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MOTHERHOOD ON DEMAND IN HYDERABAD
By M H AHSAN
Taking a leaf out of the sale of sperms, women in Hyderabad city have been selling their eggs to make a quick buck. The urge to bear a child is undoubtedly the biggest pleasure of womanhood. And that heart-warming moment of holding a child of one's own has prompted science to circumvent biological hindrances.
Innovations like sperm donations, test-tube babies and egg donations, all promise motherhood. Sperm donations have been a commercial practice, but now, women aren't shying away from selling their eggs.
A woman can give her eggs to aspiring mothers, whose eggs aren't capable of fertilising. After being fertilised by the legitimate father's sperm, the donor's eggs are planted into the recipient.
This enables the latter to conceive. Aspiring mothers in the city are ready to fish out Rs 10,000 to Rs 60,000 for the eggs.
Women fetch such high amounts compared to somewhere around Rs 300 that male sperm donors get, because the former have to do it through a surgical process, while the latter can do it anytime.
"Sperm is a constantly renewable substance. Donors can eject it painlessly, repeatedly, and even enjoyably. They can do it privately, without any medical intervention or side-effects. By contrast, egg donation or extraction requires pre-administration of drugs, medical testing, and surgical intervention. The whole procedure usually lasts over a month," says sexologist Swayam Prakash.
"The price of eggs varies, depending on the requirements and social status of the recipient. Donors are chosen on a variety of parameters – ranging from religion and caste to skin colour and height," informs a fertility clinic owner on the condition of anonymity.
Due to the social stigma attached, childless couples prefer buying eggs secretly. "A close relative or friend doesn't mind coming forward to donate her egg. But some couples prefer buying the egg from someone outside their circle, due to the fear of being looked down upon by their friends and relatives," says gynaecologist P Adi Vishnu.
That aside, the issue does raise some uncomfortable ethical questions and the opinion seems to be divided. "The idea might scratch your moral décor in an uncomfortable way, but selling eggs is not a criminal act, as she helps a barren women conceive a child. Moreover, the identity of the donor and the recipients are kept secret to avoid any psychological issues in the future," Says sexologist, Dr Swayam Prakash.
But not all women have warmed up to the idea of receiving an egg. For instance homemaker Sharadha K would rather choose to adopt a baby. "If biology does not permit me to conceive a baby, I will adopt one. As such, there are so many children out there seeking a family," says Sharadha. Puritans on the other hand have their reservations.
Christian thinker George Paul opines, "Only God has the final authority in deciding whether one should bear a baby or not. I am afraid if you go by that standard, buying an egg would be unacceptable."
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