Egg donation: Pros & Cons - Fertility News

Shape, May, 2002 by Colleen Rush

Egg donation -- a procedure that involves being injected with hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs -- has revolutionized infertility treatment: In 1998 (the most recent data available), there were more than 2,587 egg-donor births. But it's also raising serious ethical and medical questions.

Some clinics, private individuals and Web sites are offering egg donors as much as $50,000, and without payment guidelines or limits on the number of times a woman can donate, there is concern that big cash incentives may be too enticing. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) estimates that a reasonable compensation for a donor's time and effort (not for the eggs themselves) is $3,000 $4,000. "Higher fees may unduly influence a woman's decision and blind her to potential risks," says Rebecca Dresser, a member of the ASRM ethics committee and a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Approximately 1 in 100 donors require hospitalization for complications.

In short, if you're considering donating and money is your main motive, think again. "This is not an easy $3,000," says Dresser. "It's an invasive procedure, and while the risks are low, you need to consider them." For more information: asrm.org.