‘Captivating, mind-boggling and deeply disturbing’ – Maureen Freely

‘Humane, thoughtful and urgent — this book will make you think, make you laugh, make you cry, but also make you burn with rage’ – Dr Mary Wellesley

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, highly profitable, and morally complex. This is an industry where one person's biological misfortune can be another person's financial gain. From egg freezing to black-market breastmilk, the maternal body has never been more commodified, yet the ethical, emotional, and economic implications are rarely considered.

Through a combination of undercover reporting and detailed first-hand accounts – including a surrogate with 12 children, an international embryo courier, and a man who buys breastmilk for his IBS – Alev Scott reveals how the IVF, surrogacy, and milk industries operate around the world and who is profiting. In doing so, she explores the blurred line between exploitation and empowerment. Who should profit from the maternal body: only women themselves, everyone, or no one?

Timely, thought-provoking, and compelling, Cash Cow is an indispensable investigation into how desire, desperation, and commerce intersect, and the impact the fertility industry has on individuals.

‘A powerful, intimate, and disturbing exploration of the hidden markets built on women’s bodies' – Professor Peter Frankopan

‘An absolute must-read for anyone considering surrogacy; a compelling and thought-provoking book for everyone else’ – Jack Farchy, co-author of The World for Sale

Pages: 320, Year of Publication: 1013, Dimensions: 15.9x15.9cm