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Choosing an Egg Donor By Religion

Whether you wish to honor your faith or ensure a connection to your spiritual beliefs, choosing an egg donor with a shared faith can make you more comfortable knowing that they have similar beliefs and values as you.

By understanding your options and knowing what to consider, you can make an informed decision that aligns with both your family-building goals and your religious values.

Contact us online to get connected with a fertility clinic. We can help you find a clinic close by that has an egg donation program.

This article will dive into how to choose an egg donor based on religion, what you can glean from egg donor profiles and various reasons why you may want an egg donor of a specific religion.

How to Choose an Egg Donor by Religion

Finding an egg donor can be done if you have a close friend or family member willing to donate their eggs or with a professional such as an egg donor bank, a fertility clinic or an egg donor agency.

These professionals typically have databases of the egg donors they work with that include various egg donor information such as:

  • Personal and family medical history

  • Interests

  • Religion

  • Personal accomplishments

  • Goals

  • Photos

  • And much more

    If you want to raise your child within a specific faith and feel that a donor who shares these values might provide a stronger connection to your child’s religious identity, there are professionals that specifically address religious preferences in their egg donor’s personal description.

    Jewish Egg Donors

    When it comes to Judaism, opinions on ART depend on the type of Judaism practiced.

    This paper from the National Public Library had a section specifically dedicated to infertility, in-vitro fertilization, embryonic stem cells and ovary transplantation.

    The gist of that section is that “IVF is absolutely obligatory when it is medically indicated in order for a couple to have children.” So if it’s to help create new life, it’s permitted under Jewish law.

    If you want a Jewish egg donor to continue that history in your family tree, you can look for facilities that have egg donor profiles that include their religion beliefs. .

    Muslim Egg Donors

    Third-party Muslim egg donors are not permitted.

    This goes back as early as 1980, when a legal ruling on Islamic law was issued by Al-Azhar University that suggested IVF and similar ART are permissible so long as they do not involve an form of third-party donation.

    If you want a Muslim egg donor, be aware that egg donation is allowable but only if the husband marries the egg donor temporarily.

    Christian Egg Donors

    ART is a fairly new technology and the various forms are not mentioned in the bible.

    Shepherds Theological Seminary, for example, gave five examples of biblical principles to help Christians guide their decision making.

    The third principle, procreation is to involve marriage, excludes any third-party-parent arrangement, such as egg donation.

    Depending on the type of Christianity you practice, there are different viewpoints.

    1. 1

      The Catholic Church’s position is that ART is immoral and illegal.

    2. 2

      Protestants vary in their beliefs with no one set of ethical guidelines for Protestant couples to follow. 

    3. 3

      Anglicans allows ART and has recently accepted egg donation by third parties.

    4. 4

      Eastern Orthodox Churches allows the medical and surgical treatment of infertility using the husband’s sperm but does not accept IVF and other ARTs.

      LDS Church Egg Donors

      In 2020, the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints (LDS) released an updated handbook for its leaders on a number of topics.

      One of those sections discussed medical health policies, with the policy on sperm donation being revised to include egg donation.

      The update put the decision on the potential LDS egg donor, although the church still made clear it discouraged the donation or selling of sperm and eggs.

      Fill out our online contact form to get connected to a fertility clinic near you that can show you profiles of egg donors.

      Does Religion Matter in an Egg Donor?

      This is something that only you can answer. Religion may or may not play an important part of your life and its not a trait that is passed down, its taught.

      Even if you choose an egg donor that is not of the same faith, you can still pass on your religious beliefs to your child.

      But be aware that religion can matter in an egg donor because certain religions have different views on assisted reproductive technology (ART) that helps those who can’t conceive naturally become parents. 

      If you grew up in a religious household that provided tangible examples of teaching right from wrong, showing mercy and empathy and just a general respect for your fellow human, you may want to pass that on to your child.

      Alternatively, if you grew up in a household that was atheist, maybe you want your child to experience the other side of the coin.

      Most fertility clinics will conduct health screenings and genetic testing vs. religious criteria that could speak against screenings and testing because they directly impact the health of the child.

      Genetic influence physical attributes and predispositions to certain conditions. Depending on your family’s priorities, choosing a donor who has a desirable genetic profile could matter more than shared religious beliefs.

      The availability of donors with specific religious backgrounds could be limited depending on where you live or who you work with. Limiting the search to donors with a particular religious background could reduce your available candidates to choose from.

      What disqualifies you for egg donation?

      To become an egg donor, you must meet requirements to ensure the health and safety of all parties involved. Potential egg donors can be disqualified for physical health, age, inheritable genetic disorders, use of contraception and not committing to the medical schedule.

      Learn more about where to find an egg donor
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