Infertility clinic advertisements offering generous payments for donations of eggs and sperm are attracting many men and women in their twenties.
One such advertisement, from the Centre for Human Reproduction, reads: "Donating eggs will not harm your future fertility or affect your health. We will be happy to pay generously for your generosity."
Donors could expect to be paid up to Rs 20,000 (444 dollars) - an attractive proposition in Mumbai.
"I have donated for economic reasons. I was in a need of money. I am staying as a paying guest and I have so many expenses that I thought this could be a fast way to make extra money," the Asian Age quoted one young egg donor as saying.
Another female donor said, "I want to donate eggs because I want to help a couple who can't have a baby for a lifetime.
"We see ads in the newspapers every day, so I thought why not? I am also physically fit for donation and want to make a few extra bucks."
A male university student said he donated sperm regularly as his allowance wasn't sufficient.
"We do not encourage young girls because their fertility is not proven," said infertility expert Anjali Malpani. "We need to conduct vaginal ultrasounds, sonography and use anaesthesia to break the hymen and this can cause problems after marriage."
