Young woman selling eggs to make ends meet
Story By: Marci Gonzalez
Source: NBC
Making dinner at home is just one of the ways Megan, a pre-med student at Florida Atlantic University, tries to cut costs in this struggling economy. With student loans and living expenses, the 23-year-old was overwhelmed. "To be a college student and really not have a cushion is a horrible feeling," she said.
That horrible feeling was lifted with Megan's newfound solution: egg donation. She could be compensated as much as $10,000 for her time and effort. She is one of many turning to fertility clinics for a financial fix.
Dr. Moshe Peress, the Medical Director of Boca Fertility, says the number of people inquiring about selling their eggs has tripled. His office turns away women who want to donate eggs strictly for financial reasons.
Potential donors go through psychological and health screenings. Once selected, the process can be grueling. Donors have to go to the clinic daily for blood tests, ultra sounds, and for fertility hormone injections. Then, patients must undergo a minor surgical procedure to harvest the eggs.
The process carries ethical concerns for some, and risks that include infertility, making it a money-making move that takes some serious consideration.
For Megan, the decision was easy. "I know that I'm helping someone else and that's a really good feeling," she said.
