Feature
- Mental Health Screenings Not Necessary in Abortions
- The Burqa Ban is ON!
- Middle-Class Moms and Alcoholism: A Rising Epidemic?
- Murderous Moms: The Peters Tragedy
- Does Being a Pear-Shape Affect Long-Term Memory?
- Is Joan Rivers a Matriarch of Feminism?
- Mother-Murdering Teen Addresses the Media From Jail
- Forget Ron Burgundy ... Anchorladies on the rise!
- Celebrate! Argentina Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage!
- Saudi Group Using “Prophet of Four” Concept to Control Women
The latest debate in Britain is regarding women who donate their eggs to infertile women who want children and whether or not the “good Samaritan” deed is paying enough.
The average amount of money an American woman receives for donating healthy eggs to facilities is just around $6,000. According to recent reports out of the UK, the average British woman is only compensated approximately 250 pounds, which translates roughly into $383.00. How this is even understandable is beyond me; why women in the US would be so highly paid for the same type of “service” as a woman residing in the UK is actually kind of mind-blowing.
The rationale behind such monetary discrepancy? Dr. Francoise Shenfield of the University College of London has an idea. Shenfield states:
“In Europe, we have the general idea that altruism is a good thing, and we don’t want to turn human body parts into a commodity.”
This notion could possibly explain why women in certain countries are paid far less than women in other countries for the same type of donation, at least on the ethical side of the house.
And personally, I have to agree. When there are so many men and women out there suffering because they can’t have a child, who is another woman to dangle a price tag over another’s head for something that they, themselves, never truly invested in to begin with?
On the other side of the coin, women who are seeking financial gain are not queueing up to donate their eggs because of the low pay and this is causing a massive shortage for women who aren’t able to conceive on their own. Egg donations, traditionally, aren’t considered an invasive or lengthy procedure. Women are selected to donate and after a pelvic exam, blood work and an array of ultrasound examinations, the woman is signed up for the “donation cycle.” The cycle can take anywhere from three to six weeks, depending on the woman’s menstrual cycle, and during this time the donor is either administered — or self-administers — hormone treatments to regulate the cycle and produce “super” eggs. Once the eggs are determined to be “mature”, the donor undergoes a procedure involving a needle and a vagina, where the mature eggs are drawn out. This particular part of the donation process is a same-day surgery.
All in all, it’s a delicate situation and one not to be taken lightly in either case — but I think it still all boils down to money. If receiving pay for what is supposed to be such an altruistic act were obliterated, maybe more people wouldn’t be so quick to take it for granted one way or another.
Thoughts?
-
-
22
var feedback_widget = new GSFN.feedback_widget(feedback_widget_options);
I think women should be compensated and compensated well. They have to take a lot of drugs which have short term and long term risks like ovarian cysts and cancer. The collection is quite painful and the first period after collection also tends to be very painful and heavy. If I’m going to take a risk like that and get all those needles stuck in me for a total stranger then I’m going to expect a pay check.
I completely agree with you. It isn’t a simple procedure its painful and the hormones cause side effects physically and emotionally. And it requires surgery to remove the eggs. Sure its same day surgery but it is still invasive into your body and yearly vaginal exams are painful how can surgery be any better? Women she be paid highly for their donations.
I entirely agree.
Having to be shot up with horomones for an extended period of time is certainly something that deserves compensation. I can only imagine the stress that would be created by all the crying, getting into fights with others, and other general effects of an increase in female horomones would cause.
This isn’t some guy masturbating into a cup. This is turning your world upside for a month.
“who is another woman to dangle a price tag over another’s head for something that they, themselves, never truly invested in to begin with?”
I have to agree with what everybody else has commented so far. Donating eggs is a major investment.
The woman who adopted my baby went through several egg harvesting procedures in an attempt at IVF before she adopted. It was physically and emotionally draining and painful for her. And she wanted the baby that was supposed to come out of it! She was putting all her energy into it for purely selfish reasons and she almost didn’t feel that it was worth it.
Why would anybody do all of that for a stranger and not receive compensation? I could see doing it for a loved one purely out of love, but not for a faceless person who wants a baby. In fact, if they truly understood what was involved, the woman who’s getting the eggs should want to compensate the one who’s donating.
“If receiving money for what is supposed to be such an altruistic act were obliterated….” Why is it “supposed” to be an altruistic act? We’re not talking about giving somebody something they NEED, like food or shelter. No one NEEDS a child, let alone a child conceived from an egg that comes from someone with a high SAT score and a ridiculously good family medical history. There are plenty of kids who NEED to be adopted, but people who get an egg from someone else are doing it because they want to ensure good genetics (i.e. for selfish reasons). Basically, they’re getting a premium service, and they should pay a premium price (not to mention the fact that woman “donating” her egg should be reimbursed for the painful and troublesome process).
I realize made a logical jump there that might be misunderstood. I’m not saying that altruism is, by definition, giving someone something that is necessary. I just feel that there is not as much need for altruistic behavior in a situation such as this one, where there are other viable options (e.g. adoption, not having a child) for the recipient. Therefore, while I think that donating an egg _can_ be altruistic, I don’t think that we should assume that it’s _supposed_ to be.
I know a lot of women who wouldn’t be able to afford college if it weren’t for the money they received for their eggs. Which is funny, because you get more money for being in college, having a high SAT score or IQ, etc. The women who donate their eggs have to go through an extensive testing process, dangerous hormone treatments, a thorough search through their medical records, psychological testing, and they are also judged on their looks. I think they are compensated fairly.
[...] Should Women Be Highly Paid For Egg Donation? Should They Receive … [...]
I would give eggs for free to someone I knew and loved, but I would be hesitiant to give them away to strangers because I would be concerned my children would grow up and be attracted to/have kids with their half-siblings I donated!
[...] I’m going to give up my eggs, you better pay [...]
[...] I’m going to give up my eggs, you better pay [...]
For me, it comes down to a simple question of ownership: Do I own my own body?
If so, then I should be able to transfer ownership of it, in part or whole, in exchange for compensation. If I cannot ask for compensation, then I do not truly own it by the legal definition of ownership. I believe that women should be able to sell their eggs, but I also think we should be able to sell other organs to those who want to pay for them.
Bottom line, I grew it, I own it, I should be able to sell it if I want to.
Hmmm. I’d like to know what semen donors get paid in the U.K. then. Their process for donating is much quicker, easier, and not painful.
they get paid nothing, but that’s law here. they enacted the no pay for sperm donation stance because it was seen as quick money that fueled drug habits
I think this has way more to do with the healthcare system than altruism, I assume that there are people on both sides of the pond that would need more than 6k to donate, and there are those that would donate freely to help an infertile couple.
The cost of retrieving, implanting and all the other processes that go with egg donation is likely much more heavily government subsidised in the UK than in the US, so the cost reaped by donating the egg in the UK would likely mostly be put back into the system which pays for the rest of the process (with a smaller portion going to the donater), and in the US where the full cost would rest on the infertile couple/person or their insurance company, the funds that pay for the rest of the process are exclusive of the funds surrounding the egg donation. Therefore the person donating wouldn’t be sharing the pool with the government.
[...] I’m going to give up my eggs, you better pay [...]
There’s a huge difference between spending your afternoons in a soup kitchen or helping with most altruistic community projects and donating eggs. The health risks to you at a soup kitchen are pretty minimal. There’s not much discomfort or pain involved or anything along those lines. Not to mention you’re generally helping people who are in fact down and out as opposed to just needing a child. I mean don’t get me wrong, have all the sympathy in the world for people who can’t conceive. But unless it was someone I knew and loved personally, there’s no way I’d put myself through donating eggs for them. Sure, some people will go to great lengths and put themselves in great risk and/or discomfort to help strangers for free. But that’s not most of us. Donating blood is about as far as I’d go for free. And even then I expect my friggen orange juice and cookie in the end!
“Donating blood is about as far as I’d go for free. And even then I expect my friggen orange juice and cookie in the end!”
Ha! Thanks for the laugh. ^_^
I stopped donating blood when I found out they turned around and sold it.
Like I said before, I grew it, I want my cut.
If they aren’t selling it then how would they make money to fund the operation? You can find people who will donate for free but you’re not going to find people who will draw and process the blood for free plus there’s all the necessary equipment.
I would donate but I can’t. Blood banks don’t want my foreign blood and I pass out when I have blood drawn. It’s not a fear thing, it’s a physical reaction. If I’m lying down and having one vial drawn I’m usually OK. Sitting up and having multiple vials will have me on the floor for a good 20 minutes at least. I went in once to get about 5 or 6 vials drawn (first blood tests in pregnancy) and I told the woman I needed to lie down but she told me to just sit down and shut up. Predictably I started to black out, my speech was slurring and I’m slipping off the chair, and she started freaking out. I imagine she now listens when people tell her they’re going to black out.
My fiance donates plasma, and you do get paid for that.
I’d do it too, but I have a thing about needles……ugh.
I have had 3 beautiful little girls! I am only 22 years old and I am at the point of thinking about getting my tubes tied. I had recently been thinking about donating my eggs. Now while the money would be of great help the real reason would be before I tie my tubes why not help another woman and man feel the physical and mental emotions and greatness that comes with being parents. There’s no greater feeling in the world so if I can help at least one couple do that I would feel as if I was ready to tie my tubes and live the rest of my life.