One of the New Scientist's ‘Best new popular science books of 2026’
Out 26th February 2026
SHOULD SURROGACY BE A PAID SERVICE, AN ALTRUISTIC ACT – OR EVEN LEGAL AT ALL?
SHOULD EGG DONORS BE COMPENSATED ACCORDING TO HOW FERTILE THEY ARE?
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 morally complex. This is an industry where one person’s biological bad luck 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 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, and who is profiting from them. 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, exploring the impact the fertility industry has on the women at its heart.
“Cash Cow is an eye-opening exploration of how surrogacy has grown to become a multibillion-dollar global industry with almost no public scrutiny. An absolute must-read for anyone considering surrogacy; a compelling and thought-provoking book for everyone else.”
“Fascinating, original and shocking.”
“The depth and care of Alev’s reporting is unmatched”
“A powerful, intimate and disturbing exploration of the hidden markets
built on women’s bodies. Alev Scott has written a book that will change
the way you think about family, fertility and the future”
“Captivating, mind-boggling and deeply disturbing”
“A brilliant and compelling book, and one which should be read by anyone associated with mothering and fertility – that is, everyone”
“Humane, thoughtful and urgent – this book will make you think, make you laugh, make you cry, but also make you burn with rage. ”