Clinics use eggs without couple’s nod

Raising this issue in the conference of Indian Menopause Society, senior gynecologist, Dr Duru Shah, explained, “Using donor eggs for a woman whose eggs are of very bad quality is allowed, but the couple has to agree and give their consent. The quality of eggs is the best between the age group of 20 to 35 years.

The option of freezing eggs at a younger age is now available with many women who want to have children later. Those women can opt for this new method. The results of freezed eggs are the same as normal pregnancy.”

While freezing is a new option, it is availed mostly by women suffering from cancer at a younger age or from endometriosis or some other gynecological problem. The trend is yet to catch up with healthy, working women.

Reproductively challenged women undergoing unsuccessful In-Vitro Fertilisation cycles, often resort to the illegal use of donor eggs. A senior gynecologist explained, “When an IVF cycle fails in a women two to three times, many a times it is found that the quality of egg is not good. Then the option of donor eggs is given to them but many of them are not willing as it comes from another woman. But there are clinics which have woman on pay roll who are willing to donate eggs and then these are used without the consent of the couple.”

These illegal methods have raised concern among the gynecologists who want the Central government to closely monitor the various In-Vitro Fertilisation centres in the country.

Another senior doctor explained, “The only way for the couple to prove that a wrong egg was used is through DNA analysis and this will be years later. Also, it’s a major psychological trauma for the family. No one would want to bring that misery on themselves, which is probably the reason the clinics are freely practicing it.”

The only solution, feel gynecologists, are stricter government interventions and strong action by Medical Council of India against the illegal practice by doctors to curb this menace.