More Women Selling Their Eggs

(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.

[lilmunch64]

An extra $40,000? I'm in.
Oh, damn, you have to be twenty one? Only six years to go!

[runningralph]

Is there no market for sperm? Maybe I could enhance my retirement. Anybody?

[southern05]

The majority of women buying these eggs are pro-lifers; people who believe life begins at conception. Their husband inseminates them, and then the woman and the doctor pick out out a few of the more promising fertilized eggs and discarding the rest. Thus these pro-life women and men have become abortionists multiple times over.


Where did you obtain your statistic that the majority of "these people" are pro life? Just want to see that information. I''m big on education.

[southern05]

Explosive Ordnance Disposal & contractor UXO, fancy words for being on the BOMB Squad!


Very good coffee 0904! You must be one smart cookie, I believe! Hee Hee!

[southern05]

That''s right coffee0904 that person is flappin the gums too. The eggs not used in the initial transfer are ones that need another day or two to grow until they are frozen for later use. Eggs that don''t grow by day 3-5 would not have resulted in pregnancy no matter if through IVF OR natural conception. So, 70% of the time when a woman concieves in a conventional method (*** for those uneducated out there) the "baby" doesn''t even grow past a couple days and a woman may get her period Natually a day or two late....you know those "scares" that people get? Yeah.....so are they abortionists just because they get thier monthly cycle?

[coffee0904]

The majority of women buying these eggs are pro-lifers; people who believe life begins at conception. Their husband inseminates them, and then the woman and the doctor pick out out a few of the more promising fertilized eggs and discarding the rest. Thus these pro-life women and men have become abortionists multiple times over.


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Posted by yongamerica at 03:21 PM : Oct 14, 2008


You don''t even know what you are talking about do you? They DONT disgard the unused eggs. In fact, they are saved for later use if the couple decides to pursue a child. I really wish you people would educate yourself prior to posting FACTS that ARE NOT true.

[yongamerica]

The majority of women buying these eggs are pro-lifers; people who believe life begins at conception. Their husband inseminates them, and then the woman and the doctor pick out out a few of the more promising fertilized eggs and discarding the rest. Thus these pro-life women and men have become abortionists multiple times over.

[coffee0904]

Explosive Ordnance Disposal & contractor UXO, fancy words for being on the BOMB Squad!

[southern05]

Ok people....we have people on here who think people that go thru infertility are a bunch of cry babies, and that stay at home moms (like Christy on the video) are not "working".....read the comments and give your opinion to these to educated debators!

[southern05]

And she''s a mother of TWO- that is full time work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!