Earn cash in tough economic times — with egg donation

If you are female, between 20 and 30 years old, of “appropriate weight for your height” and in very good health, you could qualify to earn up to $50,000 for your fertile eggs ^[1]! Yes, there is a lot involved and a lot of restrictions will be placed on your life while awaiting the “transfer” — but this is the one time in a woman’s life where she can easily — and legally — earn more than a man.

Men get a mere $100 for their sperm. Yes, you clearly need both sperm and egg to make a baby, but obtaining donated sperm is a hell of a lot easier. Although men do need to go through a battery of tests and extensive questioning of their medical histories and their families’ medical histories, it is ultimately a lot simpler for a man to donate (i.e., a cup and a magazine with pictures of pretty girls or guys (whatever their preference)).

Understandably, in these tough economic times, a lot of women are looking into this option — as well as looking into the option of becoming a surrogate. At one hospital in Cleveland there is no longer a waiting list for egg donors (which in some cities have been longer than a year) and in California, the typical six-month wait to find a surrogate has disappeared completely. Some men have even been encouraging their wives to donate and increase the family purse. Of course, there are others who donate just to help someone else out ^[2].

Would you donate for cash? For me, I think it would depend on how strapped my family really was…