Some Douala media broadcast the complaints of a young man denouncing the treatment to which his 23- year old sister was subjected. He claims that his sister is suffering from horrendous pains following the extraction of her ovules by a clinic specialized in artificial insemination. Her body is suffering from side effects after this operation. Let us take note that the young woman in question was paid FCfa 250,000 to hand over her oocytes. A phenomenon which is visibly on the rise according to some testimonies gathered under anonymity. A young woman living in Douala tells that she was contacted to sell her ovules. “I was supposed to receive FCfa 200,000 and the middleman FCfa 50,000; so a total of FCfa 250,000”. She claims to have refused the offer. Which others do not frown on.

Notice

We learned from another young woman that her neighbour is living and raising her child through this business; as the father of her son abandoned her. A notice published on the online retail website “Afribaba.com” even makes us understand that those searching for ovules are casting wide their nets. The notice calls for “a generous young woman who would hand over some of her oocytes. The young woman must be between 18 and 30 years and have had at least one child or have been pregnant. She will get a free health check and will be paid FCfa 100,000. The donation will take place in Douala”.

The Cameroonian law does not legislate on commercial activities concerning oocytes. Which are however prospering with the high demand in in vitro fertilization in specialist clinics.

Elsewhere, like in Canada, the sale of oocytes is prohibited. There, as in many other countries, the State rather scrupulously regulates free donations of oocytes for assisted reproduction.

Monique Ngo Mayag