As wallets tighten due to economic woes, hospitals around the country have been receiving more than just donations of blood and organs.
Hospitals have seen a rising number of women interested in donating their eggs in return for cash, and this trend has spread to Shands at UF.
Jean Melby, a registered nurse at the hospital, said she has seen more of an interest in egg donations over the past year.
However, she doesn't know if the increase is caused by people looking to make extra money in the faltering economy or if it is simply from an increase in the general public's awareness of the program.
Dr. Robert Williams, director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Shands at UF, said donors must go through a long process before receiving the $2,000 compensation for their eggs.
"It involves three months' worth of medical care, injections and an outpatient procedure," Williams said.
Egg donors must be between the ages of 21 to 30 and have a clean bill of health.
There is also a psychological assessment, where donors are screened by a psychologist to ensure they are donating for the right reasons and won't have any regrets 10 years down the road, said Williams.
Melby agreed.
"(Egg donation) is a wonderful gift," she said. "While some financial compensation is nice, it shouldn't be the most important reason. A sense of altruism should be the driving force. "
Although the number of egg donors has risen over the past year, Williams said there are still more couples waiting for a donation than the number of available donated eggs.
Melby said only about 10 percent of women who consider donating actually make it through to the end of the process.
"People don't just do it for the money," Williams said. "You can make money easier."
