A billboard carries the message "Are you the kind of woman who could make another woman pregnant" in a campaign,15 January, urging women to donate their eggs to childless couples trying for a family. The aim is to find women who can meet the current high demand for egg donors. JOHNNY EGGITT/AFP via Getty Images
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has announced that compensation for egg donors in the UK will increase for the first time in over a decade, rising from £750 ($952) to £986 ($1,250) starting October 1. According to BBC, this adjustment aims to address the growing shortage of egg donors, particularly from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, while also reflecting inflationary pressures.
However, the authorities has also cautioned against donating eggs solely for the financial reward, emphasizing that the compensation is intended to cover expenses rather than serve as a financial incentive.
Egg donation in the UK is regulated to ensure that payments cover only the costs incurred by donors, as paying for eggs directly is illegal. The new compensation rate is seen as a necessary adjustment to balance fair compensation with the altruistic nature of egg donation.
Clare Ettinghausen, director of strategy and corporate affairs at the HFEA, stated that the increase aims to acknowledge the time and effort involved while maintaining the principle of altruism in egg donation.
According to HFEA, the process of egg donation includes thorough medical testing and counseling, and while donors can participate in up to ten rounds, they must be aware of the potential long-term implications of their donation.
Even with the higher compensation for egg donors, BBC revealed that Yasmin Sharman, who has donated eggs three times and shares her story on TikTok, worries that more money might attract people who are only interested in the cash.
Sharman, who has been donating since she was 18, points out that egg donation involves medical risks and a long-term commitment, including the possibility of future contact from children born from the donations.
She believes that raising the payment too high might encourage people to donate just for the money, which could be risky for those with lower incomes.
Another donor currently undergoing her second donation, also voices support for the compensation increase but stresses that the primary motivation should remain altruistic.
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