Risks When Donating Eggs

The donation of human eggs has its risks. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has allegedly "underplayed" the risk of women developing complications after taking powerful hormonal drugs to increase the number of eggs they can produce. Approval is expected that women donating eggs for stem cell research can receive a discount on their own fertility treatment. In addition to the interpretation of a bribe, a concern here should be the potential to generate extra eggs that can then be legally used by employing these hormonal drugs. To harvest a deliberately created surplus that has exposed the donor to heightened risk.

IVF in Africa

The financial incentive for donation could lead to poor women being exploited. "The risks involved in egg donation are far too great to be allowed in basic research, with no direct benefit for the volunteer. This is unacceptable behaviour for a regulator," said Dr David King (chief executive of the campaign group Human Genetics Alert).

The risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (ohss), which can damage a woman's fertility and in rare cases be fatal. The HFEA document (September 2006) said that mild ohss occured in 1% to 10% of cases and severe ohss in only 1%. However, guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians said mild forms occured in "up to 33% of cases" and moderate to severe cases between 3%-8%. This seems rather paradoxical in risking potentially fatal consequences and damaging fertility by chasing fertility treatment?

Currently, eggs may be donated for research only if they are a by-product of IVF treatment of sterilisation. Supporters of the move say it could lead to new treatments for conditions such as diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), Parkinson's disease and motor neurone disease.