GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 16, 2014) — People around the country are making money by giving up things like organs, hair, sperm and eggs for profit, but is it worth the money?
Sperm donations average just about $50 dollars, but a woman’s eggs can go for thousands of dollars.
A Grand Rapids woman said that the money was a perk in exchange for her eggs, but tells FOX 17 that if money is your only motivation, you could soon regret your decision.
Audrey Wright, 26, said that it has been about two month since she underwent an egg retrieval procedure, selling 12 eggs to a Grand Rapids fertility clinic.
Wright said that her main motivation for offering her eggs was to know she was helping a couple in need, not solely the money.
“If you’re wanting to help somebody and they are needing the money, it’s a good way to go. It really is,” said Wright.
Wright said that she first contacted the clinic about a year and a half ago. This was followed by an interview with doctors and undergoing a preliminary exam.
“They gave me all the paperwork to fill out. I had to fill out a profile of my medical history, my parent’s medical history and my interests and hobbies and stuff like that. Stuff that people would want to know for their future kids too if they are going to take my eggs,” said Wright.
Wright said that she was inspired to give her eggs after witnessing her sister’s own fertility struggle.
After the first of the year, the call came. The clinic said a couple had picked Wright to be their donor. That’s when the real work began. Wright said that for almost 2 months she had to stick to a strict calendar of medications, shots and check-ups to get her eggs in prime shape.
“I was nervous and excited at the same time knowing that it’s about to happen and this woman’s going to get pregnant because it helped her, so it’s exciting,” said Wright.
Wright said that the actual procedure took only about 15 minutes, but the emotional toll of selling something so personal still lingers in her mind.
“I’m emotional about it knowing this woman wants to have a baby so bad and she wants to be pregnant, and I’m helping with that. You really have to be stable mentally because if I wasn’t, it would have been a disaster,” said Wright.
Wright said that she was reimbursed about $3,000 dollars for her eggs, adding that the money wasn’t her only motivation, but helped make it worth it.
“It helps, it really does especially after going through the needles and the retrieval and the IV’s and all of that stuff,” said Wright.
Wright warns that anyone in a tough financial situation debating on offering their eggs for profit to make sure their motivation isn’t simply the cash.
“I think that people should care about what they do and not just all about the money,” said Wright.
Wright also said that as the donor, she didn’t receive any information about the couple who received her eggs, and doesn’t even know if they live here in Michigan.
