NEW YORK, January 9: Though hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the United States every year, some come with a special mission -- to have a child.America's liberal market for infertility treatments means that -- for a price -- infertile couples can buy human sperm or eggs to start a family of their own, often circumventing strict regulations in their own countries.
The US is home to dozens of fertility clinics with abundant sperm and egg banks because there are no federal laws banning the sale of human eggs and sperm. And the internet is making people in the US and around the world increasingly aware of the possibilities.
For many foreigners, however, the lack of red tape is not the only plus side of seeking fertility treatment in America: the US offers plenty of healthy, young people ready to donate eggs and sperm for relatively small fees.
Soon there may be another, more controversial incentive: Cloning. US physicist G Richard Seed triggered a heated debate recently by claiming that he has the
means and the intention to clone humans at his human clone clinic in Chicago.
Seed said he eventually intends to use the method as an infertility treatment.
The Clinton administration has called human cloning "irresponsible, unethical and unprofessional", refused federal funding to research it and asked scientists to observe a voluntary ban. The White House also has proposed legally banning the practice.
Assisted pregnancy by way of egg and sperm donation remains the safest way for infertile couples to have a baby unencumbered by law and litigation, Sauer said.
US infertility treatments may be unimpeded by red tape, but they are not cheap. The total fee for an egg recipient, including compensation and legal costs, is up to $ 8,000. And if a surrogate mother is needed to bear an embryo to term that's an extra $ 38,000 on top of physicians' and medical fees.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
