Catholic Bishops Warn as Youths Sell Blood, Sperm, Eggs

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has raised concern over a growing trend of young Nigerians trading their blood, sperm, and eggs for money amid rising economic hardship.

Reports indicate that undergraduates and unemployed youths are turning to hospitals, private clinics, and fertility centres to sell their bodily materials as a means of survival.

Medical experts warn that while sperm donation carries fewer risks, repeated egg extraction exposes women to hormonal damage, infertility, and even death.

Blood donors, too, face health complications such as anemia, particularly when they sell frequently without supervision.

Screenings have revealed cases of HIV, hepatitis, and other infections among donors, raising safety concerns, especially in unlicensed clinics.

In a statement, the Catholic bishops condemned the practice as the “commodification of human life” and urged the government to regulate fertility centres and shut down unlicensed operators.

“The dignity of human life must never be reduced to a commercial transaction,” the bishops said.

Analysts note that Nigeria’s worsening economy—marked by unemployment, inflation, and rising school fees—lies at the root of the crisis, pushing desperate youths into risky survival measures.

Health experts warn that without stricter regulation and economic reforms, more young Nigerians may be forced to sell parts of themselves just to get by.