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India's Black Market: Women Sell Eggs for Survival
29 Jan
Summary
- Women sell eggs, some harvesting them over 30 times.
- Illegal market thrives due to constrained supply from new laws.
- A 13-year-old girl was lured into selling her eggs.
- Monetary incentives are as low as $280 to $800 per harvest.
An estimated dozens of women in India are involved in an illegal black market for human eggs, with some estimating they have harvested their eggs over 30 times. These women, seeking financial survival, undergo hormone injections and egg retrieval procedures for payments ranging from $280 to $800. This clandestine trade has emerged following India's 2021 fertility laws, which restricted donations to once per woman, inadvertently creating a supply shortage amidst rising demand.
Experts suggest these regulations, while well-intentioned, have led to unintended consequences, fostering a thriving illegal market. Intermediaries and agents facilitate these transactions, often through informal networks and social media, while clinics may claim they are only paying for recruitment. This practice poses significant risks, as evidenced by a case where a 13-year-old girl was reportedly lured into selling her eggs, highlighting the vulnerability of minors in this unregulated environment.
