The stories grab headlines: young women making 10 thousand, 20 thousand, even 50 thousand dollars for donating their eggs!  Are they offering a chance for someone to have a baby?  Or is it selling their fertility to the highest bidder?

Couples struggling to get pregnant often turn to fertility clinics.  The CDC says 9 million women use fertility services.  And some of those will need another woman's eggs.

KGW file photo

"There are reports of people being willing to pay more for eggs from women with certain characteristics,” said OHSU Fertility Dr. Paula Amato has heard of these headline grabbing reports.  One even suggested a woman got $50,000 for her desirable eggs.  By comparison, the industry standard is $5,000.

"It suggests the commoditization of eggs and children and we don't want to demean or devalue human life," said Dr. Amato.

But in an important distinction, paying for the hassle of donating is okay says Dr. Amato.  That’s because it takes weeks and involves injections and minor surgery.

"In countries that don't pay their donors, there aren't many donors," noted Dr. Amato.

The ethical problem arises when the payments soar because a woman, who is often in college, can find the lure of money irresistible: "That would cause a woman to dismiss the physical and emotional risks because of the incentive of what she's being paid -- so that's the concern," said Dr. Amato.

But while the stories continue to circulate, the good news is the practice seems to be rare – at least among fertility clinics.  A report in the Journal Fertility and Sterility surveyed clinics across the country.  It found donor compensation varies by region, but averages about $4,200.  Only two clinics in the east offered $10 thousand and one clinic in the west paid $15 thousand.

"My bottom line is payment to donors is ethical and justifiable, but there should be some self-regulation of the amount paid," said Dr. Amato.

OHSU says it pays its donors the industry standard of $5 thousand, with few exceptions.