Egg donation and surrogacy are often lauded for helping those in need, and yes, they do offer financial rewards. However, the darker side of these practices—especially for military spouses or financially stressed college students—reveals a more troubling reality.
Curry Fell mentions, “Recent studies indicate that nearly half of those who sell their gametes, which includes eggs and sperm, face regret.” She advises students attracted to the financial incentives or altruistic motivations to reflect on the possibility of regretting where their potential children might end up.
Social media has become a platform for many promoting egg and sperm sales. Stucky points out this trend, gradually surfacing through influencer networks.
“I’m noticing a lot of mom influencers embarking on surrogacy journeys,” she notes, mentioning someone like Miss Rachel, a figure beloved by many.
She goes on to say that the narrative around surrogacy often paints it as a benign, altruistic venture, but she expresses doubts about this portrayal.
“Definitely,” Fell agrees, emphasizing the differences between surrogate mothers and egg donors, who are typically distinct groups. More often than not, she hears horror stories from those who have served as surrogates.
Many surrogates, she notes, are motivated by a genuine desire to help others, having themselves experienced uncomplicated pregnancies. They often have their own children at home and want to support friends dealing with infertility.
Yet, altruism isn’t the sole factor at play here.
“Our research indicates that military wives are frequently targeted by infertility clinics looking for surrogates,” she adds, noting their circumstances at home can make them potential candidates.
Risks associated with surrogacy, however, are not fully understood, as it’s still a relatively new development in reproductive technology.
“Surrogates often undergo hormonal treatments to synchronize their cycles,” she explains. “And we don’t have all the data on those outcomes yet.”
What is certain, though, is that surrogacy can come with various health risks, including a spike in C-sections, premature births, and gestational complications, to name a few. “The list is extensive,” she remarks.
