We are more than parts, but the biotech industry is lobbying governments to put women's health at risk simply to acquire research materials.  In the past, eggs were extracted to resolve infertility ... but human embryonic stem cell research depends primarily on women donating parts - with no health benefit to the recipient and risks to the donor and her children ... up to death.

Are clinic embryos enough?
     Although it is often stated there are 400,000 embryos in the clinics, the study from which that comes indicates only about 11,000 are available for research.  Of those, most are not desireable for research. (*) The clinic embryos are a red herring.  Scientists want fresh eggs & lots of them.  Women around the world are exploited and their health and lives risked, simply to provide research materials.   

How many eggs?
     Unknown.  Scientists agree that cloning will be necessary for therapeutic use of human embryonic stem cells (hES).  Thousands of eggs have already been wasted on futile attempts to clone.  Even a 1:1 egg:clone ratio requires in 150 million eggs for the US alone.  Another research indicated 400 eggs wouldn't be enough to study just one disease.  You be the judge of how many will be enough.

What are the risks?
     The long-term risks for egg donation are unknown - and not all drugs used have FDA approval.  Up to 10% of donors suffer Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome - which can result in renal failure, potential infertility, and even death. (Read testimonies for more info.)  Evidence is mounting that the drugs result in offspring deformaties. (*)  

Are there alternatives?
     Scientists identify 3 reasons for hES - reparative, disease study, and drug therapies.  
     Adult stem cells increasingly offer reparative qualities that hES only 'promise'.  MS, Parkinsons, Crohn's & Lupus are just some of the conditions put in remission in people.  Clinical trials for diabetes, cord injuries, heart disease, are regularly recruiting.  To search current stem cell results from both sides visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stemcells/ (registration required).  To see what is currently recruiting visit:  http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov
    There is no indication that hES are supperior to animal and other stem cell sources - which have not been exhausted in the study of disease and drug therapies.  

Women shouldn't die to provide research materials.

Links:

Organizations:
Hands Off Our Ovaries    (International Pro-choice/Pro-life organization) http://www.handsoffourovaries.com/

Government Testimonies:
Dianne Beesom (Medical Sociologist CSU):  http://reform.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Beeson%20Testimony%20with%20attachments.pdf
Francine Coeytaux (CA Advisory Committee on Human Cloning)
http://www.senate.ca.gov/ftp/SEN/COMMITTEE/STANDING/HEALTH/_home/PROP_71_OVERSIGHT_COEYTAUX.doc
Mary A. Hamilton (zoologist)  http://house.michigan.gov/SessionDocs/2005-2006/Testimony/Committee12-3-21-2006-3.pdf
(live link version available at: http://holtbiz.com/StemCells/Testimony.htm )
 Judy Norisigian (Executive Director of Our Bodies Ourselves)  http://reform.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Judy%20Norsigian%20Testimony.pdf

Articles:
Issues in Oocyte Donation (Science Magazine) http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/308/5729/1747
 An `epidemic' of severe OHSS: a price we have to pay?  (Human Reproduction) http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/14/9/2181
 Egg Donation for IVF and Stem Cell Research: Time to Weigh the Risks to Women’s Health http://popdev.hampshire.edu/projects/dt/dt33.php
 Egg cell trade endagers EU as a community of values (Pres of Bio-ethic-Intergroup in the European Parliament)  http://www.hiltrud-breyer.de/themen/gentechnik/positionen/Egg_cell_trade_BioNews_27_05_05.pdf
Position on the Harvesting and Marketing of Egg Cells
http://www.reprokult.de/e_thema10.html