More Women Selling Their Eggs

Susan Koeppen: Donors Can Earn Thousands; Increases Seen As Result Of Rough Economy

(CBS)  Karen and Mark always wanted a big family. But after their first son, Kyle, was born with Fragile X, an inherited form of mental retardation, Karen learned she was a carrier of the syndrome.

She says doctors told her, "If we conceived (again) on our own, we would have a 50 percent chance of having another child with Fragile X Syndrome."

So, reports Early Show Consumer Correspondent Susan Koeppen, Karen and Mark turned to egg donation as a solution. And six months ago, Karen gave birth to their second son, Eric.

"I am so happy that he's here," Karen glowed. "And, if it weren't for the donors, this could not have happened for us."

"What do you say to a donor?" she added. "It's an invaluable gift that you've given to someone. You have healed a person. You've possibly healed a marriage. You've healed someone's soul. You've filled a void for somebody."

"You can't thank them enough, honestly," Mark concurred. "And we're just so grateful."

To find a donor, they turned to the Center for Egg Options, outside Chicago.

The Center's Nancy Block told Koeppen it's seen "probably at least a 40 percent increase in the number of people who are donating eggs," and she "absolutely" thinks it's due to people looking for money in the poor economy.

No only is the center seeing more donors, but repeat donors as well, Koeppen points out.

Women can earn $7,000 or more for just one donation.

"That's a lot of money," Block says. "It's great for school. It's great for the mortgage. It's great... great to help their families out. And you know, it's... it's something that they feel good about."

But, Koeppen notes, egg donation isn't an easy way to make a quick buck. It's a time consuming medical procedure, with risks. Donors will spend weeks taking fertility drugs. Medications can cause hot flashes, headaches and vision problems. Donors also have to have frequent blood tests and ultrasounds. And it takes several days to recover after the eggs are harvested.

But Christy Bush helps support her two kids and pays for nursing school with the money she's earned donating eggs -- nearly $30,000.

Over the past four years, she says, she's donated four times and, with money being tight, she's decided to donate again.

"It makes it so that I'm not working 40 hours a week. ... It's given me hope that I can actually do the parenting and the schooling and still be home and doing great things and actually watching my kids being be raised," Bush says.

Parents such as Karen and Mark call it a win-win for everyone.

Egg donors must be a certain age, usually 21-to-34.. And women are allowed to donate only a few times. The limit is usually about 6. Egg donation has been around since the '80s.

[staycalm]

These women are selling their children. When their egg is fertilized and implanted, it will become a human being who is the donor''s biological child. Neither they nor their child will ever know each other. That child will never know from whence he or she comes, will never have a biological family, know his or her inherited traits, medical problems or geneaology. These "historyless" people suffer greatly in life because they are always wondering where they come from and why they''re here. Yes, adoption is a similar situation, but adoption is a humane response to a tragedy, a way for people to make the best of a less than ideal situation. It is unconscionable to create a less than ideal situation for a child and then say it''s a blessing for all concerned...it is not! It is only a blessing for the infertile parents who, selfishly, chose to put an innocent child through this rather than adopt an already available child who needs a home. For a woman to just throw her precious eggs/children around to strangers for money is unbelievable. These women are not thinking clearly about what they are doing. Most amazing of all is how otherwise normal adults will cause a lifetime of sadness for innocent children to satisfy their own selfish needs.

[checkthepast]

whats the difference between this and selling babies?

Posted by hermit22

The babies squirm more...

[papelote-2009]

An egg is an egg, not more and no less. It''s not a "baby", it''s a component of what makes human life. We women lose eggs by the hundreds throughout our lives, some of which are actually FERTILIZED eggs. The child will have a biological family, the father that fertilized the egg, and the mother that CARRIED it, get it? To say and egg=child is not only moronic, it''s ignorant. You people writing against this practice should get a life and start posting on sites against war, against genocide, against mafias that do actually sell babies for a profit. STOP for your lord''s sake judging people, and, next time you see a red spot in the toilet, please wonder whether you are just about to flush your "precious eggs/children"-- and no, I''m not a donor..

[checkthepast]

staycalm,

Stay calm.

[southern05]

Grow up! I agree with papelote. So many people these days have children naturally....without assistance....and the are seen on TV....after neglecting them, abusing them, or killing them.....those are the children to worry about being sad thier whole life. Not a child who was planned, loved, and givin every opportunity in life....as I''m sure this couple will give this little baby. How do you know thier plans to make sure he understands where he came from....I''m sure this child will not suffer too much sadness. And by the way....only the "egg" is donated. This baby is "genetically" linked to dad and his brother. He is "biologically linked to them also....and the mother that nourished a 9 month pregnancy....and gave birth to the child. Get your facts straight. And egg is an egg....I agree...and it is not a baby until conception....and where a child started as an egg does not determine the "happiness" of a child.

[southern05]

Sorry for my typos....finger broken ;)

[southern05]

Oh and FYI- creating a child....is NEVER selfish. It is only selfish to bring a child into this world...to only neglect or harm that child in anyway. That is selfish!

[coffee0904]

I cannot believe the harsh comments being posted about this segment.

The gift of life is the gift of life, regardless of it being through an adoption or donating your eggs. It%u2019s a selfless gift and I truly don%u2019t believe that it%u2019s all about the money the woman receives for her eggs. I believe it%u2019s about helping a family who is unable to have their own children because of infertility problems or genetic defects. It%u2019s about sharing what they have with other families and extending the gift of life to the next family. I myself am unable to have a child due to circumstances beyond my control and am pleased that there are such donors out there that are willing to help.

I am happy for Karen & Mark being able to find an alternative way to have another baby. It''s so wonderful that they were able to find this generous donor & have the ability to have a second child. It%u2019s a blessing and I would wish those of you who posted negative comments would just realize how grateful they are to receive such a GIFT.

[culturechang]

Are they also going to have to pay child support like some men are that donated sperm? They should. Its only fair.

[coffee0904]

People you really need to get your facts straight prior to posting comments. I cannot believe the audacity of some of your postings.

[seafang]

Well baby farming has always been a profitable business for moralless lawyers who just see dollar bills in it.
Well the courts have held that the biological father sperm donors are liable for the child support of these farm babies, and so should be these egg selling women.

Right now, in just the city of Oakland California, there are over 10,000 children who are available for adoption, and the same story can be found in any American city.
So why are people wasting medical resources making more children, when there already is a surplus who can''t find parents.

Sometimes people have to accept that they just weren''t supposed to be natural parents; remember those for better or for worse vows.

When Oakland has no more unwanted children, then it may be time to deliberately farm some more.

[hypnotoad72]

All that talk from the great depression; people raising their own eggs -- this is NOT the same thing, folks -- on both counts.

Or others; how many have enough land to grow all their food needs on? (1%, and most of them can''t afford to do so either.)

[hypnotoad72]

So we''re a symbiosis, like it or not.

(clicked ''publish'' too soon, sorry about that...)

[southern05]

I had a friend who adopted from California....funny you should mention that. She got the child ripped away from her a year later. Our justice system is so f''d up when it comes to adoption law. So much for making children happy huh? This 2 year old was devastated!!!! They were assured by the courts that it was final. No such luck huh? You all are ignorant!!!!!!!!!! So, some people are not willing to risk that heartache in this ridiculous country when it comes to adopting domestically. Internationally, this same couple could not afford the $30-$40K it takes to adopt. You don''t think those countries are selling babies? GIVE me a @$$%^^&*() break! That is major profit! At least this egg donoris trying to better herself and family life by donating. You go girl!!! You can NEVER judge people, unless you have been in thier shoes. If you do- you too will be judged someday!!!!

[southern05]

Oh- and lawyers make money on a lot of different ***. Moralless or full of morals. In this sue happy country....lawyers are needed to take a dump. (My uncle is a D.A.- no offense uncle B) So that really has no bearing on the amount of egg donation that happen. And there are MANY lawyers full of morals that do fertility agreements....so it is not a reflection of morality. I''m sure some lawyers out there would agree. Fertility attorneys are NOT ambulance chasers. People go to them seeking contract. Again, I am amazed how uninformed people can just flap thier gums!

[kkubilius]

I cannot believe how uninformed some of you people are. Who the hell are you to tell people what is morally correct? What I saw on that segment were two people who loved their beautiful baby boy. Selfish?? I think not!! Have you ever had a child with special needs? Do you think it''s fair for someone to knowingly bring a special needs child into the world knowing all the hardships that child is going to face? Problems with health, problems from school (if they make it to school), problems from other kids ridiculing your child. The problems are endless. I have had one on one experience as an aide at a special needs school and as a special needs bus driver. The hardships are tremendous. Do I think these people are selfish? HELL NO! It''s obvious you people have never had to deal with these things, god bless you for being so *** perfect!

[coffee0904]

Do you people even know what you are talking about?

This is what is involved when a man donates his sperm at a facility....It means that you have absolutely NO legal responsibility for any potential child that may be created with your sperm. You have NO rights to that child, and you will remain anonymous, in accordance with state law. You will not know your children.

So for all you lame brains...that means, they contractually cannot go after a man for donating his sperm at a Sperm bank. Get your facts straight...

CultureChang, Seafang & hypnotoad72, why don''t you educate yourself prior to posting items that you have NO idea what you are talking about!!!

Sperm & egg donation is just that...it allows someone to conceive a child that may not have possibly had the ability to do so on their own. It''s a GIFT and a great one at that!!!!

This couple was very lucky to find someone willing to give them a great gift. The gift of a little baby boy that they can cherish, nurture, love and grow with them in their happy household.

All you people with the negative comments, just need to get a life!

[rational_1]

More Women Selling Their Eggs...

I wonder if any of them are ''free range'' - I find those usually taste better.

[southern05]

rational-1 Grow up you piece of $%@@%^%^@&*@* Do you taste your spew? I bet you like the taste of that better from your boyfriend.

[southern05]

Duh- times aren''t hard for the people buying them....times are hard for those selling them!!!

[rational_1]

rational-1 Grow up you piece of $%@@%^%^@&*@* Do you taste your spew? I bet you like the taste of that better from your boyfriend.
Po1sted by southern05 at 09:50 AM : Oct 14, 2008

LOL - someone clearly hasn''t had her coffee this morning. I''d suggest a dash of Prozac to go with it.

[southern05]

I''ve had my coffee $#@$^&&*.....and I don''t need prozac....just because I think peple like you are dumb as #^$&$#%$^&

[southern05]

DaVicar- how do you know disposable income was used? Maybe this family went into debt to pursue a dream? Alot of people take out second mortgages to adopt or do fertility treatments. Again, a lot of assumptions on this board!

[southern05]

Roll with the times Da Vicar.....you are obviously aging yourself here.

[rational_1]

I''''ve had my coffee $#@$^&&*.....and I don''''t need prozac....just because I think peple like you are dumb as #^$&$#%$^&
Posted by southern05 at 10:00 AM : Oct 14, 2008

Let me help you out a bit so you don''t have to keep writing nonsense like #^$&$#%$^&. These CBSNews filters are pretty flimsy so you can be more descriptive than calling me a #^$&$#%$^&. For example, how about d!khead or ***| wad? These profanity are so easily fooled. See how much fun accuracy can be?

And by the way, I also suggest you look up the word ''perspective'' in the dictionary and then consider if you slightly over-reacted to my original post.

[southern05]

Fertility treatments just began really in the 80''s....and attorney''s exist to protect all parties involved.......just like "adoption attorneys". Again, I am surprised you can log on a computer old wise one.

[southern05]

Exactly, discretionary....To use at your discretion. There are people right now with disposable income. We are not all suffering. I''m not. It''s the DONORS that need the money....not the people buying the donation of eggs.

[coffee0904]

DaVicar1 & rational_1 why don''t you go back to the whole that you crawled out of!!!

How do you compare having a baby to owning a corevette? Are you that materilistic to make such a comparision? What this couple did was give LIFE to a baby that wanted!!! NOT drive around like some tool in a car they didn''t need.

Grow up! I hope that DaVicar1 & rational_1 never have problems conceiving a baby. It must be nice to live in such a perfect world like you do. I just hope someone doesn''t throw a Rock at that perfect glass house of yours!!!!!

[southern05]

Right on! Coffee 0904 Let''s go find that old mans corvette and Key it!!!!!!!

[southern05]

I''m making an assumption here....god forbid....but coffee0904....I think Davicar is an old man?? I''m thinkin his baby days are over.....he just get''s it up in his corvette.

[southern05]

oooohhhhhhhh the Shock Value.......isn''t that what these boards are about? Not intelligent debate, it seems.

[kkubilius]

Who really cares if they use THEIR money. Would you rather they try and solve the world hunger problem? Maybe even donate to the 700 billion dollar bailout. Maybe DaVicar1 should sell his corvette and donate the money to help stop the spread of AIDS. It''s their money, do what you want with it. But I''m sure DaVicar1 has never EVER used his money for "buying up toys." Maybe all you have is a matchbox corvette.

[southern05]

pitiful existance?.........ooohhhhh. I''ts not sick to want a child in your life. and it does not cost $100,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Agian, flappin the ol'' man gums.

[kkubilius]

Pitiful existence? Are you God now? Seriously, who are you to determine another persons existence? Have you never done anything in your life that made you happy? From the sound of your comments, it sounds like you''re poor and it aggrevates you that people can spend money on things they want while you scrap by trying to pay for you internet connection.

[coffee0904]

What couples like this ''''do'''' is spend upwards of $100,000.00 to persue their own selfish interest......posted by DaVicar1

I take it you have never been a parent. Being a parent is everything but SELFISH. You do everything for this little life that has been placed in your hands. Being a parent....is one of the best things one can do!!!! Who cares if they want to spend their money pursuing their dreams. Let them live thier lives as they see fit. Again, it''s their LIFE and your opinion is pretty useless!!!

[southern05]

FYI- to all those people who have had fertility problems......talk to this DiVicar dude. Pursuing pregnancy is not a selfish interest....it is the interest of a family, a brother, a sister, grandparents, to have another shild in the family! A selfish interest is buying a CORVETTE with your last dollar!!!!!!!!! To all those people with fertility issues.....write this moron back!

[southern05]

All people with fertility issues...don cry and cry and cry and cry. You really are ridiculous!

[coffee0904]

OMG, DaVicar1 you have no HEART or SOUL. I don''t even think you are a human being. You have no empathy for these people.

Why don''t you instead of watching all these talk show, go do something with your life?

[southern05]

If you hate these types of people so mcuh why do you watch it? Turn it off....get off this computer and let people share that have intelligent things to say.

[southern05]

Wow coffee 0904....looks like we were typing the same thing at the same time!

[timjoemommy]

I am really in awe of the stupidity that you show......all these people do is cry, cry, cry.....are you kidding me?!??! Go through one ounce of what these people go through....you aren''t strong enough I am sure!
As a person who went through infertility treatments and "unconventional" ways to conceive I take great offense to your comments and agree witht the others....crawl back in your hole dumbfu?ker!!!

[kkubilius]

Okay first of all, if you''re not already aware, things are staged for television. I know this must be a big shock to you. Brace yourself. Not only are you a moron, but your a neive moron. What you are saying is nothing more than a stereotype. If you are so disgusted by what you see of people "crying," then turn it off, get a life. Those people on the clip didn''t look like they were crying to me. NOT ONLY THAT, THEY DID IT FOR GENETIC REASONS. Put your spetacles on and watch it again. Oh yeah, and they didn''t look very poor to me. If you adjust your spectacles even further, you''d see a nice home in the background and while they are walking their son, it sure doesn''t look like a ghetto poor desperate neighborhood. You''re just mad cause your too old to donate your sperm and collect the cash to keep your internet connection going.

[kkubilius]

On another note, have you ever had to experience what a woman has to go through to do this? Let me give you some insight. Daily multiple injections, constant testing, PAIN. And guess what, that''s just the beginning. Once conception has been acheived, she has to carry the baby for 9 months. OMG how F@$%^&ING SELFISH. Okay, now for your donation to fertility. Here''s a cup, go have an *** and collect your cash.

[southern05]

Thanks TimJoeMommy....congrats of having kids!!!! We have gone thru infertility tx. Alot of attempts failed. I''m not crying about it....we all don''t cry and cry and cry and cry. Thanks for the post!

[timjoemommy]

No problem! I just don''t get ignorant people that can make judgements and post such idiotic things!!! I am one of the lucky ones that treatments worked for....but as you know it isn''t easy and for this dumbsh%t to put it in such a moronic light really pissed me off!!!

[timjoemommy]

Obviously you must not be a parent, because yes my children do make my life worthwhile and if you do have children I feel sorry for them! And as far as I am not smart enough to discuss an issue, who is the one who started with all the uneducated banter on an issue YOU obviously do not have a clue about?

[coffee0904]

Genetics told them that they COULD NOT, and SHOULD NOT have offspringers!
What they did was PURELY for SELFISH reasons!
They defy God, they defy Nature, and they defy Ecomonics......posted by DaVicar1

I think you have your thoughts mixed up.....defying God, Nature, Economics and PURELY SELFISH reasons are those that are aboriting thier fetus. NOW THAT''S DEFYING GOD!!!!

Bringing a child into this world is a selfless ACT. But again, I''m sure you don''t know because it doesn''t sound like you are a parent. Doesn''t sound like you have much in your life. It sounds like you are jealous of what others have and can only criticize to make yourself feel better. Maybe one day you''ll be happy with your existance, but until that happens why don''t you leave others alone & keep your opinions to yourself.

[timjoemommy]

What I want to know is how having a child and being a parent a selfish act? Have you been up with a crying baby for hours that is colic? Have you cleaned up puke from your toddlers bed in the middle of the night and then rocked them in your arms back to sleep? If that is selfish,I would hate to see what SELFLESS is! Being a parent is the hardest job a person can do and these people CHOOSE to do it, not for your approval or to keep up with the neighbors, not even for some self fulfillment, they do it ,as why I do it, because we love our children, however they were conceived....

[southern05]

The only thing you said right was that genetics told them they should not have offspring.......not with HER genetic matierial....that is. That''s where you are the stupid moron after that! They had a baby once....she knew she "could" get pregnant....so why not go for it? Way to go Karen. They are the smart cookies! It is apparant you are highly uneducated!

[southern05]

I agree, if this idiot has children....I feel VERY VERY VERY sorry for them and I iwll cry cry cry cry cry cry cry cry cry cry cry for them. Ha! Maybe he should go on Oprah? Sounds like he has issues to work out.