donation is becoming the next big act of giving.
They love the idea they are giving back
Women who are donating their eggs are usually driven, first and foremost, by an altruistic sense of giving back to other women looking to start their family. The idea that you can help another woman – or couple – have children is so powerful it is almost hard to grasp – you can literally affect the lives of several people with this one act of generosity. That idea goes far with women who choose to donate their eggs, inspiring them before, during and long after they have donated. Like organ, kidney or another type of physical donation, egg donation is a very personal and very powerful way to give back to others, but unlike those other types of donation, it is possible in your lifetime. And that’s kinda cool.
They feel valued because they are compensated for their time
The other big reason egg donation is becoming more mainstream for young, healthy women who want to give back is because it is equitable and fair – women are being compensated for their time and effort. Although compensation varies, women get an average of $8,000 per donation cycle. And that’s important. Gone are the days that women are not rewarded – in whatever way is most appropriate – for their work, their time and their abilities. And egg donation is no different – regardless of how good a woman feels about donating her eggs to help someone start their family, she should not be asked to do so for free. And she can use the money she earns to pursue her own dreams, whether that’s taking that long awaited trip to Italy, putting money down on her first home, starting her master’s degree or stashing the cash for a rainy day.
They get a sense of female empowerment and civic duty
It’s no secret that girls rule the world – and they have started to show it. This female empowerment – let’s call it girl power for short – extends into egg donation. It is an incredibly powerful way to feel in control, capable and necessary, and that instills a real sense of pride in women who donate their eggs. It’s also a noble and compassionate thing to do, and adds a feeling of connection to your community, your society and your place in the world. And that’s a big deal.
So to all the women who have donated – you rock, girl. And to those that might – you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. So go on, girl, make a change in the world.
