COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It is nothing new. For years people have been donating plasma, sperm and eggs to help others.

But officials said in today's tough economic climate more people are donating instead for the money, using it as a way to supplement their income.

"I was a technician for Intel, and they recently closed the plant, so I am in between jobs so this definitely helps with being able to have money," plasma donor Glen Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez donates plasma twice a week at Talecris Plasma Resources in Colorado Springs. He gets paid $25 for his first donation, and $30 for his second.

Gonzalez said being unemployed, the extra cash has been vital to his family's financial stability.

"It really helps having that extra income, especially because I have kids," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez is just one of many who regularly donate their plasma at Talecris.

Officials there said they have seen an increase in the number of people who have been coming in to donate routinely.

Why? They do not know for sure, but officials speculate it could be do to the down economy.

"Speaking with donors that is definitely one of the reasons," said Talecris center manager Rodney Gomez.

Gomez said a visit to the center, if it is not a dono's first time, usually only takes around one hour.

If you break that down to dollars and cents, that is a great deal.

"For our regular donors we take care of them, we throw barbeques and have monthly bonuses, and it is not because we have to. It is because we appreciate them taking their time out of their life to donate plasma," Gomez said.

Another medical arena people have been looking to in these tough economic times is egg donation.

Officials with the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine said a donor can make up to $5,000 with each donation, although they added it is a long, and sometimes difficult process.

"The first step is we screen the donors and have them fill out an application to see if they are suitable donors. They go through a physical exam to make sure they are healthy, and they do a psychological exam," director Dr. William Schoolcraft said.

Schoolcraft said if a woman passes the application process, she then has to administer shots to herself for a period of 10 days. After that, he said her eggs are extracted using a needle.

"I think we have seen somewhat of an increase, but as far as the type of women coming in that has remained the same, usually college or graduate students, people in their early 20s in the process of education," Schoolcraft said.

Once again, if you break down the number of days it takes a woman to donate and the money she receives, the payoff is incredible.

But Schoolcraft said the monetary benefits are not the only reason women donate.

"I think the money is initially attractive, but then the concept or idea that you can help a family begin is mind-blowing to women; it might be the most significant thing that they do in their lives," Dr. Schoolcraft said.

To learn more about Talecris Plasma Resources click here. 

To learn more about the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine click here.