The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: News

Media Credit: DANIELLE HUTLAS An ad asking for egg donors has appeared in several college newspapers across the country. It promises $80,000 if the donor meets certain requirements.

If you're a college female, 5-feet 9-inches or taller, caucasian, have high SAT scores, athletic and have no genetic medical issues, you could earn $80,000.

An ad titled "Special Egg Donor Needed" has appeared in The Red & Black and other college newspapers across the country offering payment for egg donation for a couple through the Law Office of Greg Eriksen, in Villa Park, Calif.

Potential donors must go through a selection process of genetic and psychological screenings.

The law office in California does not accept applications for women over 30, which is usual for egg donation guidelines.

A reproductive clinic in Atlanta has similar expectations.

"We accept egg donors from 21-31," said Jennifer Clair, the egg donation coordinator for Georgia Reproductive Specialists.

Clair said college students are preferred by many couples looking for an egg donor, because they feel younger is better.

The Screenings

Potential donors generally are required to go through an application process before any screenings begin.

An associate of the law office in California will send a questionnaire and disposable camera to applicants of the $80,000 ad, said Michelle White, a representative for the Law Office of Greg Eriksen.

The application includes typical questions of age, height and weight.

However, other topics include the condition of an individual's teeth, vision, complexion and "early developmental facts."

The disposable camera is for headshots - with and without makeup, White said.

This initial application process is not uncommon among people seeking donors.

"We're not having just anybody call in," said Rachael Jamison, a donor coordinator for Xytex Ovations Ltd. in Augusta.

Jamison said they have well-educated clients looking for donors and education is an important factor. And Clair describes some of the requirements for the Atlanta-based clinic.

Clair said the donors neede to meet requirements such as: maintaining a normal weight - "not too thin and not too heavy" - not smoking or doing drugs, having no psychiatric problems and having no recent tattoos or body piercings.

"The process will take one to two months of intense medical and psychological screenings before the donor is accepted into the program," Clair said.

The Process

Once a donor is matched with a recipient couple and the legal matters are met, she can begin the process.

"Treatment involves four weeks of daily injections with six to eight visits during that time," Clair said.

When the physician decides the donor is ready for the procedure, shots will be administered to initiate ovulation. Approximately 36 hours later, the donor is ready for the retrieval, according to the Georgia Reproductive Specialists Web site.

The harvesting should last approximately 30 minutes and one day of recuperation usually is needed.

The Debate

Though this technology allows many women to conceive, the ethical debate surrounding egg donation continues.

"There are people on both sides of that debate with feminism," said Blaise Parker, assistant director of women's studies.

One concern is the amount of money spent on technology when children already are in the need of homes, she said.

Another issue raised is the question of the long-term effects of the large amounts of hormones that enable egg donation.

Parker also mentioned some women argue they deserve reproductive choices, and should not be regulated by outside groups.

But Jennifer McLeroy, a junior from Watkinsville and member of the Alpha Omega campus ministry, disagrees for religious reasons.

"If God made you infertile, then you shouldn't be trying to have children just because scientific technology allows it," McLeroy said.

"I'm a firm believer you should be ok with the way you're made."

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