Recession spurs egg and sperm donations
The Boston Globe examines an increase in egg and sperm donations, a trend some fertility experts say reflects people’s need for new income sources during the recession.
According to the Globe, egg donor agencies in the Boston area report a 25% to 100% increase in donor applications compared with this time one year ago, and sperm banks across New England have seen a similar rise in applicants during the past six months.
The Globe reports that the economy has created a “paradox” in the industry in that the number of donor applicants has increased, but the demand for donors has declined.
Although the sale of eggs is illegal, donors usually receive compensation fees ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for their time and inconvenience. Sperm donors receive an average of $85 to $100 per donation, the Globe reports.
This is great news for me and my partner!
Jeve
http://johnandstevearehavingababy.blogspot.com
This is bad news for children conceived from the gametes that these men and women sell. Children who might desperately need to know, be known by, unconditionally accepted and loved by their own kith and kin (as well as their parenting family).
Donor conceived perpectives
http://donorconceived.blogspot.com/
Confessions of a cryo-kid
http://cryokidconfessions.blogspot.com/
Who do you you think you are
http://t5sdaughter.blogspot.com/
Child of a stranger
http://childofastranger.blogspot.com/
Donated generation
http://donatedgeneration.blogspot.com/
Searching for my sperm donor father
http://www.searchingformyspermdonorfather.org/
Donorconceived’s blog on Intent
http://www.intent.com/donorconceived/blog
Donor Conceived’s blog on Proud Parenting
https://proudparenting.com/blog/1877
“But it’s surely not true that it is critical for all donor-conceived children to be loved by their donors. ”
What ever it is you call the person who makes half (or all) of your child is not important. The child (and adult they grow to be) will decide for themselves how important that person may or maynot be to them. I do know many ‘donor’ conceived who do feel pain that they were never loved by their genetic/bio/donor/father/dad and extended genetic/bio/donor/family. It will be different for everyone but everyone should have the choice to chose whether or not they’d like the opportunity to have a relationship (from birth). My opinion. Proceed with care.
I really wish people would be a bit more careful. First off, it’s not a paradox that the supply of sellers is rising while the supply of buyers in diminishing. That’s what the economy is like these days. More people need to earn money, fewer people have money to spend.
And the fact that you buy sperm/eggs doesn’t mean that the resultant child won’t know who the donors were. Some sperm banks provide donor contact information to the kids when they turn 18 (and the donors agree to this upfront.)
Finally, I am reluctant to agree that children need to be loved by their kith and kin till I know what exactly those words mean. It may be important for some children to know the identity of their donors. That’s important to think about. But it’s surely not true that it is critical for all donor-conceived children to be loved by their donors.