Podcast Review: The Human Egg Trade

A multitude of podcasts, TV programmes, films and documentaries have been produced focusing on the fertility industry, yet it often feels as if they have only just scratched the surface. After all, since the birth of the first IVF baby in 1978, the field of assisted reproduction, including egg donation and fertility treatments, has expanded rapidly, bringing with it countless stories to tell and events to recount.

Listening to Bloomberg's 'The Human Egg Trade' provided me with a fascinating insight into this vast industry as host Sarah Holder shares three unique and varied stories from all sectors, stages, and spheres of the fertility world.

Part of 'The Big Take' podcast, which spotlights Bloomberg's latest stories and articles, 'The Human Egg Trade' brings together different investigations into global fertility practices, exposing the potential and reality for exploitation at every stage.

The first episode – The Lie – tells the chilling story of a 13-year-old girl in India who sold her eggs to buy a phone. Holder speaks with the original investigator Natalie Obiko Pearson, who recounts how the vulnerable young girl was approached by a trusted older neighbour, who knew she needed money. Like many others all over the world, the girl wanted her own phone and so agreed to the proposition, unaware of the consequences it would have. We hear how the girl was then forced into a distressing and uncomfortable two-week process to sell her eggs: taking hormone shots in secret from her family; disguising herself as an adult by wearing mature clothes and bringing a toddler to the fertility clinic; and undergoing the painful retrieval procedure alone.

I found myself shocked by this series of events and Holder effectively emphasised the horrific situation this young vulnerable girl was left in by adults and professionals she was supposed to trust. Indeed, when the girl's mother found out and filed a police report, there was a lack of serious action with only a few low-level employees facing consequences. The clinic, Nova IVF, and the western private equity firms who funded it escaped any serious repercussions.

However, the emotional and social fallout for the girl was significant. She has dropped out of school, is taunted by others in her village, and is the victim of much stigma surrounding egg donation. The girl's mother did not fully understand what happened to her daughter. Holder explains how there is a deep misunderstanding of egg donation in this community, saying that often egg donation gets conflated with sexual assault, and the implications of that in Indian society is great.

Obiko Pearson highlights how this case, while extreme, is just one example of an industry where profit consistently takes precedence over ethics. I was especially struck when Obiko Pearson said: 'To me, fundamentally it's about the commodification of women's bodies and commercialisation of reproduction.'

In 'The Theft', the second episode of the podcast, we hear about an IVF clinic in Greece, the Mediterranean Fertility Institute, who were found guilty of stealing several women's eggs. Bloomberg's Vernon Silver tells the story of Maria, who conceived a child through IVF at this clinic, only to be told by police years later that her eggs had been taken and given to another patient without her consent or knowledge.

Silver's account of Maria's distraught state upon finding out the news is heart breaking to hear. She describes it as a 'violation, a rape' – a betrayal made even more agonising since she has no way of knowing who received her stolen eggs. Her case was one of at least 75 at this clinic whose network and connections stretch internationally.

This episode also features Sam Everingham, founder of the organisation Growing Families Global, who offers advice and support for surrogacy and egg donation. Everingham had worked with the Mediterranean Fertility Institute, and he openly shared his distress when he learned about the egg theft cases. It even prompted him to DNA test his own twin daughters, who were conceived through IVF. Despite being told both girls came from the same donor, the results revealed this was not true. While this does not change his relationship with his children, Everingham admits it still felt like a 'betrayal'. This part of the podcast was especially poignant to me as it was a stark reminder of the personal and emotional complexities that this exploitation and corruption causes.

The final episode – The Journey – takes a more focused and personal approach, following the story of Alice and Paul Kempton. Through individual interviews with both, Holder takes the listeners through their journey, allowing us to participate and understand the emotional and financial toll of IVF.

The Kemptons started trying for a child through IVF in Australia with eggs donated by Alice's cousin. Although this resulted in an initial pregnancy, unfortunately it was not ultimately successful. Alice describes the bitter self-reflection this loss caused and while difficult to hear, the raw account of her grief is a truthful and necessary addition to a podcast that ultimately aims to bring attention to the people at the heart of the fertility industry rather than the industry itself.

We are also able to appreciate the financial burden the fertility world can cause as the Kemptons go to the USA for IVF treatment. It was only after two rounds of egg donations from 'super producer' Karen and over US $300,000 spent, that the couple were finally able to have a child.

This final episode was a highlight for me and hearing directly from the couple concerned added a more engaging element to the podcast and let the listeners experience their heartbreak, resilience, and joy first-hand. While it is understandable the first two episodes could not have been completely oriented around direct interviews, it did create a sense of imbalance in the narrative of the podcast overall.

Nonetheless, the first two episodes provide a clearer and valuable insight into the investigative process of Bloomberg's reporters. A clever mix of audio especially brings this to life. For example, with sound clips of Obiko Pearson visiting the Nova Clinic with vivid description of the glass building and honks from a busy street, as well as recorded commentary from Silver when seeing the material seized by police from the Mediterranean Fertility Institute.

'The Human Egg Trade' is a must-listen for anyone curious about the fertility industry. It offers a compelling mix of investigative journalism and human storytelling, serving as a good starting point for understanding the complexities at play. However, it is not meant to stand on its own and for those looking for more detailed analysis and further discussion on issues like national regulations and policies, I recommend reading the full investigations behind the podcast.