The New York Times | December 14, 2025
Thai women were lured to Georgia by the promise of paid surrogacy, but had little power once they arrived–unable to leave, faced with poor living conditions, subject to unknown medical procedures (likely egg extraction), and targeted with abuse.
Global Voices | December 23, 2024
An investigation of ads on Russian social media that promoted free trips and thousands of dollars in compensation for Russian women to donate their eggs in China revealed the operation of an illegal, underground commercial egg donation enterprise between the countries.
Global Times | December 15, 2024
Chinese authorities are investigating allegations that medical personnel, public officials, and a surrogacy agency worked together to conduct an underground operation involving egg retrieval and sale of birth certificates.
The Guardian | September 23, 2024
New research that reveals that surrogates are at higher risk for health complications underscores the scarcity of knowledge about risks and outcomes for surrogates and babies, and the need for greater research and regulation.
Radio Free Asia | September 12, 2024
Reports of illegal egg retrieval and surrogacy operations in the northeastern Chinese city of Qingdao have prompted authorities to investigate. Underground surrogacy operations in the country leave egg donors and surrogates without needed protections and support, especially when complications arise.
SHINE | August 29, 2024
A whistleblower reported that doctors from a hospital in the Chinese city of Qingdao were illegally conducting egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures in collaboration with an underground surrogacy operation. The city’s health commission has launched an investigation.
The Independent | August 11, 2024
After the UK announced increased compensation for egg donors due to inflation, campaigners who advocate on issues including surrogacy raised concerns that the increase would be exploitative, especially for low-income women, and highlighted risks of egg retrieval downplayed in the recruitment process.
By Alison Motluck | Undark | February 24, 2020
From charging “recovery fees” to forging legal documents to harassment, some fertility clinics have gone to extreme measures to coerce women into egg provision even after they decide against it. This article highlights the stories of four women who experienced serious personal consequences after severing their relationships with fertility clinics.
BBC News | February 17, 2020
Lord Winston is a professor of fertility studies who is calling into question the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s advertised success rate of pregnancy using frozen eggs. As this article and video explain, his estimates rely on measuring the success rate at a different stage of fertility treatment, which—he says—is more accurate than the one used by the HFEA.
By Alison Motluk | Hey Reprotech! | August 27, 2019
This blog post summarizes the origin story of the support network We Are Egg Donors, and explains why one of the founding members recently resigned from her leadership role.
