Poverty Fuels Illegal Egg Harvesting Ring

A sophisticated illegal egg-harvesting network has been exposed, targeting impoverished women in Maharashtra. These women, including Neeta Prasad who underwent 45 procedures, were lured by promises of substantial income, like Rs 20,000 to Rs 35,000 per cycle, to sell their eggs. Driven by severe financial hardship, they endured repeated hormone injections and invasive egg retrieval operations, risking serious health complications. The network operated by forging documents to allow women to donate eggs multiple times, violating the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, which permits only one donation.

Authorities uncovered the operation on February 19, 2026, discovering illegal hubs where women received fertility drugs before undergoing procedures. The investigation revealed a complex supply chain involving recruiters, medicine suppliers, and clinics, with police booking 15 individuals, including doctors and agents, for human trafficking and exploitation. Intended parents reportedly paid between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh for donor eggs, while agents profited significantly, highlighting how poverty was commodified.

Medical experts warn of severe health risks associated with repeated procedures, including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, infection, and long-term hormonal damage. The lack of research on women undergoing numerous retrievals raises concerns about unknown cumulative health impacts. Fertility specialists point to systemic failures, weak oversight, and the increasing commercialization of fertility services as factors enabling such exploitation, warning that similar networks could emerge without addressing underlying incentives.