The Travails of Young Girls Who Sell or Donate Human Eggs to Infertile Women

Ibrahim Shehu Adili

6 months ago

Infertility is a global issue affecting a significant portion of the population. According to the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), approximately one in six people worldwide face infertility, a condition that can cause emotional distress, stigma, and financial hardship. Despite Nigeria’s high fertility rate, rising infertility cases have led to various unethical practices, including the sale and donation of human eggs by young girls.

Contents

1 The Reality of Egg Selling in Nigeria
2 Coercion and Exploitation
3 Legislative Actions
4 Experts’ Perspective
5 Conclusion

The Reality of Egg Selling in Nigeria

In Nigeria, unlike in developed countries where egg donation is strictly regulated and done voluntarily, young girls often sell their eggs for meager sums, ranging from N20,000 to N50,000. There are no standard guidelines or regulations to control this practice, leading to numerous reports of exploitation.

Many young women are lured into selling their eggs with the promise of quick money. For instance, a 20-year-old named Celine shared her experience of donating eggs twice and receiving commissions for bringing in other donors. The process, which involves filling out consent forms and undergoing minor surgical procedures to retrieve eggs, can be painful and frightening, but the financial incentive often outweighs these concerns.

Coercion and Exploitation

In some cases, young girls are coerced into donating their eggs. Precious Ikechukwu and Theresa Obam, aged 19 and 17, respectively, alleged that they were taken for egg retrieval surgeries without their consent and threatened with harm if they disclosed the information. This highlights the darker side of the unregulated fertility industry in Nigeria, where vulnerable girls are exploited.

Legislative Actions

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Nigerian House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Healthcare Services to investigate fertility clinics involved in the illegal sale of human eggs. This decision came after Babajimi Benson, an APC lawmaker, raised concerns about the exploitation of desperate women by unscrupulous clinics. The committee has been given four weeks to present a report on their findings.

Experts’ Perspective

Fertility experts argue that egg donation should be viewed as a benevolent act rather than a transaction. They contend that when performed by qualified practitioners, egg retrieval is a simple and harmless procedure. Multiple eggs are harvested from the donor’s ovaries through a minor surgical process, then fertilized with sperm in a laboratory to create embryos.

However, the absence of standard laws and policies to regulate egg donation in Nigeria has led to numerous abuses. While some view egg donation as a helpful solution for infertile couples, the lack of regulation has allowed unethical practices to flourish, putting young girls at risk.