U.S. clinic offers chance for free human eggs

LONDON — An American infertility clinic is offering free human eggs to one British person who participated in an informational seminar today in London.

The promotion, described by some as a raffle, has sparked an ethical debate in Britain about whether women should be paid for their eggs — which is illegal in the European Union, but not in the United States.

The Genetics and IVF Institute held a free educational seminar for British couples on Wednesday. Normally those seeking donor eggs would have to pay an American woman to undergo the treatment cycle for donating, however the company said it would cover those costs for one of the participants of today’s seminar.

The winner will be picked randomly, not according to need because that would be too complicated, institute spokeswoman Trina Leonard said. The clinic has been giving away donor cycles valued at more than $10,000 for about a year, she said.

The clinic said its egg donors are college-educated women between 19 and 32.

To donate, a woman must undergo a monthlong treatment that involves injecting herself with hormones and then undergoing a surgical procedure to retrieve the eggs.

Far more egg donors are available in the U.S. than in Britain, where women cannot be paid for their eggs and can only be compensated for travel and time off work; that cannot exceed 250 pounds (US$384) per treatment cycle.

In the U.S., by comparison, women are paid from $10,000 to $35,000 or more for their eggs.

Because the eggs being given through today’s lottery would be from a U.S. donor, the company’s paying for them does not technically break any British laws.

Many Europeans commonly seek treatment elsewhere to get around loopholes in their own country, like the number of eggs that can be retrieved or implanted, how much donors can be paid, and who is eligible to be treated.

British fertility experts slammed today’s event as a publicity stunt.

“There’s something shocking in the association of a raffle and giving away a human product,” said Dr. Francoise Shenfield, a fertility and medical ethics expert at University College London. “In Europe, we have the general idea that altruism is a good thing, and we don’t want to turn human body parts into a commodity.”

Shenfield, who has studied Europeans going abroad for fertility treatment, said it was impossible to know how many Britons were going to the U.S., since they do not have to report it.

Britain’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates fertility treatment, said the U.S. clinic’s raffle was inappropriate. “It trivializes altruistic donation” and runs contrary to regulations “to protect the dignity of donors and recipients,” the agency said.

The Genetics and IVF Institute, based in Fairfax, Va., countered that it was simply offering a seminar in London commonly held in the U.S.

“They’re not raffling off a human egg,” said Leonard, the company spokeswoman. The giveaway was promotional, she said, to introduce “new options” for people hoping to start a family.

Britain’s fertility laws stem from the EU’s Tissues and Cells Directive, which says donors can only be paid for their inconvenience — a figure that varies across the continent. In Spain, for example, women can receive up to about euro900 (about $1,200) for donating eggs.

Fertility expert Allan Pacey, at the University of Sheffield, suggested Britain’s supply of available eggs would increase if women were offered more money to donate, saying “250 pounds barely scratches the surface” of covering for the inconvenience.

Pacey drew a line, however, at selling the eggs, and said the U.S. clinic’s stunt risked turning human eggs into a commodity. “Having a lottery is not how we do things in this country,” he said.

Polish citizen Hanna Tlatlik, who works in a London shop, said she thought paying for eggs was a good idea, as it would allow more women to have children. “You have to pay for everything,” said Tlatlik, 24. “What can I give if not money?”

But not all women in Britain thought offering more money for eggs was a good idea.

“It doesn’t feel like a commodity that should be profitable. I could never charge someone for that,” said Rhiannon Prytherch, a 28-year-old actress and theater manager in northern English city of Darby. She said she might feel differently, though, if she were the one needing eggs. “If I were a woman who wanted to have a child, I would be willing to pay.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.