Study Finds Rise In Women Who Provide Egg Donations Are Not Coerced By Money
Women who are providing their own human eggs for donation to infertile parents are on the rise. Human egg donation used to be considered a rarity. However, the current demand for eggs and the increasing compensation provided to donors has been studied to determine if women have been more compelled to contemplate donation and go ahead and exchange their eggs for money. "...Researchers concluded that, although the egg donors had good use for the money they received as compensation, $5,000 is not so high as to be coercive. Increasing reimbursement to $7,000 might attract more donors, but it is not clear whether it would increase the risk of coercion," according to the highlights of the ASRM. The process of egg donation used to be something that women only considered for a close sibling who was unable to conceive. Now it seems to have become so commonplace for women to choose to undergo this process that money as the motivator has been under review. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only recently enacted U.S. regulations regarding donor cells and tissues, including egg donations in May 2005. Patient safety was the main agenda for the FDA, as regulations now require testing the donor for infectious diseases before donations are allowed. However, compensation for the recruitment for egg donors continues to stir up a lot of debate. Most of the professionals agree that egg donors should receive compensation for their time, effort and discomfort, according to the highlights from the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). The amount of compensation varies based on location, policies of the respective clinic, and various agency involvements, among other differing ethical opinions. Usually most donors receive in the range of $5,000 to $10,000 for their egg donation. Researchers in Illinois had surveyed anonymous donors who had already donated their eggs to determine the motivation behind their decision. The survey was conducted to clarify the extent of whether or not their decision was influenced by their desire for compensation. The 3-year study concluded that none of the donors spent their reimbursement on luxury items or vacations. Most of the donors surveyed (80%) stated that they would donate again. However, they also felt that higher compensation would be required, because of taxes incurred. "It is essential that egg donors be fairly compensated. The procedure asks a lot of them: to conscientiously follow a strict schedule of injections and to undergo some uncomfortable, sometimes painful procedures. The compensation is recognition that egg donation requires serious dedication and effort and that there are some risks involved. "Many women who investigate the possibility of becoming an egg donor decide not to do so when they learn more about the hard work that is required. Yet even though the demand for egg donors is increasing, compensation must not rise to levels that cause potential donors to disregard their own serious personal reservations. "Likewise, compensation based on donors' personal attributes is not justifiable. Our Ethics Committee has provided some guidance in this matter, which should be followed," stated David Adamson, MD, and VP of ASRM. Egg donors are "very altruistic and very willing to help a couple who's trying to conceive," says Dr. David Grainger, who is also a reproductive endocrinologist at the University of Kansas, according to an AP report. For more information, go to www.ericksonlaw.net
