PAUL OMOROGBE writes about how egg donation by young women, especially among female undergraduates, has also come to the fore as a means to make money off one’s body like sperm donation among young men did a while ago. This comes after a viral internal memo from the management of the University of Ibadan to its students.
Last week, Nigeria’s first university, the University of Ibadan, made the news again. This time, it was not about any increment in tuition fees or a strike action, but a sort of advisory to students issued as an internal memorandum. The document raised the alarm over an increasing number of female students participating in egg donation as a means to make money for themselves.
The memo was signed by the director of the University Health Services, Dr Aderonke Ajayi.
A copy of the memo sighted by the Nigerian Tribune reads: “It has come to our attention that there is a growing trend within the university community involving the participation and/or recruitment of female students as egg donors for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) by individuals, agents, or agencies.
“While egg donation has brought hope to many families struggling with infertility, it is important to note that it should not be considered a permanent source of income or an alternative ‘side hustle.’”
The memo, which was addressed to students and other members of the university community, went on to state health implications around egg donation.
According to the memo, “Egg donation involves the use of hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries. This process carries several short-term risks, including abdominal pain, breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), infection and bleeding, ovarian torsion, potential injury to the bladder, nearby blood vessels and bowel, as well as psychological distress.”
The memo also warned students that there could be long-term effects for egg donors, including loss of fertility.
It added that it is important to note that current research is still inconclusive regarding who is medically safe to donate, how many times donation can safely occur, and the ideal interval between donations.
Should a student decide to go ahead with the procedure, the memo offered “expert recommendations”, stating, “Do not donate more than three times in a year.
“Always choose a reputable clinic that adheres to established guidelines and prioritises donor safety.
“While current evidence does not conclusively link egg donation to an increased risk of cancer, the lack of extensive long-term studies means that potential risks cannot be entirely ruled out.A
“We strongly advise all students to seek professional medical advice before considering egg donation. Your health and well-being are paramount, and decisions made today should not lead to regret in the near or distant future.”
Reactions
Various reactions from the public have come since the news about the memo made headlines.
On X, formerly Twitter, Philip Okpala posted, “Egg donation, particularly when done anonymously, is not just a scientific intervention. It is a profound disruption of the natural, moral, and social order, a biological gamble that future generations will be forced to pay for.”
He added, “From a religious standpoint, the moral violations are even more severe. In Christianity, procreation is considered sacred, something to be shared only between husband and wife. The Catholic Church has consistently denounced third-party reproduction as a rupture of marital unity and human dignity. In Islam, lineage and nasab are divine rights, meant to be preserved for the clarity of identity, inheritance, and moral order. Egg donation, especially anonymous, violates both.
“Egg donation may offer hope to some, but its unregulated use poses a grave threat to all. If we continue down this path without conscience or caution, we will find ourselves in a world where love is blind, literally, and the human family has lost its way.”
An X user, @iamspecial_kay, posted: “Instead of warning female students, how about we addressing why they feel egg donation is one of their only financial options? It’s time for universities to invest more in student support systems.”
Patti Adejo, posting via @realpatadejo, wrote, “They should also warn against the rising level of sperm donation. Many young guys survive on this. Let’s educate our siblings of the implications.”
Why the alarm?
Egg donation is not a new practice. It has been in existence for years and is part of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). The procedure usually involves a doctor removing an egg or eggs from the donor, fertilising them in a laboratory, and then transferring the resulting embryos into the recipient’s uterus. Doctors do this using an implantation procedure, such as IVF. Sometimes, specialists at the facility may freeze some or all of the embryos for later use or implantation in different women.
The alarm by the University of Ibadan may not be unfounded. A random search revealed that there has been an increase in the number of fertility centres in the city of Ibadan, multiple times over what was available in the city some years ago.
These centres require egg donors to carry out IVF procedures for their clients.
Generally, across the country, more fertility centres have opened. According to a 2021 report, there were 23 registered private clinics listed in the directory of the Associations of Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH). As of April this year, checks by Nigerian Tribune showed the number is now 87.
This rise is occasioned by a recorded increase in the infertility rate in Nigeria.
A five-year retrospective cross-sectional study of the pattern of infertility was conducted at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State. That study reviewed all the cases of infertility managed at the teaching hospital between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021. An infertility prevalence rate of 26.8 per cent was observed. Another study had it that the prevalence of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa is higher, with 10–30 per cent of couples affected in Nigeria.
A fertility specialist, Dr Jean Nassar, at St. George’s Hospital University Medical Centre in Lebanon, in a media report said: “There are several factors that may contribute to this increase, including delaying having a child for women pursuing their education, career or due to economic reasons.
“However, environmental and lifestyle factors such as pollution, poor diet, smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol intake all hurt fertility. Lifestyle factors have an impact on our fertility.”
‘Sensitive topic’
A research article titled: “Gift with a price tag: Nigerian egg donors’ knowledge, experiences and motivations” by Nneka Ihuoma Okafor; Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu; Ngozi Nneka Joe-Ikechebelu, Boniface Chukwuneme Okpala and Chioma Clementina Odo, stated that egg donation is a sensitive topic in Nigeria, as such; young females involved in donations largely keep this a secret. This is because of their fear of identification, perceived stigmatization and being labelled an aberration to the generally accepted culture on procreation.
The article noted that previous studies on egg donation have shown that young university students are most commonly targeted for egg donation.
It further stated that “monetary gain has been found to serve as a powerful motivator for a significant percentage of students at their first donation in relation to their age, employment, and socioeconomic status.”
The authors noted “The Nigerian National Health Act of 2014 does not criminalise egg donation, and it is silent on the trade, and this can mean that egg donation is legal and the prospective donor has the right to decide to sell her eggs as far as she meets the selection requirements since the prospective donors are helping couples build a family.”
A money-making scheme?
A 2021 report by Al Jazeera has it that although compensation can vary depending on location, clinics generally pay between N80,000 ($195) and N150,000 ($365) per cycle of egg donation.
When the Nigerian Tribune contacted Dr Gbolahan Obajimi, a reader in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, on the matter, he had this to say: “Egg donation is quite safe. The main danger is a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. It is quite rare and often self-limiting with supportive care. The other danger is donor exploitation from unscrupulous agents.”
He added that egg donation is best done between the ages 20 and 26 for females and up to age 30 for males (sperm donation).
“Well-spaced donations generally have no negative health implications. Consanguinity (the fact of being descended from the same ancestor) is the risk that the offspring may suffer, and that’s why donation is limited to a maximum of between four to six attempts,” he said.
Should there be financial rewards for egg donors? Dr Obajimi responded, “There are two main types of egg donors. Altruistic donors and commercial donors.
‘Altruistic donors are generally compensated for their time and transportation. This fee is very minimal. This is the type of donation that occurs in Europe.
“However, in America and most of Asia, Africa, commercial donation is the favoured practice. Donors are largely rewarded, and in certain instances, they can name their price.”
Information from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine website stated that the institution “will financially compensate you for your time during the egg donation process. Generous financial compensation is offered for this service.”
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‘Egg donation not organ harvesting’
When asked if egg donation could be considered to be a form of organ harvesting, Dr Obajimi said, “Not at all. No organ is harvested. It is a process of collecting eggs that will ordinarily be destroyed by the body.”
and then