Nutrition
Solving infertility issues: Women selling their eggs for quick money?
The thought of a woman to sell her eggs because of financial challenges may seem too easy a way to make money.
The motivation to do this could be stronger because after all, the eggs are “wasted” every month in a woman who has no plans to conceive and so what is the farce about making some cash out of them.
Currently, there are women or couples who are willing to pay substantial sum of money as compensation to women willing to donate their eggs, and the financial reward offered to an egg donor may often be bait many potential donors cannot resist.
This results in their participation in the egg donation process, oblivious of the risks relative to their health and safety, including loss of fertility and sometimes the death of the donor.
According to a Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist with the Women’s Health Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Dixie Constantini, in an interview with The Spectator last Friday, said egg donation, medically, was the process by which a woman was given medication to stimulate ovulation and her eggs harvested.
She explained that the choice by a woman to be a recipient of a donor egg generally fell into three categories.
She said that the first were women who were unable to produce viable eggs of their own. The second category included women above the age of 40 opting for assisted reproduction, and the third comprised women who had genetic conditions and wished not to pass on to their children, or who had multiple pregnancy failures which could not be medically explained.
The Obstetrician Gynaecologist said in some cases, the recipient might be a surrogate mother who had offered to carry the baby on behalf of another person or family.
“The recipient could also choose to carry the baby by herself after the donated egg has been fertilised by the semen of her partner. This usually happens when she intends to keep the baby and wants to experience pregnancy on her own” she explained.
She said each month women who had reached puberty and had not gone past menopause released egg from their ovaries, and on rare occasions released two.
“The egg if healthy can be fertilised by an equally healthy sperm. The union of egg and sperm is termed as fertilisation and this is key to any pregnancy occurring. The womb of a woman has a special lining that can increase and decrease in thickness in response to signals received from the body,” DrConstantini said.
She said that while some women donated their eggs purely for monetary benefit, a few others were motivated by altruism.
She said the collected eggs were stored and could be used by other women for the purposes of having a baby by a process known as assisted reproduction.
“Healthy Women between the ages of 18 and 32 are usually considered suitable candidates for egg donation. This criterion is, however, country-specific. A limit to the number of times an individual can donate eggs exists. These limits, set by health authorities of various countries, are intended primarily to safeguard the health of the donor” she said.
She said in some countries the upper limit for donations by an individual was six during their lifetime, however, in other jurisdictions, the upper limit was 10 donations per individual during their lifetime.
DrConstantini cautioned women who wished to donate eggs to be well informed and also go to trusted heath facilities.
“Not all monies are worth it,” she cautioned, as she explained that a person could have fertility problems later in life or even lose her life during egg retrieval if not done well.
She said, it was important that before a person made the decision to become an egg donor, she should know that as much as the process could be complication free, the hormones given before this procedure could have side effects including headaches or bloating.
The Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist said the hormones could also come with side effects such as mood changes , extreme enlargement of ovaries, fluid filling the lungs and abdomen of the donor, increased blood clot formation and having a stroke.
She, therefore, advised women to make sure they are thoroughly informed of the risks that come with the procedure,s as they can encounter post procedure and think seriously about the decision to donate egg before they agree to go ahead with signing consent forms to undergo a procedure as such”.
Meanwhile, in an interview with some members of the public in reaction to a question as to whether they would be willing to do an egg donation or be a recipient, there were divergent views.
A student of a public university who spoke on condition of anonymity said she would like to donate her eggs because she was not ready to get married now and felt instead of losing them every month, she would rather give to someone who was desperate.
“I see nothing wrong with it. I feel it is just like donating blood to someone who is in dire need of it. The person will be eternally grateful to you and even bless you. I would like to do it for free than sell it. It would make me feel better “ she said.
“Under this economy I wouldn’t mind selling my eggs. I will make good money and I don’t think this is a crime or sin” a trader also said.
A 40-yea-old nurse said if she had found herself desperate to have a child as a younger person, she would have gladly gone for the option of being a recipient of another person’s egg.
She was, however, concerned that there was not “straight forward “ laws in the country regulating the practice and so might give room to abuse by young girls or women which would and compromise their health.
From DzifaTettehTay, Tema.
Groundnut oil has essential nutrients. It is rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are considered heart-healthy fats. Additionally, it contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that supports healthy skin and eyes. Groundnut oil also provides phytosterols, plant compounds that help lower cholesterol levels, and resveratrol, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
– Heart Health
The high content of unsaturated fats in groundnut oil makes it an excellent choice for heart health. These fats help reduce bad cholesterol levels (LDL cholesterol) and increase good cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol), thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases.
-Rich in antioxidants
Wood Pressed Groundnut oil contains vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress. Antioxidants play a crucial role in neutralising harmful free radicals in the body, reducing the risk of chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes.
-Aids digestion
Groundnut oil is gentle on the digestive system, making it easy to digest. It also helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, promoting overall digestive health.
-Boosts immune system
The presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in wood pressed groundnut oil enhances the immune system’s ability to fight off infections and diseases.
– Weight management
Despite being calorie-dense, cold pressed groundnut oil can be part of a balanced diet. Its healthy fat content helps in making you feel full and satisfied, reducing overall calorie intake.
– Stable at high temperatures
Groundnut oil has a high smoke point, making it ideal for deep frying and high-heat cooking methods. Unlike some other oils, it does not break down and release harmful compounds at high temperatures.
Using groundnut oil can contribute to your overall well-being. However, like all oils, moderation is key. It’s important to use any oil, including groundnut oil, in moderation to maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
In conclusion, groundnut oil stands as a testament to nature’s bounty, offering not only a delightful culinary experience but also a myriad of health benefits.
For the past thirty years, Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) has transformed the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children. Before its introduction in the late 1990s, children suffering from severe wasting often required prolonged hospital stays, intensive medical care, and constant supervision. Today, many of these children can recover safely at home or within their communities under the guidance of trained health workers. This innovation has saved millions of lives across more than 70 countries and changed the global response to child malnutrition.
Severe acute malnutrition, also known as severe wasting, is one of the deadliest forms of malnutrition. It weakens the immune system, slows growth and development, and increases a child’s risk of death significantly. Common illnesses such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, and malaria become far more dangerous when children are malnourished. Globally, undernutrition is linked to nearly half of all deaths among children under five years, with the highest risk among children under the age of two In Ghana alone, an estimated 68,517 children are affected by severe acute malnutrition, according to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.
RUTF has proven to be one of the most effective tools in treating severe wasting, and is central to the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) framework — the globally endorsed model for delivering SAM treatment at the community level, outside of hospital settings The peanut-based paste is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals and requires no refrigeration, water, or cooking, making it practical for low-resource settings. When treatment begins early and supplies are consistently available, recovery rates range between 75 and 90 percent, at an estimated treatment cost of approximately USD 45 to 60 per child making RUTF one of the most cost-effective interventions in global health. Children often recover within six to ten weeks, regaining strength and healthy weight rapidly.
Despite these successes, access to treatment remains critically low. Globally, fewer than one in four children who need therapeutic food are able to receive it. The challenge today is no longer about whether treatment works; the evidence is clear. The real challenge is financing and consistent supply.
Many countries, including Ghana, have already taken important steps. RUTF is included in Ghana’s Essential Medicines List and Standard Treatment Guidelines, and hundreds of health workers have been trained to manage severe acute malnutrition within communities, including through Ghana’s Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound network. However, procurement of therapeutic food still relies heavily on donor support, making supplies vulnerable to funding cuts and disruptions. As a result, some districts have access to treatment while others do not, even when malnutrition rates are equally high.
Addressing child malnutrition requires stronger political commitment and sustainable financing. Integrating RUTF into national health financing systems, including the National Health Insurance Scheme, could help ensure that children receive timely treatment regardless of where they live. Achieving this would require establishing clear RUTF reimbursement protocols within the NHIS claims framework, alongside dedicated national budget allocations for therapeutic food procurement. The infrastructure and knowledge already exist. What is needed now is sustained investment and prioritization.
Three decades of therapeutic food have shown that severe acute malnutrition is highly treatable. No child should die from a condition that can be managed with proven, lifesaving nutrition support. The progress made is significant, but the revolution remains incomplete until every child who needs treatment can access it.
Feature article by Women, Media and Change under its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition project.
