Poverty Drives Nigerian Women to Sell Their Eggs at Great Health Risk

Young women in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt are injecting fertility hormones and undergoing egg harvesting to pay tuition and cover basic expenses. What was once rare has grown into a troubling trend driven by inflation and desperation. Most donors receive only ₦150,000–₦350,000 per cycle while brokers and clinics make up to ₦7 million. Many are told the hormone shots are “just vitamins,” unaware of the real risks. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome can cause severe pain, kidney failure and blood clots. Some women donate multiple times with little data on long-term fertility impacts for Nigerian donors. Nigeria has no national law regulating egg donation, no donor cap and no required insurance. Mothers and policymakers must step in. We need a public debate on protecting vulnerable women from coerced consent.

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