Background: Ovum donation has become an essential component of invitro fertilization (IVF) necessary for successful IVF cycles. This study is aimed at assessing the socio-demogarphic characteristics and follicular performance of ovum donors attending IVF clinics at Abakaliki.

Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that used a census sampling technique and a structured self-administered questionnaire proforma for data collection. Questionnaires from 423 first-time female ovum donors, who properly filled their proforma questionnaires were selected out of 444 female participants and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences IBM, SPSS version 26 and presented in tables. P-values of ≤0.005 were considered statistically significant.

Result: Majority of the ovum donors, 91(21.5%) were 23 years of age. The mean age was 22.35 ± 3.435 (2 S.D). Ovum donors who were 23 years old performed better in terms of oocytes quantity and quality. This was statistically significant, p-value= 0.016. Majority of the ovum donors, 392 (92.7%) were nullipara. Nulliparous donors produced more eggs and better-quality eggs than higher parity female donors. This was statistically significant, p-value 0.000. Majority 390 (92.2%) of the donors were unmarried and had better follicular performance in quantity and quality than married donors. This was found statistically significant, p-value 0.000. Greater percentage, 87.9% (372) of donors were under graduate students. Donors who were non-smokers were more in number, 402 (95%) and had better follicular performance than smokers. This was statistically significant, p-value 0.000. Majority of the oocyte donors, 407 (96.2%) confessed they were not under any form of stress and they produced more oocytes that were of better quality than their counterparts who were under one form of stress or the other, p-value 0.024. Majority, 411 (97.2%) of the donors did not engage in at least three times per week non-strenuous sporting activities. Those who engaged in at least three times non-strenuous sporting activities had better follicular performance, p-value 0.000. Majority of the oocyte donors, 319 (75.4%) had normal body mass index (BMI) and had better follicular performance than those with abnormal (higher and lower BMI). This was statistically significant, p-value 0.000. Majority of the ovum donors, 314 (74.2%) attained menarche at age 13 and had better follicular performance in quality and quantity. This was statistically significant, p-value 0.000. Financial gratification was the main reason for ovum donation, accounting for 421 (99.5%) of the oocyte donors. The main source of recruitment of donors in this study was friends, accounting for about 385 (91.0%) of donors. This was statistically significant, p-value 0.000.