Experts Caution Female Students on Dangers of Egg Donation for Money. -

By Precious Ojo.

Medical experts have raised alarm over the increasing number of female students in Nigeria donating their eggs purely for financial reasons, warning of serious health, emotional, and legal risks involved in the practice.

This caution came during the May 21, 2025 episode of Ilubinrin, the women-focused Yoruba programme aired live on Splash FM, Ibadan, and hosted by broadcast journalist Temilade Aloko.

Guest speaker, Dr. Bello Aminat Modupe, a resident doctor in obstetrics and gynecology at Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, expressed deep concern over how egg donation is being commercialized among young women, especially those in tertiary institutions.

She noted that while egg donation is a medical procedure meant to help infertile women conceive, many young donors are now being lured by promises of fast cash, often without understanding the long-term consequences.

“Egg donation involves hormone injections and an invasive retrieval process,” Dr. Bello said. “When done without proper medical oversight or counseling, it can lead to infections, emotional trauma, and even future fertility issues.”

She further explained that many of these young women are being approached by unlicensed fertility agents and clinics operating without proper regulation. The lack of clear national guidelines on egg donation, she noted, has made it easy for these clinics to exploit uninformed students.

Legally, Dr. Bello referenced the National Health Act of 2014, which prohibits the sale of human tissue—including eggs—but does not provide direct rules on who can donate, how often, or under what conditions.

“These gaps in the law make it difficult to protect donors,” she said. “That’s why I advise female students not to engage in egg donation for financial gain. It should be a voluntary and medically supported decision—not a desperate economic choice.”

Dr. Bello urged the Federal Government to clamp down on unregulated fertility clinics and called for a more defined legal framework to protect both donors and recipients. She also advised students who are approached for egg donation to seek legal advice and ensure the clinic involved is licensed and reputable.

Through programmes like Ilubinrin, Splash FM continues to spotlight critical issues affecting Nigerian women, offering expert perspectives and empowering listeners with knowledge.

This story was monitored by Ojo Precious, an industrial trainee with Splash FM from Department of Mass Communication, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.