Body mass index (BMI), aka those three little letters (and a few too many/too little pounds) that may be keeping you from pursuing your desire to become an egg donor or surrogate. BMI is calculated by an algorithm that takes an individual’s height and weight and provides a value that is an indicator of the individual’s body fat. Family Creations explains the BMI requirements for surrogacy and egg donation.
Family Creations Requirements for BMI
Potential Surrogate BMI must be between 19-33
Potential Egg Donor BMI must be between 19-28
BMI – Classification
Below 18.5 – Underweight
18.5-24.9 – Normal
25-29.9 – Overweight
30-39 – Class 1 and 2 Obesity
40 and higher – Class 3 Obesity
BMI for Egg Donation: Being under or overweight affects egg quality. Statistics show that egg retrievals are less likely to be successful when a woman has a BMI of less than 19 or over 28.
BMI Requirements for Surrogacy: The doctors set these limits for a variety of medical reasons, but the most common include:
- Gestational diabetes. Women with a BMI that falls in the obese range are more likely to develop gestational diabetes than are women with a lower BMI.
- Preeclampsia. Increased risk of developing preeclampsia. A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the kidneys.
- Infection. Increased risk of urinary tract infections. Obesity also increases the risk of postpartum infection, in the case of both vaginal deliveries and C-sections.
- Overdue pregnancy. Obesity increases the risk of pregnancy extending beyond the expected due date.
- Labor problems. Increased risk of labor induction and interference of pain medication (such as an epidural block).
- C-section. Increase in the likelihood of elective and emergency C-sections—also an increase in the risk of C-section complications, such as wound infections.
- Pregnancy loss. Obesity increases the risk of miscarriage.
We would like our egg donor and surrogate applicants to know that if you have been disqualified from our program due to your BMI, it truly has nothing to do with your appearance. Our BMI requirements for surrogacy and egg donation are simply based on the fact that the correlation between BMI and infertility is overwhelming.
Learn More from Family Creations
If you would like to become an egg donor or surrogate but are over or under the recommended BMI for egg donation or surrogacy, be sure to check our blog frequently. Our in-house Nutritional Therapist will be posting nutrition tips and recipes that will guide you through making health and lifestyle changes towards your goal of a healthy BMI — and towards meeting the BMI requirements for surrogacy and egg donation.