Paying egg donors will not solve the problems of IVF

Yes, there are shortages and the system is expensive. But fees would not fix it, says Francoise Shenfield
Simon Jenkins argues for market criteria to be applied to egg donation (In the name of purity, public funds are wasted on the rich, 25 August). Britain's regulator in this field, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, will soon rule on the issue of compensation to egg donors.

Jenkins raises interesting points, in particular: "If we do not pay what the market requires, we will get shortage, profiteering and unfairness." But two important points should be made in the face of his pragmatic market approach – advocating a deregulated payment to donors to increase numbers – and his hatred of "money–loathing", which he says is "rife in the British public service".

First, other factors such as the ending of donors' anonymity may also be relevant to the shortage, as shown by the only European study published to date, by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. And when, as Jenkins points out, "couples travel to Spain" and other countries in search of donors, it may also be because they prefer anonymity. It may be easier to recruit anonymous donors too.

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