Starting my period at nine years old was not ideal, nor an idea of fun that I really wanted to experience. However, as with any genetic trait, I didn’t have a choice about it and must deal with the consequences.
Though doctors assured me my body is not threatened because of the early release of hormones, I am at risk for being infertile during the normal time period of pregnancy for women.
Because of this, I was appalled when the subject of women selling their eggs was brought up in one of my classes today and got such a negative response. Other students’ reactions seemed heinous to me; a unanimous crowd seemed to look on my ideas about selling eggs as futuristic and morally wrong for the human race.
On some levels, I can understand this ignorance. The mass was more or less only talking about eggs used (by those who can afford to) to make the “perfect” offspring, choosing their new robotic child’s eye, hair, and skin color, along with their potential for academic success. Sure, this may not seem “right” in our society. But honestly, if you have the money to do so, more power to you.
There’s also the other side. How disgraceful it must seem to women who try so hard for a baby, but just can’t have one. This was another alarming point in the class’s conversation; a girl seated near me stated that women could use their own eggs to make this happen. This is obviously not true for women who cannot bear children because of their infertility.
I don’t see anything wrong with donating your eggs. Nothing about receiving $5,000-50,000 for a portion of your time seems like a bad idea. More important, many mothers I know, including my own, were near being deemed infertile at some time during their lives. Their children are miracles. My mom tried for a year and a half for me; I am a miracle.
Article comments
1 - John Lake
"..even that stupid little girl who might have just looked at her boyfriend once in the backseat of the car."
The little boy needed some guidance as to 'where babies come from".
Mother told him, "The stark brought you!"
But Grandmother said they found him "Under a cabbage leaf". More grief when his dear Grandfather said, "Babies come from the 'conception unicorn!"
The little boy remained non-plussed. He gave a look of hopelessness, then muttered to himself, "How odd. There hasn't been a natural childbirth in this family for a generation!!"