Fertility Clinic

Guardian, 15 December 1998
What Price Parenthood? by Hettie Judah

This report on the trade in human genetics appeared in the Women section, and examined the cost and practicalities of 'sperm smuggling, embryos on the internet and eggs to go'. In Britain, whilst sperm is relatively easy to get hold of, there is a huge shortage of donor eggs. Waiting lists are years long. Few clinics, whether NHS or private, will take on a single woman and it is illegal to pay the donor more than £15 plus expenses. Many are turning to internet 'clinics' to circumnavigate the red tape. The image appeared to be an advert for such a clinic. The words 'six weeks old' at the bottom were removed from the image before publication by the Guardian on the grounds of bad taste.