As a concerned Nigerian, I’ve been increasingly intrigued and admittedly unsettled by an emerging trend quietly spreading across university campuses. I'm talking about the commercial donation of eggs by young women, particularly our university students. This practice, often encouraged by fertility clinics and agents offering tempting compensation, has become something of a side hustle. It’s a topic that intersects science, health, and socioeconomic realities, and its implications run deeper than they seem on the surface.
What pushed me to reflect on this issue more seriously was an internal memo recently released by the University of Ibadan Health Services (UHS). Dated April 15, 2025, the memo highlights the growing participation and recruitment of female students for egg donation, raising medical red flags and urging caution. While this memo is campus-specific, its message should resonate far beyond the walls of academia.
The Allure and the Economics
It’s no secret that many young Nigerians face steep financial challenges. With unemployment and inflation making daily life more difficult, the idea of earning ₦200,000 or more for a single egg donation cycle can be incredibly appealing. For students and recent graduates trying to stay afloat or fund their education, this opportunity may feel like a lifeline.
But the monetization of human biology, especially something as sensitive as egg donation, isn’t just an economic transaction, it’s a medical procedure with real risks.
What the Memo Reveals
The UHS memo outlines the core issue succinctly. Egg donation is being treated as an income source, when in reality, it is a medical intervention that comes with significant short and long-term health implications.
Short-term side effects from hormonal stimulation include abdominal pain, breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating, and psychological distress. There’s also the serious risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which can lead to severe swelling of the ovaries, internal bleeding, and even kidney failure in extreme cases.
More worrying still is the possibility of long-term effects such as loss of fertility. Research is still ongoing and inconclusive, especially in African populations, about how frequent donations can occur safely or who can even be considered medically fit to donate. Despite these uncertainties, many donors go through multiple cycles per year, unaware of the risks.
The Silence Around Medical Ethics
What’s especially troubling is the lack of robust medical regulation and transparency. The memo emphasizes expert recommendations such as not donating more than three times a year and always working with a reputable clinic. But how many of these young donors are educated about these guidelines before they sign consent forms? How many agents are pushing quotas over quality care?
There is also an ethical dimension to consider. Is informed consent truly informed when the financial need is this dire? Are these young women being seen as patients or as mere sources of biological material?
Scientific and Legal Oversight
In more developed countries, egg donation is closely monitored. Donors are thoroughly screened, and donation frequency is tracked through national registries. In Nigeria, however, oversight is minimal. Fertility clinics often operate in a gray area, and there is little to no follow-up on donor health. This lack of accountability poses a major threat, not just to individual donors, but to public health more broadly.
The Social Pressure and Cultural Lens
There’s also a societal aspect to all this. In a culture that highly values motherhood and fertility, many of these young women may not fully comprehend the long-term implications until years later, perhaps when they’re trying to conceive. And by then, the agents and clinics will have moved on to the next round of donors.
As a man, I can’t fully understand the physical toll egg donation takes, but I do recognize how systemic inequality can push people into compromising their health for short-term gain. It’s a trend that demands more conversation. Not judgment, but open discussion, scientific clarity, and policy reform.
What Should Be Done
This is not an argument against egg donation as a medical practice. It has brought joy to countless families struggling with infertility. But the current unregulated, commercialized approach, particularly among financially vulnerable young women, needs a serious overhaul.
Awareness is the first step. Memos like the one from the University of Ibadan are important, but they must reach beyond the academic bubble. We need public health campaigns, clearer regulatory frameworks, and a robust donor registry. Fertility clinics should be held accountable, and donors should have access to long-term health support.
In the rush to create life, we must not endanger those who help make it possible.
References
Mayo Clinic. (2022). Egg donation: What egg donors should know. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/egg-donation/about/pac-20385021
NHS. (2023). What are the risks of egg donation? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ivf/risks
Nigeria Health Watch. (2021). Regulating fertility clinics in Nigeria. https://nigeriahealthwatch.com/regulating-fertility-clinics
University of Ibadan Health Service. (2025). Internal Memorandum: Health Advisory on Egg Donation