South African Correspondent
Nairobi, Kenya – A rising number of young women, particularly university students, are donating their eggs to fertility clinics, driven by financial incentives.
This trend is linked to the growing acceptance of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a path to parenthood.
“The number of university girls seeking to ‘sell their eggs’ has increased significantly since we opened our clinic in 2022,” says Dr. Sarita Sukhija, consultant gynecologist and fertility expert at Myra Fertility Clinic in Westlands.
Although selling eggs or sperm is illegal, young donors are taking advantage of reimbursement for expenses incurred during donation. Fertility experts estimate that approximately 20% of couples face fertility challenges, making egg donation their only hope.
“We’ve seen an influx of calls from young women, mostly university students, inquiring about egg donation,” Dr. Sukhija notes.
“While egg donation should be altruistic, the financial aspect has become a significant draw.”
Key Points:
- Growing number of university students donating eggs for financial gain
- 20% of couples face fertility challenges, making egg donation a viable option
- IVF acceptance fuels egg donation trend
- Selling eggs or sperm is illegal, but reimbursement for expenses is permitted
Dr. Sukhija emphasizes the importance of ensuring donors’ physical and emotional well-being through thorough screening and counseling.
Sources
Myra FertiliClinicnic
Kenya Fertility Society
Zim GBC News©2024