Egg Exploitation

An Article

Revised Egg Exploitation 🥚

When you hear the term "human trafficking," what comes to mind? You might think of sex exploitation, organ harvesting, prostitution, and other horrific forms of abuse—which are all correct. However, today I want to bring attention to the rise of egg trafficking. According to research, the primary victims of egg trafficking are young women, typically between their late teens and late 20s. These women are often from impoverished backgrounds or in desperate need of financial assistance. Some are even led to believe that they are helping women who cannot have children, and they see their participation as a good deed, with the payment they receive merely as compensation.

Until recently, I had only heard of egg trafficking in passing. I had never been approached, nor did I know anyone who shared their experience. However, I came across a post on X that piqued my curiosity. A woman shared her experience of being approached while in university and almost succumbing to the pressure that came with it. I realized that many women, like me, were completely unaware that this kind of exploitation was happening around them.

My heart was troubled, so I decided to research the issue further. The latest news I found was from Reuters, released on February 7, 2025. [Here’s the link to the article.(https://www.reuters.com/world/georgia-thailand-probing-human-egg-trafficking-ring-2025-02-07/). ] I also came across a TikTok video where a woman shared her personal experience [link to the video here](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMByQ6FeW/), and another YouTube video that discussed the health, mental, and physical risks associated with egg donation [link to the video here](

Many of these women are not fully informed about the risks involved in donating their eggs, both before and after the procedure. Some have shared that they were abandoned after the operation. According to Egg Bank Africa, during the different stages of donation, you may encounter various side effects such as moderate weight gain, mood changes, stomach pressure, headaches, allergic reactions, and Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome (OHSS) of the ovaries (5% chance in any cycle). In very rare cases, hyperstimulation could lead to enlarged ovaries and an increased susceptibility to develop blood clots, necessitating hospitalization. It could also lead to the development of fluid in the abdomen or lungs, kidney failure, or stroke. In extremely rare cases, an enlarged hyperstimulated ovary may rupture, with the potential loss of one or both ovaries. The risk increases if, after taking the fertility medications to stimulate the ovaries, you choose not to undergo the egg retrieval. There also exists an unlikely possibility of lasting effects on your pelvic organs, including pain, irregular menstrual cycles, or impairment of future fertility. Finally, an association between fertility drugs and ovarian cancer has been suggested, but not proven.

There is a lack of studies on the long-term risks of egg donation. Egg Donor America also adds that since egg donation is a relatively new procedure, we hope to learn more about the long-term effects of donor eggs in the future when additional research becomes available. [Link to read more about egg donation risks.](https://www.eggdonoramerica.com/)

In the comments under the Twitter post, I noticed that many were unclear about how the recruitment for this exploitation works, so I reached out to some of the individuals who shared their stories. Thankfully, some of these women agreed to help educate others and spread awareness about this issue. For protection and confidentiality, their identities will remain anonymous.

**Questions & Answers**

**Woman 1:**

*Can you remember at what age you were approached?*

**Answer:** It was in 2016, and I was 23. I had just completed my diploma and was planning to go to university, start fresh, and earn a degree. I had written the JAMB exams and was waiting for my admission.

*Where did it happen?*

It happened in Lagos. I went for an interview for an agency job and met a girl during the second round of interviews. I remember complaining to her about my financial struggles and how exhausted I was. I told her that as long as it wasn’t prostitution and was legitimate, I was open to it. She said the hospital wasn’t far from the interview location. I can’t remember the name of the hospital. We got there, but by that time, the receptionist was already packing up. After explaining what we were there for, she handed me a form to fill out. Sarah, the girl who had brought me there, mentioned that she would take 10% of the pay, which was around two hundred thousand Naira.

Sarah asked if I was interested in surrogacy, offering 10 million Naira for that, but I wasn’t keen on it. However, selling my eggs seemed like a viable option at the time. I wasn’t using my eggs, so I figured that as long as it wouldn’t harm me or pose a risk to my future fertility, I could do it. I asked about the risks, and they assured me it would go smoothly. They explained I would need to take hormone boosters to help release the eggs, but I didn’t fully understand all the details—I was just focused on the money. The receptionist also informed me that I would need to store the injections in a refrigerator at home. At the time, I didn’t own a fridge, so I couldn’t store the medication. This made me hesitant, especially as I was worried that I might be using my only fertile egg. Despite my concerns, my desperation for the money almost pushed me to go through with it.

I left the place with the form, and Sarah, who had already done it before, told me it was painful but that she planned to do it again. What ultimately stopped me was the fact that I didn’t have a fridge to store the medication. Afterward, Sarah helped me secure a legitimate job.

These people target vulnerable, desperate women. At the time, I was ready to go through with it, but not having a fridge was what ultimately stopped me.

*Prior to this time, had you heard of egg donation?*

**Answer:** No, this was the first time I had ever heard of it.

*Did you report or tell anyone about your experience?*

**Answer:** No.

*How did you feel after realizing what had happened?*

**Answer:** It had a significant mental effect on me. I didn’t realize at the time that I had been exploited. I didn’t know it was a form of trafficking. It wasn’t until I saw the post online and read about others who had fallen victim that I realized the gravity of what had happened. Some women mentioned they had multiple eggs taken. I often think about Sarah and wonder where she is now and if she has experienced any trauma from this. Seeing that post was an eye-opener for me.

*What kind of support do you think should be given to women who have fallen victim or almost became victims?*

**Answer:** There needs to be more awareness. People should talk about it more, especially young women. The way we talk about things like periods or relationships, we need to have open conversations about the risks of egg donation. Many girls are considering it without fully understanding the risks or hearing from others who have gone through it. People who have experienced it should offer support, sharing their stories and educating others about the dangers. They’re not always on platforms like Twitter (X), so we need to create more awareness—too many people are falling victim every day.

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**Woman 2:**

*Can you remember at what age it happened?*

**Answer:** I was 17 then. I was a 200-level student in UI.

*Where did it happen?*

**Answer:** In UI, I can’t remember the lecture theater it first happened. Then it happened again in Idia Hall, multiple times.

*Can you say in detail how it happened?*

**Answer:** We were like 5 or 6 people, and we stayed back after class to gist and hang out. Then two of them started talking about how money was tight, and we all agreed, as per regular Naija yarns.

They talked about how if you donate blood, you get paid and even get packs of milk to drink. I thought it was jokes, so I said, “Ah, that’s good o. I’m AA and O-, I should be getting good cash to support myself.”

We all laughed about it. Then one of the girls mentioned egg donations and said they were paying 150k per ovum. We all screamed and said that was a lot of money. But I didn’t really pay attention to it because I wanted to go back to my hostel, so I left midway into the conversation. On another day, some seniors we were cordial with came to our room to chill. Then they brought it up again, leading with blood donation. I remembered the conversation and told my best friend I had heard about it. Then they went on and on about how we could donate blood for money, but donating eggs gives us more money. They said they had sold theirs a couple of times, and it was mostly painless. I didn’t pay much attention to it because I wasn’t interested. Plus, I wasn’t really their target audience. I didn’t need the money.

A couple of days later, the conversation happened again with a different set of girls. This time, these ones said they had done it and were trying to sell the idea to us. They tried to be more convincing, and then I started paying attention. I was mostly interested in the blood donation part because it was quicker and less threatening.

*Prior to the time, were you familiar with egg donation?*

**Answer:** Not at all. I was only aware of sperm donations and didn’t even know there was monetary compensation for it.

*Will you say that it was like agents were planted around school?*

**Answer:** Yes. They were hidden in plain sight—adults and teenagers.

*Did you report or tell anyone about this?*

**Answer:** No, I didn’t. I didn’t think they were agents. I thought they were regular students who just did it to make money and were trying to put others on.

*How do you feel after realizing what happened?*

**Answer:** I feel cheated, exploited, and preyed upon. I never did it, but I wonder about what would have happened if I did and how tragic it might have ended.

*What kind of support do you think should be given to victims?*

**Answer:** Emotional support is crucial. Maybe financial compensation too, if they’re still financially weak. And definitely health checkups and medication administration.

Thank you so much for sharing!

Egg exploitation is a growing issue that many, especially young women, are unaware of until it touches their lives. The pressure, financial desperation, and lack of proper education around the risks involved can make vulnerable individuals easy targets for exploitative practices. It's crucial to shed light on this form of trafficking, encourage open conversations about its dangers, and provide support for those who may be at risk. Awareness, education, and a community-based approach are key to ensuring that young women are informed and empowered to make choices that protect their well-being. We must work together to stop egg trafficking and provide necessary care for those who have been affected. If you’ve been impacted by this issue or would like to contribute to the conversation, please feel free to reach out. Let’s continue to raise awareness, share stories, and support one another.