We see the flyers for the Golden Egg Donation scattered across campus and the stoner movies where the leading men go to sperm banks for some dough. However, giving the gift of life is no laughing matter.

While it’s understandable that the nine months of carrying a child are very special to women and desired by families burdened by the uncontrollable forces of nature, there are alternatives to assisted reproduction because it is not who you love that matters, but how you love.

Becoming a foster parent for children under the care of the courts system is a possibility. Giving a child neglected by their own blood parent much needed love can impact them greatly.

Adoption is another option for prospective parents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are roughly 6.76 billion people in the world now and by 2030 we will hit 9 billion. There are already millions starving because there is not enough food in the world to sustain all of us.

What will happen in 20 years when our population increases by 33 percent?

As for as those individuals giving their eggs and sperm, they have children out there and they don’t know who they are, where they are, and whom they are with.

Their child could be in an unhealthy situation with no means of escape. Are they not partially responsible for having the child come into this world?

It is understandable that in this financially trying time we are willing to do just about anything for some extra cash, but is putting the life of an innocent child on the line truly worth it?