Cash Cow

A thought-provoking deep dive into the global fertility industry and the commodification of the maternal body Should surrogacy be a paid service, an altruistic act - or even legal at all? Is it right that you can pay more for 'VIP' egg donors - and to view their photos? How much, if anything, should breastmilk cost - and who should be allowed to buy it? The global fertility industry is rapidly growing, hugely profitable and extremely morally complex. From egg freezing to black-market breastmilk, the maternal body has never been more commodified, yet we have never stopped to fully consider the ethical, emotional and economic implications. Through a combination of undercover journalism and compelling personal interviews - including a surrogate of 12 children, an international embryo courier and a man who buys breastmilk for his IBS - Alev Scott exposes how the IVF, surrogacy and milk industries operate around the world. In doing so, she considers the blurred line between exploitation and empowerment. Who should make money from the maternal body: only the women themselves, anyone or no one? Timely, thought-provoking and compelling, Cash Cow is an unmissable investigation into how desire, desperation and commerce intersect.