Latest news with #SurrogacyConcern
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Four-year-old pupils taught about surrogacy, 'tummy mummies' and 'donated sperm or eggs' in lessons blasted as 'highly inappropriate' by parents and campaigners
Primary school children aged just four are being taught about surrogacy when they learn where babies come from for the first time. Reception classes are told that children can have a 'tummy mummy' as well as a 'mummy and/or daddy who will be their parents' when learning about the basics of reproduction. Among 'key vocabulary' four and five-year-olds must learn are 'surrogacy' and 'donated sperm or eggs' in a module titled: 'Where do babies come from?' Parents and campaigners say it is 'highly inappropriate' to teach these topics to such young children, saying it is only likely to confuse them. They add that the concepts should be introduced only to much older children 'as part of lessons on thorny ethical issues such as euthanasia and abortion'. Industry estimates suggest about 500 children are born through surrogacy in the UK each year – equating to just 0.08 per cent of children born in England and Wales in 2023. About half of these children result from arrangements involving foreign surrogates, and campaigners warn this often leads to poor women in developing countries being exploited. Helen Gibson, founder of Surrogacy Concern, said she is 'appalled' to see surrogacy being taught to such young children and has written to the Department for Education (DfE) to raise concerns. She said: 'Surrogacy is higher risk for severe pregnancy complications, it is unethical, exploitative and highly contentious.' However, pro-surrogacy groups have lobbied MPs for the practice to be 'included in schools', a document seen by the Mail shows. The DfE said the teaching material was developed by a private relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) provider and is not compulsory in all primary schools, adding: 'The RSHE guidance is clear that where schools choose to do so they must make sure they teach age-appropriate topics.'
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Warning to young women after surge in egg donations to fertility clinics despite risk of severe side effects
WOMEN as young as 18 are risking their health by donating their eggs in return for cash, campaigners warn. Surrogacy Concern said the number of 18 to 25-year-olds signing up to donate to private fertility clinics shot up from 190 in 2012 to 509 in 2022. It is illegal in the UK to buy a woman's eggs but clinics can pay up to £985 for expenses. The campaign group said some openly advertise the sum to young women and pay the full amount without asking for receipts. It said donation is generally safe but can be uncomfortable, with possible severe side-effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bowel perforations, abscesses and even sepsis. Surrogacy Concern founder Helen Gibson said teenagers may also underestimate the effects on their mental health. She said: 'We're really worried that women are doing this for money and are not being fully informed of the risks to their health. 'This is a lot of money at any age but especially if you're working-class or a student. 'You could do it three times and make nearly £3,000, and you're allowed to do up to ten cycles. It's insanity. 'We want the minimum age for donation to rise to 25, all payments ended to remove the risk of financial motivation and adverts asking for young women to donate their eggs to be banned.' Donor eggs must be taken from women younger than 35 as that is when they are most fertile. They take hormone drugs to stimulate the ovaries before the eggs are removed with a needle. Health Minister Karin Smyth said the £985 compensation had risen from £750 due to inflation, and clinics' ads are under the jurisdiction of the Advertising Standards Agency. She said: 'We will monitor the issues raised. "Women's health, particularly inequalities, are absolutely central to this Government's priorities.' White couple sue IVF clinic after their baby was born with 'Asian features' that left husband fearing wife had cheated on him
The Sun
6 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Warning to young women after surge in egg donations to fertility clinics despite risk of severe side effects
WOMEN as young as 18 are risking their health by donating their eggs in return for cash, campaigners warn. Surrogacy Concern said the number of 18 to 25-year-olds signing up to donate to private fertility clinics shot up from 190 in 2012 to 509 in 2022. It is illegal in the UK to buy a woman's eggs but clinics can pay up to £985 for expenses. The campaign group said some openly advertise the sum to young women and pay the full amount without asking for receipts. It said donation is generally safe but can be uncomfortable, with possible severe side-effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bowel perforations, abscesses and even sepsis. Surrogacy Concern founder Helen Gibson said teenagers may also underestimate the effects on their mental health. She said: 'We're really worried that women are doing this for money and are not being fully informed of the risks to their health. 'This is a lot of money at any age but especially if you're working-class or a student. 'You could do it three times and make nearly £3,000, and you're allowed to do up to ten cycles. It's insanity. 'We want the minimum age for donation to rise to 25, all payments ended to remove the risk of financial motivation and adverts asking for young women to donate their eggs to be banned.' Donor eggs must be taken from women younger than 35 as that is when they are most fertile. They take hormone drugs to stimulate the ovaries before the eggs are removed with a needle. Health Minister Karin Smyth said the £985 compensation had risen from £750 due to inflation, and clinics' ads are under the jurisdiction of the Advertising Standards Agency. She said: 'We will monitor the issues raised. "Women's health, particularly inequalities, are absolutely central to this Government's priorities.' White couple sue IVF clinic after their baby was born with 'Asian features' that left husband fearing wife had cheated on him 1
