Eggs for sale –
A new way of earning money for college

College women are inundated with ads offering good money for their eggs.

If you’re blond and blue eyed college woman, you’ll be paid more for your eggs.  If you’re Oriental and taller, you’ll be paid more.  Sometimes the ads may specify that you will be most desired if you are musical, or artistic, or, well, who knows what. 

But whether you are a very much desired donor or one who is not, there are health risks, because of the drugs required to cause an unusual number of eggs to ripen at once.  These drugs can have undesired effects ranging from nausea and diarrhea to future infertility to death.  These risks are frequently spelled out for women undergoing in vitro fertilization, but they are frequently either not spelled out for egg donors, or dismissed by the donors. 

Long term risks have not been examined and they may not be known for decades.  However, the current ethical guidelines for egg donation suggest that these risks are not negligible.  

Egg “donors” are really being paid for their time and efforts and a lot of money changes hands as a result of these donations.  Some of the experts cited in the articles below charge that in the process of the egg “donations” the health of the women takes a back seat.

Indeed the decision to donate ones eggs is a decision to be made with caution.

Egg-donor business booms on campuses
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2006-03-15-egg-donors-usat_x.htm

Health effects of egg donation may take decades to emerge
http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060807/full/442607a.html

Boston Globe Examines Ethics, Standards Of Egg Donation
www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=45995

Suppose you want in vitro fertilization but it’s too expensive for your budget.  One clinic is considering offering it for half price if you’ll donate half your eggs for research.
Payment For Stem Cell Eggs Debated
www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=40562

Updated on RARTL February, 2007