Egg Donors Cautioned Against Donating Solely for Financial Compensation

The UK fertility regulator has announced an increase in the compensation for egg donors, urging individuals not to donate solely for financial gain. Starting October 1, the compensation will rise from £750 to £986, marking the first increase in over a decade to account for inflation and rising costs.

While it is illegal to pay individuals for their eggs in the UK, the compensation is intended to cover expenses incurred during the donation process. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) emphasized that egg donation should be viewed as an altruistic act rather than a financial opportunity. Clare Ettinghausen, director of strategy and corporate affairs at the HFEA, stated, “It’s going up to just under £1,000, which the HFEA felt was a right balance between compensating people for their time but really recognizing that, in the UK, egg donation is an altruistic act.”

The UK faces a shortage of egg donors, particularly from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. Yasmin Sharman, an egg donor from London, was inspired to donate at the age of 18 due to the lack of donors of color. “I realized there was a lack of people of color donors, and that upset me… and so that made me want to do it again,” they explained.

There are concerns that raising compensation could lead individuals to donate purely for monetary reasons, potentially exploiting lower-income individuals. “If you raise it too much, there is a risk there that people will do it solely for the money, which puts lower-income people more at risk,” Sharman noted.

The HFEA also highlighted that egg donation is not without risks, as donors undergo the initial stages of IVF treatment, which can be uncomfortable. Additionally, donors are informed that children born from their eggs have the right to contact them once they turn 18.

It’s important to note that egg donor compensation is not paid in Scotland, differentiating it from the rest of the UK. The HFEA aims to maintain a balance between providing fair compensation and preserving the altruistic nature of egg donation.