I’m joined by Dr. Diane Tober, medical anthropologist, researcher, and author of Eggonomics, a book that exposes the hidden realities of the global egg donation industry. Her NSF-funded research includes nearly 900 survey participants and close to 300 interviews with donors across the U.S., Spain, and beyond.
We talk about the real risks donors face, the ethical complexities of how donors are selected and compensated, and what a more transparent fertility industry could look like for donors, intended parents, and doctors alike.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why egg donors often don’t feel like “real patients” and how clinics can do better
- The truth about OHSS complication rates and why the statistic that “less than 1%” of those going through egg retrieval may be misleading
- How donor compensation in the U.S. varies by education, ancestry, and school prestige
- Key differences between egg donation in the U.S. vs. Spain
- What donors need to know about donating eggs, and how to self-advocate
- How private equity is changing patient care at fertility clinics
- Why 90% of donors in Dr. Tober’s study actually want a national donor registry
Resources:
- Eggonomics by Dr. Diane Tober – on Amazon
- Romancing the Sperm by Dr. Diane Tober
- Dr. Aimee’s Freeze & Share Program – freezeandshare.com
- ASRM: asrm.org
- SART: sart.org
