The Price of Eggs

April 24, 2006

The Oklahoma University Daily notes an increase in advertisements in campus newspapers directed toward encouraging college women to donate their eggs. Kacee Lynn Echols, said she became interested in the process after seeing it advertised in the school newspaper. “The ad mentioned nothing about the potential side effects,” Echols said. “When I researched, I found that severe menstrual periods, weight gain, headaches and cramping were all possible risks, among others.”

Listed among the “other” risks from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is rapid accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, and heart, severe pelvic pain, nausea, vomiting, ovarian enlargement, respiratory problems, blocking of blood vessels by blood clots, liver dysfunction, ovarian cysts and cancers, severe pelvic pain, rupture of the ovaries, and possible negative effects on future fertility. That makes the price of egg donation a lot higher than is commonly advertised.