Donating plasma for a little extra cash is a common practice for many college-aged students. However, fewer women know about the increasing practice of oocyte -- or egg donation -- which often compensates $8,000.

Fertility clinics across the country seek out willing women to donate their eggs for infertile families looking to have children via in-vitro fertilization. Ideal candidates for egg donation are between the age of 21 to 30.

Prospective parents look for a variety of qualities in a donor.

"There is a huge shortage of Jewish and Indian donors," said Holly Kahle, vice president of SurroGenesis USA, a Williamsport-based donation center.

While physical traits are a high priority to parents, education often is an important characteristic in a donor. Ph.Ds, doctoral, and ivy-league degrees, along with past successes in eggs, lead to higher compensations.

New York-based comedian Jennifer Dziura said she decided to reap the benefits of having desirable genes. A Dartmouth graduate who scored a perfect 1600 on the SATs, Dziura had the sought-after "smart" genes, along with being an ex-model and wearing a size 2.

"I think I have completely fabulous genes, and if someone's going to make a baby, they should only buy the best. I think all babies should be part-me," Dziura said.

Kahle said a woman interested in donating her eggs would first fill out an application, along with having an over-the-phone interview with a clinician. Then, her application would go on file until a match was found with a set of parents. Following the initial match, the donor would undergo a series of appointments, including a physical exam, genetic testing and a psychological exam.

After all of the preliminary exams, a donor is put on birth control pills to synchronize her cycle to that of the surrogate or receiving mother. Two weeks later, in addition to the birth control, a donor is given her first injection of hormone medication, Lupron.

Dziura said Lupron shut down her menstrual cycle and sucked the estrogen out of her body.

Having the complete opposite effect, the second hormone, Pergonal, was injected into Dizura about two weeks after starting Lupron. A fertility drug, Pergonal increases egg production in the ovaries so that more eggs can be retrieved from the donor to increase the chances of fertilization. At this point in the series of medication, a donor is obligated to refrain from sex, because of an increased ability to get pregnant on Pergonal.

The final step in egg donation is the retrieval of the egg. The donor is put under anesthesia, and her eggs are collected by inserting a needle into the ovaries through the vaginal wall.

Though most donors have no complications during the procedure, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a condition seen in about 1 percent of donors, according to The Georgia Reproductive Specialists in Atlanta. OHSS is caused by the over stimulation of the ovaries and its symptoms include bloating, weight gain and shortness of breath. In severe cases, doctors may have to remove liquid from the abdomen of the patient.

Egg donation facilities are currently unregulated by the government and long-term effects are unknown, since the practice is relatively new.

Roger McCarter, biobehavioral health professor, said he is most concerned with the risk of infection from the procedure. "If something goes wrong, you risk the potential to have a family," McCarter said, adding that he thinks a young women in a financial bind should donate plasma before looking into egg donation.

Kahle said the most important thing for a young woman to consider before donating is that there is a possibility that anywhere from eight to 20 children could be produced from one donation.

Dziura said she was matched with a gay man who hired a surrogate mother. Due to an anonymous policy instituted by her egg donor agency, Dziura is unaware if her procedure was successful.

She did agree in her contract to allow any of her biological children to contact her when they become of age. She was paid $8,000 for her donation, and despite minor discomfort associated with her birth control, she said she would absolutely donate again.

"I think for a generation that delays parenthood until our 30s or longer, donating eggs for some women is the way to put kids out there in the world without actually having to feed and clothe them yourself," she said. "If I got hit by a car tomorrow, I'd be a little happier knowing that my genes are out there."