International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Women who donate their eggs to help couples who can't conceive naturally may receive payments of £800 under new proposals being mooted.

Due to shortages in supply, the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is considering increasing the payments to donors.

At present, the HFEA imposes a £250 cap on payments so the procedure is not commercialised.

However, infertile women are going to overseas clinics, which is thought to be due to the low payment in the UK.

The payment cap could be raised to £800, which would put it in line with the Spanish system.

Professor Lisa Jardine, the chair of the HFEA, told the Sunday Times: "We are suggesting moving closer to the Spanish system. But there is no suggestion of adopting the US model where a good-looking girl with a degree can get $30,000 (£19,000) for her eggs," reports the Telegraph.

According to data from the HFEA, there were 1,150 new egg donors registered in 2008.

Posted by Alexandra George