TODAY’S VIEWPOINT IS ON THE BLESSINGS AND BURDENS OF EGG DONATION IN NIGERIA
Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan recently made headlines when it warned female students against the dangers of indiscriminate egg donation.
The advisory reignited a critical conversation about a practice that is becoming increasingly common in Nigeria that promises quick money but carries hidden risks that could last a lifetime.
In a country where infertility affects roughly one in four couples, the demand for donor eggs has skyrocketed.
Egg donation, often seen as a noble act of helping infertile couples, comes with deep implications, which are either ignored or misunderstood.
Fertility clinics and agents aggressively recruit young women, offering payments between one Hundred Thousand naira and Four Hundred Thousand naira per donation.
For many struggling in an economy with over 33% unemployment rate, this seems like easy money.
However, medical experts and other stakeholders are sounding the risks which outweigh the short-term financial gain.
In reality, egg donation is not as simple as donating blood.
According to the process, donors undergo intense hormonal treatments to produce multiple eggs at once.
These injections can trigger ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a dangerous condition that causes severe pain, blood clots, and even kidney failure.
Some egg donors face long-term consequences such as infertility, ovarian damage, or chronic pains.
It is also unfortunate that many donors experience regret, anxiety, or depression, especially when they realize they may have biological children out in the world they would never know.
Sadly, another alarming risk is genetic confusion.
Unlike countries such as the United Kingdom, where the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) oversees all fertility treatments, Nigeria has no official regulatory body.
Professional bodies like the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) offer some guidance, but these are largely voluntary.
This means children born from the same donor could unknowingly meet and marry in the future, risking incestuous unions and severe genetic disorders in their offspring.
And at the long run, this could haunt future generations.
While some religions believe it separates procreation from marriage, other religious beliefs view such medical interventions as tampering with spiritual destiny.
While other countries enforce strict donor limits, mandatory counselling, and genetic tracking, Nigeria’s fertility industry remains a legal grey area.
Some agents downplay risks, leaving young women vulnerable to exploitation.
The University of Ibadan’s warning must not be treated as an isolated reaction.
It should ignite broader public education, stricter regulation of fertility clinics, and an open national conversation involving religious leaders, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and women’s rights activists.
Furthermore, the establishment of a national donor registry is urgently needed to track and protect both donors and offspring.
Above all, young women must be educated about the medical, emotional, and ethical dimensions before making decisions that could affect their entire lives.
As Philosopher George Santayana once said, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Therefore, without urgent action, Nigeria may soon face a crisis that could have been prevented.
