Surrogacy 101

Forever Family (Working Title) A Groundbreaking New Docu-series

Over 1.2 million women in the US seek treatment each year for infertility. 

It is estimated that U.S. citizens adopt around 120,000 children each year.

Since 1976, there have been about 25,000 surrogate births in the USA and more than 250,000 babies have been born using the in vitro fertilization technique. IVF offers infertile couples a chance to have a child who is biologically related to them.

From one of the producers of Extreme Makeover “Home Edition” comes a new one hour docu-series that celebrates couples and individuals who have decided to create their family in a variety of non traditional ways.

Each week our Host, a nationally recognized celebrity who has a experienced a personal journey with adoption or  infertility will meet and interview couples and individuals, who are in various stages of creating new families utilizing one of these fast growing alternative trends of surrogacy, adoption, assisted insemination or IVF.

As the cameras document each heartwarming story, our host may also introduce our audience to other celebrities who themselves have gone through the process and want to share their passion and experience in creating their families using one of the above mentioned alternative approaches.

We are casting couples and individuals who are in various stages of creating a family using alternative means such as: surrogacy, adoption, assisted insemination and IVF.

This is a groundbreaking new docu-series, if you would like to share your story and currently live in the Southern California region, we would love meet with you.

Contact: Sherry Calhoun 818-400-9094 

The Role Of A Therapist During A Donor Egg Cycle by Carole Lieber Wilkins as Posted by Marna Gatlin of PVED

This essay was written by Carole Lieber Wilkins, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in West Los Angeles. A specialist in the field of reproductive medicine, adoption and family building options since 1986, she became a founding member of Resolve of Greater Los Angeles in 1987 and served on the Board of Directors in various positions for the next 14 years.

Carole is first and foremost a mother via egg donation and adoption. Carole is also an active member of The Mental Health Professional Group (MHPG) which is a part of ASRM. This group is a multidisciplinary group that formed in 1985 with the full support of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Its mission is to promote scientific understanding of the psychological, social, and emotional perspectives of infertility patients

During a discussion about the roles therapists fulfill with intended parents during DE cycles Carole took the time to write an essay talking about what exactly that role is. - Marna Gatlin

I have been meeting with patients pursuing gamete donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy for many, many years. I don't call them, nor do I consider them to be evaluations or assessments, despite the fact that the clinics do tell patients they need a “psychological evaluation” before proceeding. My attempt to educate clinic staff has not been successful in changing their language, thus, patients often come in defensive and angry. I attempt to put them at ease immediately by telling them the meeting is not an evaluation and it is not my job to decide whether or not they are worthy of becoming parents. Their response is visceral. Shoulders drop, faces relax, and they breathe. Then we can proceed.

I tell patients I see my role as educative in two ways: to talk about the ways in which building a family thru gamete donation is DIFFERENT from having a family the easy and inexpensive way; and to play the role of child advocate.

I tell patients that I try to represent the only person in the family building equation who has no vote, but is the sole reason for the endeavor—the unborn child. The children resulting from all the procedures have no voice in how it all happens, (as no children have a vote in how they are conceived.)

I try to put a spin on what we DO know about how individuals feel who come into families thru donor conception, surrogacy, etc., regardless of the single/married, gay/straight constellation of the family.

We DO know some things that make healthy families and we DO know now from studies of DE and DS offspring how people feel about their means of conception and all that goes with it.

We DO know that it is normal and common for people to grieve the loss of a genetic link to an offspring.

We DO know how most infertility patients feel after being in treatment for a period of time.

Many have recently written about “the brave new world” we are involved in, but I wonder when it will stop being a brave new world. Yes, the stakes keep getting higher as technology tests our ethical boundaries of what can be done, but should it be done. However, surrogacy is now 30 years old. Donor sperm has been around forever and the first child born thru egg donation is now 27. Many people now have “children” through gamete donation who haven’t been children in a long time. In fact, some parents through gamete donation are now grandparents. It’s not that new and we DO know many things to be true.

With some exceptions, the report I send to a doctor reflects the discussion of the many complex issues that accompany complicated family building. Gamete donation families are special needs families, as are adoptive families, and many other kinds of families. This requires unique preparation and knowledge. Special needs are not bad; they’re just special, aka “a little extra.” I call it parenting plus. These families have all the stuff “regular” families have, with a healthy dose of EXTRA.

Even in a brief consultation, we can get a rough idea of whether there is psychopathology (vs. neurosis, thank goodness, or surely most of us would have never become parents), substance or spousal abuse or other issues that would make us significantly concerned about bringing a child into the household. In those cases, I recommend further counseling or whatever is needed. But most of the time, I think, our patients are as unqualified to parent as anyone off the street, only now, because they have been required to see us, they are much better educated about certain aspects of family building and parenting.

When patients leave my office, I hope they have more questions than when they walked in.

I hope they are thinking about gamete donation differently than when they resentfully made the appt. (if required by physician).

I hope they no longer think gamete donation is no big deal.

I hope they are thinking about what it would be like to grow up in a home where your parents didn’t have enough respect to tell the truth about who you are, or where parents were too scared to tell the truth.

I hope they think about the fact that it won’t matter what other people say about gamete donation as long as they as parents are fierce protectors and advocates for the family they created and how they created it, thereby claiming children as one’s own.

I hope my patients leave my office knowing that infertility is a lifelong disease that goes into remission for long periods of time, and then springs up again at the least expected moments.

I hope my patients leave my office armed with the response to the dreaded exclamation:
“I don’t have to listen to you because you’re not my real mother!!”

I want them to leave my office having shifted from being terrified their kid will someday say that to them, to looking forward to it because they are prepared and ready to help guide their child through the muddy waters of trying to figure out who they actually are.

All that in an hour? We do what we can with what little we are given.

Carole LieberWilkins, M.F.T.
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 470-9049
www.LAfamilybuilding.com

Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd: A LaMothe Book Review

 

Nobody's Child by Austin Boyd was sent to me, along with 2 other copies to share, from Zondervan, for review.

 

 
First their Synopsis: 
For Laura Ann McGehee, her body represents the one remaining financial resource that can save the family farm. For Sophia McQuistion, Laura Ann’s unusual sacrifice fulfills her own dream of having a child. Weaving together bioethics and faith in a heart-rending tale of love lost and loves found, Nobody’s Child dramatizes the ethical question we can no longer ignore in medicine: Just because we can do something … should we? 

About Austin Boyd: He is the award-winning author of the thrilling space suspense trio, The Evidence, The Proof and The Return. An inventor, business entrepreneur, spacecraft engineer, and Navy pilot, he weaves real science with true-to-life characters in descriptive page-turning suspense. Austin and his wife, Cindy are the parents of four adult children and live  in Huntsville, Alabama where he manages an engineering and design company, and serves the community through Crisis Pregnancy ministries.

 
My take on Nobody's Child:  The book itself was well written and the pages filled with details of farm life in West Virginia along with characters who were believable and endearing. What I think is the crying shame about Nobody's Child is the obvious ignorance regarding egg donation. I probably shouldn't have been surprised as Eggsploitation is one of the references recommended in the back of the book. The segments shared regarding Laura Ann's egg donation and the outcome are particularly hard to swallow because every fear that a donor may have came true in this book. Realizing Nobody's Child is meant to be a dramatization I still felt I was constantly thinking 'what's next'? whenever something went wrong in poor Laura Ann's life. (Most of which stemmed from her egg donation).

 
Twenty years old and very much ashamed of "selling her eggs" to save the family farm and help with medical bills, Laura Ann has everything go wrong from floods and fires to a recipient of one of her egg donations showing up pregnant on her door step. What else could go wrong? How about premature labor, a will that leaves the baby to Laura and finding out that a nurse from the now debunked clinic also has a daughter from Laura Ann's donation! Nope, that is not a spoiler!

 

 I recommend reading Nobody's Child for entertainment only. There is a lot of misinformation regarding egg donation and the whys and hows of the process. Leering doctors and exaggerated side effects aside, Nobody's Child does have a message of where there's a will there's a way. Everything that was thrown at Laura Ann had a solution that worked for her mainly due to the supporting characters and her own deep seeded strength.

Four Different Ways Women Can Give the Gift of Life

I wnted to re-post this because there still is controversial news regarding embryo and sperm donations (not to mention egg donation) I think it's important to focus on other ways women can give the gift of life...(although egg donation is mentioned in this article) I have never been an egg donor, becoming involved in ART in my mid 30's, however, I am on the International Bone Marrow Donor list, give blood regularly, had cord blood saved and, of course, been a Gestational Carrier twice. ( I wouldn't consider the 7 Pounds route that Will Smith took in that role!) Needless to say, these stories are based in the UK but the US offers the same opportunities. Just ask your Dr. for guidance.

  

Sharon 

Four women on why they became donors 

Exclusive: By Alison Palmer 21/07/2009

These women all gave a body part to improve someone else’s life. Here they explain why they were so selfless

Every drop counts

Danielle Holmes, 32 lives with husband Richard in Muckamore, Belfast, with their children Kaya, three, and five-week-old Cayden. Danielle is a manager of a logistics company and Richard is a head chef.

“As my darling son, Riley, born 14 weeks early, lay in an incubator, hooked up to endless wires and tubes I felt so helpless. All I could do was feed his tiny 1lb 11oz body with my expressed breast milk.

Despite bleeds on the brain, collapsed lungs and other complications, he limped on. But four weeks in, with all the stress and heartache, my milk dried up. I was devastated. Doctors said formula milk would be too heavy, but there was a milk bank, breast milk donated by other mothers we could use.

Before I had Riley, I was repulsed by the thought but when you are in the situation we were in, knowing the best thing your very poorly child can have is breast milk, you’re eternally grateful for another mum’s donation. I believe the donated milk gave me another five weeks with Riley before he died after surgery for a bowel infection.

So two years later, when I gave birth to Kaya, I was determined to give something back. I contacted the milk bank at Fermanagh and they sent me special bottles and an insulated box and I began expressing.

Each day, as well as expressing for Kaya, I managed 120ml for the bank which I’d freeze. It doesn’t sound much but the tiniest babies only need a couple of millilitres, so every bit counts. I donated for seven months and hope to again now Cayden is five weeks old.

I mentioned having my long hair cut off on www.baby-greenhouse.co.uk and someone suggested I give it to a charity that makes wigs for children with cancer. It’s amazing you can do something so small, so insignificant to you that can make such a massive difference to another person’s life.”

/ For details of milk banks, visit www.ukamb.org or call 0208 383 3559. To donate hair, see www.littleprincesses.org.uk or www.locksoflove.org

How could I deny someone a life?

 

Leanne Flanagan, 22, of Cardiffis single with no children and works in a supermarket.

“I opened the letter and started to read. It said: ‘To my dear donor. Thank you for giving me the gift of life. My family and I cannot thank you enough. You will never know what you’ve done for me.’

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

When I signed up to be a bone marrow donor, I gave a blood sample and filled in some paperwork but I never thought I’d be a match.

Then, on my birthday the following year, in November 2007, I received a letter saying I was a potential match. I had some blood taken, then a fortnight later I got a letter to say I was a perfect match.

My family weren’t very happy because they were worried about health implications. But for me it was clear. There was someone out there, probably with leukaemia that would ultimately kill them, who knew there was a donor who could save them.

How could I deny them a chance of life?

I opted to give bone marrow through ‘peripheral blood stem cell donation’. It was simple.

For three days a nurse injected me with a special substance to boost my stem cells. Then on the fourth day the Anthony Nolan Trust paid for us to go to Londonwhere I spent five hours hooked up to a machine at University College Hospital.

I had a needle in each arm; one took blood out into a machine that collected the cells, the other put the ‘empty’ blood back in. I felt tired but nothing more.

I knew the whole process was anonymous so, when I received the letter via the trust I was bowled over.

I’ll never know the recipient but just to know there’s someone out there, still hopefully living a happy, healthy life because of me is just wonderful.”

To join the register or to find out more about the process see www.anthonynolan.org.uk or call 0207 284 1234.

It was very humbling

 

Cathy Sidaway, 29, a business development manager, lives in York. She’s single and has no children.

“I was leafing through a paper a couple of years ago when I saw an advert from an anonymous couple who needed an egg donor. I thought I could be that person. It all came at a very poignant time. My friend had suffered multiple miscarriages and a relative has endometriosis and was struggling to get pregnant.

I spent some time on the National Gamete Donation Trust’s (NGDT) forum for those considering donation and called the number.

I had extensive counselling. It threw up all sorts of emotions. I was asked how I’d feel telling my own future children that somewhere they may have a half-sibling. I hope they and any future partner would understand. I also had to go through various medical tests.

It was almost a year by the time, last February, I finally donated via Guy’s Hospital, London. I had to go through a similar process to IVF to create as many eggs as possible.

They collected 14 eggs. It was a little uncomfortable but not awful. Sadly the recipient hasn’t got pregnant yet but I’m hopeful it will work out for her soon.

I donated once more and I’m just about to donate again. I met the woman online and was only going to tell her about the process, but we got on so well I offered to be her donor.

I thought I’d donate four times, but we’ll see. All I know is I can give a woman a shot at motherhood. That’s a very humbling experience.”

For more information see www.ngdt.co.uk or call the helpline on 0845 226 9193.

I knew it could save a life

Rebecca Khan, 29, lives in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, with husband, Kyle, 32, and children, Elena, 23 months and Leah, seven weeks. She works for the NHS – and in recruitment.

“I knew blood in the umbilical cord was live-saving through my work with the blood and transfusion service. I also know it’s hard to find matches for the ethnic community. So, being half-Greek with a half-Jamaican husband, I was desperate to donate. Sadly not all hospitals have a cord blood donation team but mine, Barnet General, does. It wasn’t long before I had a call from the donation team who took me through all the details and helped me fill in a consent form that I kept in my pregnancy notes.

I was devastated when, after Elena’s birth, they hadn’t been able to retrieve a full sample. There wasn’t enough blood in the cord.

So I made sure all the paperwork was in order again when I gave birth to Leah and hoped that this time they’d be successful. They were.

I had an elective caesarean so I didn’t even see when they took the cord away. But it doesn’t matter how you give birth, you can still donate.

Once they cut the cord and establish mum and baby are OK the cord blood team take the placenta and cord. The cells in cord blood can be sent all over the world to help cure patients of life-threatening diseases such as blood cancers and immune disorders.

It’s wonderful that something so useless to you could save a life.”

/For more info about hospitals with a cord blood team or to register to be a donor visit http://cord.blood.co.uk or call 0800 783 5870 or 020 8437 1740.

What do you mean I can't get a new tattoo?!

 

 
Q~~What do you mean I can't get a new tattoo?!

 

 A~~   I thought I would write a FYI here because there are some potential Egg Donors and Surrogates out there that are not aware that you can not donate your eggs or become a surrogate if you have had a tattoo or body piercing within the past 6 months to a year. (In most cases it's 6 months for the piercing's and a year for the tattoo unless you have written proof that the needles used were disposable and in that case, you would be free and clear to donate or volunteer to carry.) This requirement is a safeguard against the risk of infectious diseases. Obviously any tattoos you have that are over a year old are fine!  

 

This was the easiest Q & A ever!

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net 

A Great Symposium for Infertility and Reproductive Professionals: START ART

Infertility is a challenging and rewarding field of nursing, and one that is evolving rapidly and dramatically, requiring nurses and other healthcare practitioners to constantly remain current with the latest state-of–the ART technology. Those in practice, as well as nurses in transition, accept that this ever changing arena requires an ongoing commitment to pursue new information, techniques, and best practices. And, equal in priority, is the IVF nurse’s sensitivity to parents’ quest to create families and the fragility of early embryonic life.

 The Annual REI Nursing Congress: Scientific & Therapeutic Approaches To Assisted Reproductive Technology (STARTARTSM) provides a unique and comprehensive educational opportunity, featuring critical updates on the latest advances in reproductive medicine, from procedures and protocols to psychosocial and legal issues. The goal of this Congress is to provide late-breaking information and cutting-edge techniques to improve ART outcomes - a goal that is matched by the IVF nurses’ skills, compassion, and caring that make this field so remarkable.

This activity is intended for the education of nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals specializing in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology. (It's great for surrogacy and egg donation agency owners too!)

During lunch on both Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5, participants will have the opportunity to join accredited sessions of interactive roundtable discussions. Topics will be posted at the meeting registration desk, where participants may sign up for discussions of issues of special interest. A moderator or faculty member will lead each group. (I am, once again, planning to lead a round table on the topic of Gestational Surrogacy.)

Register HERE https://www.123enroll.com/STARTART

I hope to see you there!!

 Sharon

How Can I Find a Qualified Traditional Surrogate or Gestational Carrier?

 

 
Please note: You must ask your infertility clinic or Reproductive Endocrinologist for their list of qualifications in order for a Traditional Surrogate or Gestational Carrier to enter into their program. Do this before you start your search. Health issues, weight, age and uncomplicated pregnancies are just a few of the many requirements and qualifications.   

There are many ways to locate a Traditional surrogate (TS) or Gestational Carrier (GC). You need to consider all your options and ask yourself what will be the most comfortable for your personal situation and life style. 

1) Tell friends and family that you are looking for a surrogate, and find someone through word of mouth.   

2) Search the Web. There are several places online that have women advertising to assist infertile couples through surrogacy.

 3) Contact a clinic or attorney and get a referral to an agency/matching service, or contact an agency directly.  

4) Find a Surrogacy or Egg Donation consultant to lead you in the right direction and offer tips, advice, and to agencies with a great track record.

5) Ask a family member or friend directly to carry your child for you.

Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking?: Considering IVF & Third-Party Reproduction by Theresa M. Erickson: A LaMothe Book Review

I was very excited to receive my copy of Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking?: Considering IVF & Third-Party Reproduction by Theresa M. Erickson. What I expected was a book filled with guidelines and tips for those who are venturing for the first time into the unknown territory of Third Party Family Building and I was not disappointed!

 

Education and research is key when considering any third party reproduction route and there are several books out on the market that can assist Intended Parents in making a sound decision. But along with reading books like Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking? visiting website's and researching all options, it is wise to surround oneself with seasoned professionals in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Theresa Erickson is one of those highly sought after reproductive attorneys that can provide sound advice and guidance just as she provides in her books.

 

Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking? is divided into four 'fertility options' as stated in the title but there is so much more to be discovered here. With chapters on Disclosure, Reproductive Tourism, Agency vs Independent and Online Matching, Trust and Escrow Accounts, and much more, this book is a must read for any Intended or Recipient Parent considering working with a third party to build their family.

 

About the Author Theresa Erickson:

 

Theresa M. Erickson is one of the few attorneys in the United States who practices exclusively in reproductive and family formation law. The managing partner of Erickson Law, APLC, she is also the Founder and Chair of Conceptual Options, The Surrogacy and Egg Donation Center, and lives in San Diego, California.

3 Things Potential Parents Should Know About Finding A Private Egg Donor by Guest Blogger Alexis Bonari

 

One of the fastest growing venues for seeking out an egg donor is the American college campus.  While there has been considerable ethical debate surrounding the practice of charging more for the eggs of college educated, high IQ individuals, there has been little discussion of the difficulties encountered by potential parents who do not go through a donor location agency. Simply placing an advertisement in campus newspaper and waiting for someone to bite isn’t always as straightforward as it might seem.  Here are several things to consider when attempting foregoing donor location agency:

 

1. You have limited means for requesting a psychological evaluation.

The mindset of the potential egg donor is crucial to the success of the transaction.  Many donors don’t realize how physically invasive the procedures will be.  Others are less likely to take the necessary precautions to avoid pregnancy during the fertility treatment cycle. Psychological screening by an experienced psychologist is necessary to protect both the donor and the potential parents.  Agencies that seek out donors on a regular basis have qualified psychologists on staff to perform evaluations.

 

2. It’s very difficult to do a full background/medical check without the help of an agency.

Agencies perform extensive background checks.  Some even go so far as to require donors to undergo DNA testing for common genetic abnormalities.  These tests are obtained at a massively discounted, bulk rate.  The added cost of arranging for these tests on your own will likely mitigate any savings you might have achieved by finding someone on your own.

 

3. Donor location agencies know the legal ins and outs of the donation procedure.

This final consideration is arguable the most important.  Whenever you are legally contracting someone to undergo a medical procedure, the legal proceedings must be absolutely perfect.  This insures that the rights of both parties involved are adequately protected. Having a private lawyer draft the documents is a somewhat risky proposition, as it’s unlikely that the lawyer will be as completely familiar with the process as an agency-hired legal representative would be.

 

All said, potential parents are less likely to encounter problems when they find donors through a donor location agency.   

 

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident education blogger and performs research surrounding College Scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

Egg Donor and Surrogate Agency Fees in the USA by Guest Blogger Gail Sexton Anderson of Donor Concierge

All egg donor and surrogacy agencies charge a variety of fees to provide you with an egg donor or surrogate, and to ensure that all legal and psychological needs and certain insurance needs are covered. The following is a general range of egg donor and surrogacy agency fees. Note that fees may vary quite a bit from one agency to the next. Generally speaking, egg donor agency administrative fees tend to be in the $4,000–$8,000 range. This does not include the egg donor’s fee, medical fees, or egg donor expenses. Some agencies give you a bundled fee that includes legal fees, psychological fees, insurance fees, and agency administrative fees. Others charge a separate fee for each service or ask you to pay each fee directly to the service provider. These fees are usually nonnegotiable. Most egg donor and surrogacy agencies spend a lot of money to recruit donors and don’t have a high profit margin. The other fees for legal, psychological, and other services are fairly standard and, again, have no wiggle room. A new trend with a few egg donor agencies is to break fees down to include matching and coordination fees. Some agencies are starting to contract out the cycle coordination fee to independent agencies who will handle the details of the cycle. These cycle coordinating or management agencies often handle and the donor’s fee, booking travel arrangements and distribution of expense reimbursement. Egg donor fees are the greatest variable. An egg donor’s fee can range from $4,000 to $10,000, if the agency is abiding by American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines. The donor’s fee could be as high as $30,000. Generally, you need not pay that much to get what you want in an egg donor. With surrogacy, the fees are higher because you’re dealing with a longer, more complicated process. It is a little harder to compare administrative fees, but it is pretty safe to assume that you get what you pay for. If the surrogacy agency has an extremely low administrative fee, the agency may be just a matching service. That is, they have surrogates to match, but you will need to handle the details on your own. Full service surrogacy agencies charge an administrative fee of $16,000–$21,000. You want a program that will support you from match to birth and beyond. Some agencies are more hands-on when handling cases than others. Surrogate fees can vary from $18,000 to $35,000 and up. Surrogates do so much for what breaks down to a few dollars a day. These wonderful women more than earn their compensation for the wear and tear on their bodies and the strain on their families. Expect most surrogates to receive compensation for expenses plus incentive for attending monthly support group meetings. Basic Egg Donor Agency Cost The following fees do not include medical costs for services or medications required: • Administrative fee for the egg donor program: $4,000–$8,000.* • International fee: $500–$2,000. • Egg donor fees: $5,000–$20,000. • Egg donor expenses: $600–$6,000 (if travel is required). • Legal fees: $750–$950. • Egg donor insurance: $400–$500. • Egg donor psychological screening: $400–$1,000. Depends on the level of testing. Expect the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) at a minimum. Usually intelligence testing will cost you more. Basic Surrogacy Agency Cost The following fees do not include medical costs for services or medications required: • Administrative fee for the surrogacy program: $5,000–$23,000. • International fee: $2,000. • Surrogate fee: $18,000–$35,000. • Allowance for surrogate: $200 per month. • Surrogate support group meetings: $100 per month. • Legal fees: $2,000–$8,000. Depends on the extent of the attorney’s duties. If they manage the trust/escrow account, expect the fee to be on the higher end. • Psychological fees for surrogate evaluation and support: $1,000–$4,000 (depending on how involved the psychologist is). • Maternity clothing allowance for the surrogate: $600–$1,000. • Embryo transfer fees: $750. • Fees for multiples: Expect to pay more for a twin pregnancy, and more still for triplets and additional multiples, due to additional bed rest required for the surrogate. Information provided by Gail Sexton Anderson of Donor Concierge (http://donorconcierge.com) Since 1998, Gail Sexton Anderson, Ed.M., has dedicated her career to helping intended parents from all walks of life build families. She founded Donor Concierge as a compassionate approach to helping intended parents sort through the myriad of egg donor and surrogacy options. Gail has developed working relationships with many excellent egg donor and surrogacy programs, fertility attorneys, and mental health professionals specializing in third party fertility counseling she has known and trusted for years. This enables her be a great resource for her clients for any additional help they may need as they build their family. Gail holds a master’s degree in counseling from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is an empathic listener who brings a calming influence to what can often be an emotionally stressful process.

Mom and Dad and The Journey They Had! Written by Molly Rose Siobhan Summer and presented by Guess Who? Multimedia and Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles: A LaMothe Book Review

Mom and Dad and the Journey They Had!    

I had the wonderful privilege to review Mom and Dad and The Journey They Had! Written by Molly Rose Siobhan Summer and presented by Guess Who? Multimedia and Pacific Fertility Center: I really didn't know what to expect as the story begins with a 'traditional' family preparing to add child number two. They sing and dance all the while getting ready for their very special delivery. Near the end of this story, which starts out focusing on the importance of preparing to bring a baby home, Mom and Dad sit down with the soon to be 'big brother' and tell him about the problems they had conceiving him. In a very matter of fact manner the parents share how they went to a doctor and found a young woman to donate her egg. The main focus of the conversation is how he was the one they had been waiting for all along. The message was so subtle that really all a child listening to this story hears is that "you were always wanted and always loved and we were waiting for YOU".

I highly recommend this very engaging and heartwarming musical to any family who used assisted reproduction (egg donation) to have a baby of their own.

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

Mistake Number Fourteen of the Top 14 Mistakes Not to Make for Traditional Surrogates and Gestational Carriers: Thinking That the Surrogacy Process will be Fast and Easy

 

Here we are, Finally! Number 14 is a mistake that all surrogates/carriers tend to make at one time or the other. (This should include Intended Parents.) The Surrogacy process is full of hoops to jump through and often takes well over a year to complete and that is if all goes well with the first IVF attempt. Read below for some of the most common misconceptions. Your thoughts and comments are always welcomed!

(Illustration copyright Tsipora Ivry 2009
www.ellyteman.com )

 

 Mistake #14-Thinking that the surrogacy process will be fast and easy

 

This is one of the most common phrases that I hear day in and day out from women who would like to be surrogates or carriers.

 

" I get pregnant just by my husband looking at me"

" I just think about wanting a baby and the next thing I know, I'm pregnant"

"I have never had any morning sickness and am so happy being pregnant"

 

Needless to say there is SO much more involved to surrogacy that I can't fit it all into this one post. Here is a run down...you can hum it to the tune of Row Row Row Your Boat! (Just joking)

 

*You must find a match with like minded Intended Parents

*You have to pass all of the Intended Parents clinics' medical and mental health evalution requirements such as age, BMI, physical health, and be mentally and emotionally prepared (to name a few)

*You must have a legal contract in place

*IUI's must take place at a certain time in your cycle

*It may take several months of IUI before pregnancy (if you get pregnant at all)

*For IVF You must cycle with your Intended Mother or the Egg Donor

*You will have to take medications (shots, pills, suppositories)

*You will have to have an embryo transfer

*You may not get pregnant the first time

*You may have to go through 2 or 3 embryo transfers

*You may never get pregnant with this method, this RE or this clinic

*IF you do get pregnant you will be with your clinic 10-12 weeks

*You have the rest of your pregnancy to go through before you give birth to a baby or babies that will hopefully be close to term. 

 

You see...its not an easy thing which is why YOU are needed...why YOU are special because WHO ELSE but YOU would go through all of THIS for someone else?

 

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

 

Daddy and Pop: By Guess Who? Multimedia and Pacific Fertility Center Los Angeles: A LaMothe Book Review

 
"You have to have a Mom! How can you be born if you didn't have a Mom?" This a question that every child will need to answer at some point in their life if they have a Daddy and a Pop that make up their own loving family. With the Love Makes a Family Book Series, Daddy and Pop help their little girl, Jessie, answer those questions in a very matter of fact way.  She learns that her Daddy and Pop wanted her so much that they chose an Egg Donor and a Gestational Surrogate to bring her into the world and into their arms.

 

Because of my own experience carrying twins for a gay couple (using donor eggs), I can relate to the telling of this story. Books like Daddy and Pop are perfect for younger children and will help them understand how they arrived in the world and prepare them for the inevitable questions that they will face from their peers. I personally hope that books with positive massages like these would be read when they are as young as 2 or 3 so that they will not be taken by surprise like little Jessie was, a first grader, in this story.

 

Daddy and Pop is part of Guess Who? Multimedia's musical book series, celebrating families made possible by egg and sperm donation, surrogacy, and adoption.

 

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics by Dr. William Schoolcraft, MD, HCLD: A LaMothe Book Review

  If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics by Dr. William Schoolcraft, MD, HCLD, will not be available for release until March 16, 2010 but I have had the pleasure of receiving an advanced copy and highly suggest that you pre-order yours now!

There are two hundred and sixty five pages in If at First You Don't Conceive: A Complete Guide to Infertility from One of the Nation's Leading Clinics and each and everyone of them are worth reading. If you have just found out that you have a problem with fertility, this must be the first book you read. Not only does Dr. Schoolcraft talk about being your own best advocate he writes about the most common fertility challenges, the most common solutions for those challenges and covers the emotional challenges as well. I love the fact that he includes stories from his patient's which makes you feel connected to what this book is all about, validation, education, support and solutions.

If you are not familiar with Dr. WILLIAM SCHOOLCRAFT, MD, HCLD, he is a fertility specialist and researcher and is the director of the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine.


Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

I Wish You Enough: Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments One Wish at a Time by Bob Perks: A LaMothe Book Review

  "I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

Do you want to give a little something to your Surrogate or Egg Donor? Then  I Wish You Enough: Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments One Wish at a Time by Bob Perks is the perfect gift book. It has beautiful photographs, short antidotes and a sprinkling of supportive Bible verses that make this a relaxing read filled with Bob Perks' insightful messages. A nice addition to a gift basket, bouquet of flowers or a box of candy! (and great for Intended Parents too!)

 

Sharon LaMothe

Infertility Answers

LaMothe Services

This book was reviewed for Thomas Nelson

The Perfect First Gift for a Surrogate or Egg Donor, a Very Special Heart: A LaMothe Product Review

  I received a Very Special Heart Necklace to review and I am very impressed! What's so "special" about this necklace?

Inside each Very Special Heart™lies an incredible feat of engineering, which allows you to carry your complete Personal Health Record. If you choose, you can also carry all of your family’s health records. In an emergency, your Very Special Heart™ gives EMTs or ER doctors immediate access to your critical medical information. You can also carry a dose of emergency medication, secure copies of: passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and all of your important documents. How great is this for Surrogates and Egg Donors, especially those who need to travel. This necklace (or the globe key chain) can be opened and plugged into any computer in the world where Dr's can quickly make medical decisions based on the information found on a "Very Special Heart" and because emergency personal check wallets and purses first, it comes with a special wallet ID card that will tell EMT's where to find the medical information.

My first thought when I heard of a Very Special Heart was for the infertility community. Often times we are cycling, needing to take medication and shots in a timely manner or traveling for medical reasons. Who can remember everything when under the stress of an accident or emergency. It would be a perfect gift for a surrogate or egg donor who, after she has completed her donation or birth, can update the information continue to wear this for her own personal use. This would also be a great gift for the elderly, children or those who travel often. 

Check out the website for yourself and see what I'm talking about! http://www.averyspecialheart.com/index.html If you do buy one please tell me what you think of it! I use mine as a key chain.

Please note that I do not receive any compensation for my reviews. The products are sent to me with no obligation and I share with you what I think is useful.

Sharon LaMothe
Infertility Answers, Inc.
http://infertilityanswers.org/
LaMothe Services, LLC
http://lamotheservices.com/

What to Expect from a Psychological Evaluation

 

 You may be asked to meet with a psychologist for a “psychological evaluation”.  A psychologist is different from a psychiatrist.  A psychiatrist has a medical degree (M.D.), and they primarily prescribe medication, although some also conduct psychotherapy.  A psychologist has a doctorate in psychology (a Ph.D. or Psy.D.), and they provide evaluations and conduct psychotherapy.   

If you are interested in serving as an egg donor or traditional surrogate, the aim of the psychologist is twofold.  The psychologist would like to gather as much information as possible so the recipient couple is prepared.  For example, should there be a family history for learning disabilities, the recipient couple can learn about possible warning signs.  Consequently, should their child develop academic difficulties, the recipient couple could then proceed with appropriate treatment.  It is important to remember that psychologists know there is no perfect person and that it is extremely rare for a person to have a family history devoid of any psychological problems.  The psychologist is trained to remain neutral, and is interested in providing acceptance and support.  A well-seasoned psychologist knows it is more credible if a person has had a bump or two along the road and/or if a donor/surrogate speaks of at least one relative who has experienced some sort of psychological problem.  It is best to be honest.  It is far better to honestly portray yourself and your family than to cover up what you fear could disqualify you.  It is likely you will be disqualified if you are inconsistent in your responses.   The psychologist is also interested in determining your stability.  Couples who seek out an egg donor or surrogate are very serious about wanting a successful outcome.  Some couples have tried to have children for five or even ten years, by the time they reach this step.  It is imperative you are certain you can and want to take this journey to completion.  The psychologist will try to determine whether or not you will follow through by not only asking you about your feelings about serving as an egg donor/surrogate, but also by looking for patterns of stability in your past.  The psychologist will also spend time discussing with you the psychological ramifications of serving as an egg donor/surrogate.  This portion of the interview is for your benefit.  Regardless as to your motivation, helping a couple have children is a wonderful gift.  Your desire to be a part of the miracle of life puts you in a very special, cherished category.  You deserve to understand how this experience might affect you.  It is also important you learn enough about this process in order to make the right decision for you.  Should you have any questions, please ask them.  Serving as an egg donor/surrogate is a decision that will affect you for the entirety of your life.  It will most likely be comforting for you to receive answers to any questions you might have. 

 If you are interested in serving as a gestational surrogate, it is likely you will be asked to meet with a psychologist.  Many of the same questions will be asked.  Although your genetic history will not come into play, the psychologist will want to get to know you, so s/he can describe you to the intended parents.  Additionally, the psychologist will be interested in determining if you will be able to provide a safe environment, both physically and environmentally, while you carry a couple’s baby.  The psychologist will also want to prepare you in many different ways.  Not only are there many issues to consider during your pregnancy, but it is of utmost importance to prepare you for what you might feel when you release a child to the intended parents.  This is one of the most selfless and beautiful gifts you can give to others.  At the same time, it can leave a tremendous void.  The psychologist will want to prepare you and your partner to make sure that as you think through your decision, you can determine what is best for you.

You may be asked to take a personality test.  Most often, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, 2^nd Edition (MMPI-2) is administered.  This is a long inventory that consists of approximately 500 true-false questions.  The test is sensitive to test-taking style.  Oftentimes, potential donors/surrogates feel nervous and at some level, feel they must be close to perfect. It is not true that you have to be nearly perfect to be chosen.  Nevertheless, this mindset sometimes leads people to “fake good”, or present themselves in an overly favorable light.  “Validity scales” will reveal this test-taking style, and you could invalidate your results.  This could disqualify you.  It is good to know that the inventory allows for “normal” stress, occasional sadness and anxiety, and for human frailties.  Besides the “validity scales”, the inventory also yields “clinical scales”, which group together to form a “profile”.  The profile describes your characteristic ways of interacting with the world.  If you respond in a manner that is open and honest, it is likely your profile will yield interesting information for you.  Many psychologists are willing to discuss your results with you, should you ask.

Recipient couples, also known as intended parents, are sometimes asked to attend an interview with a psychologist.  They are sometimes asked to take an MMPI-2.   For those of you who are considering using an egg donor, the interview with a psychologist is to make sure you have considered what it might feel like in the future, to have a child who is not fully genetically related to you.  Additionally, the psychologist may ask questions to determine your financial and emotional stability.  This is not done in a judgmental or critical manner.  Rather, this would be to help you plan well for yourselves, especially if you have never had children.

If you are considering using a surrogate, the clinical interview for the intended parents is designed to prepare you for the emotional and financial issues that may come up.  There are many things to consider when using a surrogate, such as whether or not you will provide health insurance, life insurance, or home support in case your surrogate becomes bedridden with a pregnancy. Additionally, it is wise to think ahead with regards to how you might handle a poorly formed fetus, or multiples that jeopardize the life of the mother and/or the babies.  Lastly, it is a good idea to discuss what expectations you have with regards to a relationship with the surrogate both during and after a pregnancy.  A trained psychologist can guide you through this dialogue, and inform you so you can make the best decisions for this very important and life-altering event.

 

Dr. Barbara Feinberg is a licensed psychologist.  She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Florida Institute of Technology in 1985.  Dr. Feinberg has been practicing psychology in Tampa, Florida for over twenty-two years.  Dr. Feinberg works with adults and children.  Areas of treatment include infertility support, as well as coping with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, marital concerns, divorce and behavioral problems.  Dr. Feinberg also provides gifted and learning disabilities evaluations.  Additionally, she has specialized in reproductive issues for over ten years.  She has spoken around the state of Florida on psychological and emotional issues that pertain to infertility. Dr. Feinberg provides psychological evaluations for egg donors, traditional and gestational surrogates, and intended parents.  She works in conjunction with several egg donor agencies, surrogacy agencies and attorneys around the United States.  You may contact Dr. Feinberg at 15961 North Florida Avenue, Suite A, Lutz, FL   33549, or DrBarb222@aol.com. 

Infertility Answers~ Research Your Options Here

If you are considering Egg or Sperm Donation, Surrogacy or Embryo Donation, research is KEY! There are so many facets to the Third Party Family Building journey that it's imperative that those seeking to be donors or surrogates do their research as well as Intended Parents looking for the services offered from women advertising themselves as "good candidates". You can find information regarding these issues and more, including medical and legal concerns world wide, on Infertility Answers, Inc. http://infertilityanswers.org/ This easy to navigate site is perfect for those just starting to understand the complexities of Third Party Family Building.

 

Wishing you all the best!

Sharon LaMothe

Lack of 'Genetics'

There are several bloggers out there stating that using egg donors and/or surrogates are taking away from " the natural course of life". Regarding Egg Donation for instance, I disagree with the assessment of Third Party Reproduction or Third Party Family Formation being a negitive. First, no the baby isn't genetically linked to the woman carrying the baby if an egg donor is used BUT if she (the Intended Mother) plans to bring up that child, love it and care for it then YES! she is the mother! Genetics aside this question isn't an issue when we are talking about adoption and in that case BOTH parents are not genetically linked so why question parenthood when an egg donor or even a sperm donor has been used? (Or embryo donation) These parents want a baby! They want it from Day ONE and if it means that an egg or sperm donor is needed and they, the IP's, make that decision that's right for them! They may even have to go a step further and use a Traditional or Gestational Surrogate. But in any case the child will be theirs to love and bring up as their own in spite of the lack of 'genetics'!

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

What to Expect from a Psychological Evaluation

You may be asked to meet with a psychologist for a “psychological evaluation”.  A psychologist is different from a psychiatrist.  A psychiatrist has a medical degree (M.D.), and they primarily prescribe medication, although some also conduct psychotherapy.  A psychologist has a doctorate in psychology (a Ph.D. or Psy.D.), and they provide evaluations and conduct psychotherapy.   

If you are interested in serving as an egg donor or traditional surrogate, the aim of the psychologist is twofold.  The psychologist would like to gather as much information as possible so the recipient couple is prepared.  For example, should there be a family history for learning disabilities, the recipient couple can learn about possible warning signs.  Consequently, should their child develop academic difficulties, the recipient couple could then proceed with appropriate treatment.  It is important to remember that psychologists know there is no perfect person and that it is extremely rare for a person to have a family history devoid of any psychological problems.  The psychologist is trained to remain neutral, and is interested in providing acceptance and support.  A well-seasoned psychologist knows it is more credible if a person has had a bump or two along the road and/or if a donor/surrogate speaks of at least one relative who has experienced some sort of psychological problem.  It is best to be honest.  It is far better to honestly portray yourself and your family than to cover up what you fear could disqualify you.  It is likely you will be disqualified if you are inconsistent in your responses.   The psychologist is also interested in determining your stability.  Couples who seek out an egg donor or surrogate are very serious about wanting a successful outcome.  Some couples have tried to have children for five or even ten years, by the time they reach this step.  It is imperative you are certain you can and want to take this journey to completion.  The psychologist will try to determine whether or not you will follow through by not only asking you about your feelings about serving as an egg donor/surrogate, but also by looking for patterns of stability in your past.  The psychologist will also spend time discussing with you the psychological ramifications of serving as an egg donor/surrogate.  This portion of the interview is for your benefit.  Regardless as to your motivation, helping a couple have children is a wonderful gift.  Your desire to be a part of the miracle of life puts you in a very special, cherished category.  You deserve to understand how this experience might affect you.  It is also important you learn enough about this process in order to make the right decision for you.  Should you have any questions, please ask them.  Serving as an egg donor/surrogate is a decision that will affect you for the entirety of your life.  It will most likely be comforting for you to receive answers to any questions you might have. 

 If you are interested in serving as a gestational surrogate, it is likely you will be asked to meet with a psychologist.  Many of the same questions will be asked.  Although your genetic history will not come into play, the psychologist will want to get to know you, so s/he can describe you to the intended parents.  Additionally, the psychologist will be interested in determining if you will be able to provide a safe environment, both physically and environmentally, while you carry a couple’s baby.  The psychologist will also want to prepare you in many different ways.  Not only are there many issues to consider during your pregnancy, but it is of utmost importance to prepare you for what you might feel when you release a child to the intended parents.  This is one of the most selfless and beautiful gifts you can give to others.  At the same time, it can leave a tremendous void.  The psychologist will want to prepare you and your partner to make sure that as you think through your decision, you can determine what is best for you.

You may be asked to take a personality test.  Most often, the

Minnesota

Multiphasic Personality Inventory, 2^nd Edition (MMPI-2) is administered.  This is a long inventory that consists of approximately 500 true-false questions.  The test is sensitive to test-taking style.  Oftentimes, potential donors/surrogates feel nervous and at some level, feel they must be close to perfect. It is not true that you have to be nearly perfect to be chosen.  Nevertheless, this mindset sometimes leads people to “fake good”, or present themselves in an overly favorable light.  “Validity scales” will reveal this test-taking style, and you could invalidate your results.  This could disqualify you.  It is good to know that the inventory allows for “normal” stress, occasional sadness and anxiety, and for human frailties.  Besides the “validity scales”, the inventory also yields “clinical scales”, which group together to form a “profile”.  The profile describes your characteristic ways of interacting with the world.  If you respond in a manner that is open and honest, it is likely your profile will yield interesting information for you.  Many psychologists are willing to discuss your results with you, should you ask.

Recipient couples, also known as intended parents, are sometimes asked to attend an interview with a psychologist.  They are sometimes asked to take an MMPI-2.   For those of you who are considering using an egg donor, the interview with a psychologist is to make sure you have considered what it might feel like in the future, to have a child who is not fully genetically related to you.  Additionally, the psychologist may ask questions to determine your financial and emotional stability.  This is not done in a judgmental or critical manner.  Rather, this would be to help you plan well for yourselves, especially if you have never had children.

If you are considering using a surrogate, the clinical interview for the intended parents is designed to prepare you for the emotional and financial issues that may come up.  There are many things to consider when using a surrogate, such as whether or not you will provide health insurance, life insurance, or home support in case your surrogate becomes bedridden with a pregnancy. Additionally, it is wise to think ahead with regards to how you might handle a poorly formed fetus, or multiples that jeopardize the life of the mother and/or the babies.  Lastly, it is a good idea to discuss what expectations you have with regards to a relationship with the surrogate both during and after a pregnancy.  A trained psychologist can guide you through this dialogue, and inform you so you can make the best decisions for this very important and life-altering event.

 

Dr. Barbara Feinberg is a licensed psychologist.  She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Florida Institute of Technology in 1985.  Dr. Feinberg has been practicing psychology in Tampa, Florida for over twenty-two years.  Dr. Feinberg works with adults and children.  Areas of treatment include infertility support, as well as coping with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, marital concerns, divorce and behavioral problems.  Dr. Feinberg also provides gifted and learning disabilities evaluations.  Additionally, she has specialized in reproductive issues for over ten years.  She has spoken around the state of Florida on psychological and emotional issues that pertain to infertility. Dr. Feinberg provides psychological evaluations for egg donors, traditional and gestational surrogates, and intended parents.  She works in conjunction with several egg donor agencies, surrogacy agencies and attorneys around the United States.  You may contact Dr. Feinberg at 15961 North Florida Avenue, Suite A, Lutz, FL   33549, or DrBarb222@aol.com. 

Insurance for SurroGenesis Pregnant Surrogates Tragedy

News Flash

In light of the current Michael Charles Financial and SurroGenesis surrogate agency scandal, where both allegedly stole up to $3,000,000 in trust fund money of over 150 families trying to achieve pregnancy through surrogacy, New Life Agency, Insurance Agency today announced they will work with the victims to insure the Intended Parents their surrogates will be covered.

Attorney Andrew Vorzimer of Vorzimer and Masserman in Woodland Hills California states “As a result of several concerned inquiries I have received today from victims of the SurroGenesis debacle, I have consulted with two criminal defense attorneys to assess any potential liability that might exist for Surrogates (and their Intended Parents) who had medical coverage through SGUSA’s group plan. Both concur that the circumstances surrounding the procurement of medical coverage presents serious legal issues.”

Trish Taylor, President, Founder of New Life said today “It is an absolute tragedy that any assisted reproduction professional would commit insurance fraud and put their clients and surrogates in this financial jeopardy. These people are now vulnerable to insurance claims and the loss of insurance protection. This is an even greater potential financial loss than the loss they have already experienced. I am determined they have something rather than nothing in place to help them through their pregnancy. We will accept their application for underwriting review whether they are in the middle to last months of pregnancy or just beginning.”

Our Team’s and Customer Care Center is ready to receive your call.

Surrogates and Intended Parents may now apply. Being vulnerable to insurance claims and the loss of insurance protection is a grave potential financial loss for the Surrogate and Intended Parent.

Donor Network Alliance (DNA) ~Putting the intended parents in control

Are you tired of looking from agency website to egg donor data base searching for that perfect donor? Then I suggest that you visit the brand new Donor Network Alliance (DNA)! Read the press release below and check it out! I would love to hear your comments and feed back!

Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net

A new Web site has launched that facilitates the search for egg donors by prospective parents undergoing alternative reproductive processes. The Donor Network Alliance (DNA) http://www.donornetworkalliance.com/ is the first and only consolidated source of egg donors recruited by multiple agencies across the United States.

Membership-based DNA was started by three competing Chicago egg donor agencies that saw the need to pool resources: The Center for Egg Options (CEO), Northbrook, IL; ConceiveAbilities, and Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR), both of Chicago.

"DNA is needed as the fertility field grows in size and complexity," said Robin von Halle, president of ARR. "This has resulted in a proliferation of agencies that recruit egg donors, which makes weighing agency and donor choices more costly, confusing and time consuming for intended parents."

The DNA Web site is the portal to a robust, searchable database of hundreds of anonymous egg donor candidates represented by donor recruitment firms of all sizes across the country. It is expected to house at least 10,000 profiles from participating agencies by the end of its first year in business.

For a nominal fee, subscribers have unlimited access to the database for the two-week usage term. They can search according to various parameters, from ethnic descent to eye and hair color. Searches can be saved. Favorites can be flagged. Each donor profile is posted alongside her agency, which can be e-mailed directly from the site for further information.

"It's all about putting the intended parents in control of the egg donor search process," said Nazca Fontes, president of ConceiveAbilities. "This helps them avoid excessive research of multiple agencies, tracking multiple usernames and passwords, and paying multiple usage fees. It's a needed improvement of the customer experience."

Nancy Block, president of CEO, noted that egg donor agencies also benefit in an environment where it's costly and difficult to achieve differentiation. "DNA helps to level the playing field, giving participating agencies exposure to far more prospective parents through a shared site than they'd see individually," she said.

Find the Donor Network Alliance at www.donornetworkalliance.com. For further information, e-mail info@donornetworkalliance.com or call 877-DNA-EGGS (362-3447).

Preserving Fertility: Egg Freezing 'Just In Case'

 

So I have a question....perhaps it will turn into several questions but that's how it goes with me.

 

I am wondering about this trend to have young women, albeit those who have the financial wherewithal, freeze their eggs way before they are even thinking of becoming mothers. I am all for getting the word out there to the girls and young women regarding the biological clock and educating everyone on what can affect fertility in general, however, I am uncertain of the push to freeze eggs for 'just in case'.

 

Just in case.....

You don't find Mr. Perfect before your clock stops ticking

Just in case.....

You catch a STD that makes you infertile

Just in case.....

You find out later in life you are infertile or have cancer or have a medical condition that effects your egg production

 

I am sure that there is a longer list but for those young women who are healthy now, will fear of their fertile future drive them into undergoing an egg retrieval and the yearly cost of keeping their precious DNA frozen? And after they become pregnant on their own will they have the emotional dilemma regarding their now 5 or 10 year old frozen eggs? Will those eggs be destroyed? Will these women now be asked to donate them? What about the woman who doesn't get pregnant on her own and wants to use her eggs....will she be able to even afford the IVF procedure? The medications? What will that option be like over the next decade? AND what happens when the frozen eggs don't result in a pregnancy? What then?

 

I told you that I may have more then one question.

 

I have a 13 year old daughter. She knows all about Egg Donation, Surrogacy, and IVF (At least as much as she may want to know) I have given her every vaccination, protected her from exposure of toxic materials (No smoking in OUR house, please!) and generally have given her the tools to keep herself safe. I am drawing the line at freezing her eggs. Because she is a healthy young teen, I see no need of it. If she is unfortunate and is found to have cancer or some other life threatening disease then I may encourage her to freeze her eggs at that time. But for young, healthy women, I think education and fertility awareness is a must.  The rest? I am not so sure about.

 

Sharon LaMothe

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Infertility Answers Online; A new support forum just for you!

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday! And now it's time to start all over again in 2009....or continue what was started in 2008! Over the weekend I decided to add a simple message board on Infertility Answers called Infertility Answers Online (IAO). It has two simplistic categories; Surrogacy and Egg Donation. If you are an Intended Parent, Surrogate, or Egg Donor, please check this out! If you need support, have a question or concern then I am hoping that this forum will be an asset as you use Third Party Family Formation to build a family.  http://infertilityanswers.net/infertility_answers_online Your feedback is always welcome!

 

Happy New Year!

 

Sharon LaMothe

Infertility Answers, Inc.~Information about Reproductive Technology
http://infertilityanswers.org/

LaMothe Services, LLC~Services for your ART Business
http://lamotheservices.com/

Surrogacy 101~Learn more about Third Party Family Building
http://infertilityanswers.typepad.com/surrogacy_101/ http://surrogacy101.blogspot.com/

Couples waiting two years for eggs in donor shortage

.....Well according to the news here in the US, women are coming out of the woodwork to donate their eggs...for a price. All the same, there is no waiting list that I am aware of unless you are looking for the ultra magnificent Yale educated young woman....

 

I was talking to a reporter from MSNBC today and she wanted to know my thoughts on the rumor that more women were willing to sell their eggs now that the US is officially in a recession. She wondered if Intended Parents had a larger donor pool to choose from. My comments on this subject is that perhaps there is more interest in becoming an egg donor now because it is in the media every day (it seems) and although they (potential donors) might think it's easy money I doubt that the pool is much larger due to all of the 'unqualified' applicants. Age is a huge factor and so is their genetic background. What about the fact that it can take months or more to be matched and then cycling with the carrier? (Intended Mother or Surrogate) Lots of issues that need to be brought to the forefront...not just the 'desperate times calls for desperate measures' approach!

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Couples waiting two years for eggs in donor shortage

Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor

 

London is facing a fertility crisis with women waiting more than two years for a donor egg, experts warned today.

Figures reveal that 500 couples in the capital are in desperate need of a donor so they can become parents.

This includes women who have undergone cancer treatment, early menopause or other medical conditions which leave them unable to conceive with their own eggs.

Fertility expert Lara Peterkin, from King's College Hospital, warned that the waiting list was increasing every year because not enough women were signing up as donors. Mrs Peterkin, from the hospital's assisted conception unit, said: "Unfortunately, due to a shortage of donors, the average wait for an egg across the London region is approximately two and a half years with the length of wait increasing year on year.

"Like many areas, in and around London there's a lack of awareness there is a donor shortage. Many women simply don't realise that donors are needed or that they themselves could become a donor."

King's is today launching its Give Hope, Give Life campaign, aimed at recruiting women aged 23 to 35 to donate their eggs.

They will help people like Claire Horner, a magistrate in her early forties, who was left infertile after breast cancer treatment which triggered an early menopause.

She and her management consultant husband Dennis were desperate to have children so joined the donor waiting list. But there was further heartbreak to endure when her first two attempts failed.

Her son Jack, now two and a half, was born in 2006 and the couple, from Richmond, are now planning another baby. This time they are using a Ukrainian egg donor and English surrogate because of the long waiting list in Britain.

Mrs Horner urged women to join the register, saying: "Egg donation is a wonderful gift that has allowed us to have the family we dreamed of. The woman who donated her eggs transformed our lives."

About one in six couples in Britain experiences fertility problems. These women can be helped through assisted conception including egg donation. The donated egg is fertilized with the father's sperm and then implanted into the mother.

London is one of five regions in the country identified by the National Gamete Donation Trust where demand for eggs greatly outweighs supply. A YouGov poll of 1,598 women published today shows that seven out of 10 women underestimate the extent of fertility problems. Six out of 10 surveyed also did not appreciate how long the wait would be for an egg donor.

Egg Donors and Clinics: A Conflict of Interest?

There have been many concerns in the Assisted Reproductive Technology Field regarding conflict of interest. As the article states below, how can a clinic who has been paid by the Intended Parents not have some sort of conflict. Independent agencies, like Open Arms Consultants, Extraordinary Conceptions, The Donor Source, or  The Donor Solution (to name a very few) also have IP's who pay them to find a donor, however, the difference is they have to have full disclosure and have a checks and balances system in place. Agency owners know that although the women in their data banks are qualified under agency guidelines these same women need to be cleared by the RE/clinic who is actually going to perform the egg retrieval. Not only do they want healthy and fully educated (in the ways of egg donation) candidates, they want each woman to have a rewarding experience so she will return and bring her friends!

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

 

Truth in egg-donor advertising

By Michael Collins
Columnist

Published: Friday, November 21st, 2008

 

Ads promising more than $35,000 in compensation for egg donations show up in The Daily Princetonian every couple of days. Having seen the massive advertised payouts and the personal ads, I wondered: Did early feminists fight to keep the government out of their ovaries just so the free market could invade?

An ideal egg donation begins with an infertile couple seeking a young, healthy and intelligent woman to provide the genetic material to help start a family. In return, the altruistic donor is compensated for her time and the physical discomfort she endures. The cold realities, however, differ from this idyllic situation.

Female egg donation is a serious event with great risks and rewards. In the course of a typical egg donation, a donor, normally screened by an ob-gyn and a geneticist, is given a series of hormonal injections to help stimulate ovulation. The egg retrieval is a relatively painless procedure with side effects that include mood swings, abdominal pain and fainting. The medical procedure can, in rare cases, lead to future infertility in donors and even death.

Unfortunately, donors are sometimes misled about the health risks. Doctors working at fertility clinics have a conflict of interest because they are paid by infertile couples but give medical advice to donors. As a result of this conflict of interest, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has received complaints from donors that they were promised coverage for egg-donation-related medical costs only to find that the coverage was extremely limited or came with high deductibles.

Proponents of a free-market egg-donation system may claim that cases of abuse are rare, but the simple reality is that no one knows the true scale of abuse. The Centers for Disease Control is only required to ask fertility clinics how many successful births result from donor eggs. They don't ask important questions like the amount of times a donor has previously donated, reported side effects or long-term medical issues.

With practically no government regulation and increasingly astronomical compensation prices, the blossoming egg donation system is rife for potential abuses. Donors have financial incentives to cover up their medical history, and growing evidence suggests that repeated egg donation may result in decreased fertility for the donor and damaged eggs for the recipient. Without a system to monitor and control egg donations, both donors and recipients could be abused.

Perhaps most glaring is the lack of substantive knowledge about the long-term health risks. Female egg donations are a relatively new procedure, first started in Israel in 1986. Because egg donations are often anonymous, and donors are not tracked, there is a void of medical research. There is a need for information to help medical professionals and policy experts target emerging problems or trends.

To remedy the lack of available knowledge and limit the influence of a market system on egg donation, the federal government should increase regulation. In coordination with unbiased medical experts, the federal government should create a national register of egg donors and authorized fertility clinics. Equally important would be the implementation of a maximum limit on egg-donor compensation; in 2007, an ASRM ethics report suggested a $5,000 maximum. Lastly, the government should require that fertility clinics fully disclose their medical coverage plans to both donors and recipients.

A national registry would help identify budding developments, highlight ineffectual treatments and health risks, and allow fertility clinics to know how many times a specific donor has given eggs before. A limit for compensation would serve to reimburse women for the time, stress and physical risks they take while discouraging high payouts that could negatively influence poor and desperate donors. Allowing for full disclosure will help donors and recipients make informed decisions.

The formulation of an effective national registry system will take time, and in the absence of government intervention, citizens and communities should help. By providing space to potentially unreliable and unsafe fertility clinics, college newspapers around the country - the ‘Prince' included - could endanger well-meaning community members.

The ‘Prince' business office reserves the right to "reject any advertising" but it has no guidelines that bar ads for unsafe or unproven products. I urge our Business staff to exert greater care in soliciting advertisements.

College newspapers are tasked with providing their communities the best possible news and information. This charge should not end in the newsroom but should continue into the business office. With a lack of governmental regulation, the current system of free-market driven egg donation is prone to the same neglect and extravagances of Wall Street. The recent economic meltdown should stand as a reminder to the dangers of an unregulated market.

Michael Collins is a sophomore from Glastonbury, Conn. He can be reached at mjcollin@princeton.edu.

CVS Caremark Corp is offering discounts of about 30 percent on fertility treatments

If you haven't heard of the new CVS discounts on fertility medications, please read below!

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

 

CVS Caremark Corp is offering discounts of about 30 percent on fertility treatments

 

 

CHICAGO (Reuters) – CVS Caremark Corp said on Monday it is offering discounts of about 30 percent on fertility treatments to couples struggling with infertility and high medication costs.

The program is aimed at patients who do not have fertility medication health insurance coverage or who have exhausted their benefits for fertility medications.

CVS said about 7.3 million U.S. women and their partners, or about 12 percent of the reproductive-age population, are affected by infertility, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"On average patients will receive about 30 percent off for the cost of their medication," said Joan O'Rourke, vice president of strategic operations at CVS Caremark Specialty Pharmacy.

Patients must pay a $10 fee to enroll in the program, which includes services such as counseling and education.

While the program was launched in February, CVS is promoting it at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's annual meeting this week.

Under a separate plan launched on Sunday, shoppers can get 90-day prescriptions for more than 400 common generic medications for $9.99 each at CVS drugstores when they pay an annual fee of $10.

About 45.7 million Americans were uninsured in 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

What happened to "donating" your eggs?

 

What ever happened to egg "donation"? If you look at 95% of news articles out there (in cyber space) the key word is "SELLING" eggs...like these young women are living the healthy life style on a farm and have a stand selling garden fresh veggies and their own EGGS! and not for pocket change either. With the "THOUSANDS of DOLLARS" that Intended Parents pay, these women are going to lift themselves up from "seemingly poverty level" by selling their eggs. Please. In the scheme of things, meaning the world of THIRD PARTY REPRODUCTION, the Egg Donor is compensated very little compared to all the other professionals that are in the mix: The attorney, The Clinic, The Drug Companies and agency owners who all get a piece of a bigger pie then the Egg Donor. The ASRM recommends that a donor get compensated no more then $10,000and although a few do receive that much. You see more of a trend of $3,000-$5,000. So lets get this strait....Egg DONORS are compensated for their time, inconvenience, pain and discomfort for the donation of their eggs. Egg Donors do NOT get paid for each individual egg that is retrieved. They get the same compensation for 4 eggs or 24 eggs. Egg Donors will not receive any money (usually) if the cycle is canceled. Egg Donation is risky if the proper protocol isn't followed.

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

 

Click here: More Women Selling Their Eggs, Susan Koeppen: Donors Can Earn Thousands; Increases Seen As Result Of Rough Economy

 

(CBS) Karen and Mark always wanted a big family. But after their first son, Kyle, was born with Fragile X, an inherited form of mental retardation, Karen learned she was a carrier of the syndrome.

She says doctors told her, "If we conceived (again) on our own, we would have a 50 percent chance of having another child with Fragile X Syndrome."

So, reports Early Show Consumer Correspondent Susan Koeppen, Karen and Mark turned to egg donation as a solution. And six months ago, Karen gave birth to their second son, Eric.

"I am so happy that he's here," Karen glowed. "And, if it weren't for the donors, this could not have happened for us."

"What do you say to a donor?" she added. "It's an invaluable gift that you've given to someone. You have healed a person. You've possibly healed a marriage. You've healed someone's soul. You've filled a void for somebody."

"You can't thank them enough, honestly," Mark concurred. "And we're just so grateful."

To find a donor, they turned to the Center for Egg Options, outside Chicago.

The Center's Nancy Block told Koeppen it's seen "probably at least a 40 percent increase in the number of people who are donating eggs," and she "absolutely" thinks it's due to people looking for money in the poor economy.

No only is the center seeing more donors, but repeat donors as well, Koeppen points out.

Women can earn $7,000 or more for just one donation.

"That's a lot of money," Block says. "It's great for school. It's great for the mortgage. It's great... great to help their families out. And you know, it's... it's something that they feel good about."

But, Koeppen notes, egg donation isn't an easy way to make a quick buck. It's a time consuming medical procedure, with risks. Donors will spend weeks taking fertility drugs. Medications can cause hot flashes, headaches and vision problems. Donors also have to have frequent blood tests and ultrasounds. And it takes several days to recover after the eggs are harvested.

But Christy Bush helps support her two kids and pays for nursing school with the money she's earned donating eggs -- nearly $30,000.

Over the past four years, she says, she's donated four times and, with money being tight, she's decided to donate again.

"It makes it so that I'm not working 40 hours a week. ... It's given me hope that I can actually do the parenting and the schooling and still be home and doing great things and actually watching my kids being be raised," Bush says.

Parents such as Karen and Mark call it a win-win for everyone.

Egg donors must be a certain age, usually 21-to-34.. And women are allowed to donate only a few times. The limit is usually about 6. Egg donation has been around since the '80s.

OOCYTE DONORS AS GYNECOLOGIC TEACHING ASSOCIATES

How in the world did they, these Doctors, convince Egg Donors to submit themselves to third year medical students examining their ..... ah...vaginas. And how did these doctors come to the conclusion that Egg Donors would be more willing then any other group of women to be Guinea Pigs?  Is it because the Egg Donor is already being poked and probed and figures what the heck...what is one more speculum today...and what about the poor girl(s) that rates her medical student a 5 for worst  performance on the pelvic examination. How much worse can it be already? (can you tell that I am not a fan of the pap smear? Just get it OVER WITH please!!) I can't imagine having a student looking around 'in there' and naming the parts to the instructor who, I am just guessing here, is looking over the students shoulder. And first time egg donors may not have had that many pelvic exams in the first place....look at the average age of 21 to 27 for Egg Donors....and if you consider their first pap smear was at age 18 and then maybe one every other year...at age 24 MAYBE they have had 2 or 3 exams....makes you wonder how good that grading system really is! Now ask Menopausal  women ages 48-55 and see what kind of comments and grades are given then! I would love to be a fly on that wall!

 

Random thoughts from Sharon!

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

GRADUATE EDUCATION

OOCYTE DONORS AS GYNECOLOGIC TEACHING ASSOCIATES

Richard S. Legro, MD, Carol L. Gnatuk, MD, Allen R. Kunselman, MA and Joanna Cain, MD

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Health Evaluation Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Address reprint requests to: Richard S. Legro, MD PO Box 850 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology M.S. Hershey Medical Center Hershey, PA 17033 E-mail: rsl1@psu.edu

Objective: To fulfill the need for gynecologic teaching associates for an expanded pelvic examination module for third-year medical students, we sought women who were able to provide feedback to medical students. Oocyte donors were hypothesized as a useful potential pool of gynecologic teaching associates.

Methods: Gynecologic teaching associates were recruited from a pool of women who were involved in our oocyte donor program. Students were evaluated on a scale of 1 (best) to 5 (worst) on their performance on the pelvic examination by themselves (n = 91), by the gynecologic teaching associate (n = 10), and by the supervising faculty (n = 6). Students were shown their evaluations, and these were reviewed at the end of the session to provide students with immediate feedback.

Results: Students consistently ranked their skills lower than either the gynecologic teaching associate or supervising faculty member for all four categories evaluated (communication skills, technical skills, professional demeanor, and overall performance) (P < .001). Students gave their communications skills the highest mean rankings, whereas gynecologic teaching associates gave them the lowest. The highest correlation and agreement between pairs of evaluators were between the gynecologic teaching associate and the supervising faculty member. Gynecologic teaching associates and faculty members also were more likely to praise the students’ performance in written comments (² 58.2, P < .001), whereas no student found anything praiseworthy in his or her performance.

Conclusion: Oocyte donors represent a useful pool of potential gynecologic teaching associates. They provide important feedback to students. Their evaluation of the proficiency of the student correlates well with that of the supervising faculty member.

Single man inseminating 30 lesbians sparks incest fears Down Under

 

Although this story is based on a very real fear and a situation already out of control it also echo's American Third Party Reproductive fears regarding egg donation. Already the ASRM guide lines "requires" that a woman doesn't donate her eggs more then six times but there is no registry and no way to track how many donations she really has completed. Agencies, clinics and Intended Parents have to trust what she tells them. Is there a better way??

 

Sharon LaMothe

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

Single man inseminating 30 lesbians sparks incest fears Down Under

October 9th, 2008 - 5:52 pm ICT by ANI -

Melbourne, Oct 9 (ANI): Unregulated sperm donation Down Under has led to an unusual situation where children of lesbians are mixing socially creating potential risk for incestuous relationships.

According to one of South Australia’’s foremost experts in reproductive technology, Andrew Dutney, one reported case, about 30 lesbians were impregnated by sperm from one man, the Advertiser reported.

The mothers then organised picnics with all the children, raising the fear they might socialize with their half-siblings without realizing they were related.

In another case, a mans sperm produced 29 children, all of whom were living in Adelaide. These children are unaware who their siblings are.

All of these children were born about 10 years ago, which means they will reach adolescence in a few years.

In South Australia, the law says infertility treatments are only for infertile couples or those at risk for transmitting a serious defect. Thus, gays and lesbians generally have to find donors outside the system, Dutney said, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Dutney, the former chairman of the SA Council on Reproductive Technology and Associate Professor of Theology at Flinders University, said the SA regulations were at fault and should be repealed altogether, leaving reproductive medical units to comply with the national ethical guidelines. (ANI)

American Fertility Association brings you Family Matters NY 2008, October 5th

 

I have attended the American Fertility Association FAMILY MATTERS in the years past and it should not be missed! Well worth the time and effort for those who have questions that need to be answered. There are panel discussions and experts to talk with regarding your very individual needs. So mark your calendars!  Sunday October 5th!

 

Sharon LaMothe
www.,InfertilityAnswers.net

One Day Could Change Your Life

 

NEW YORK, Sept 29, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- 7.3 million American women have difficulty conceiving and need help starting a family. The numbers may be just as high among men. A woman's fertility begins to decline in her mid 20's and men follow ten years later. Oftentimes when a couple first finds out they're facing these challenges they're unaware of the options available.

 

The American Fertility Association brings you Family Matters NY 2008, October 5th, at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This annual, day-long conference brings you everything you need to know about trying to conceive or wanting to adopt.

 

A faculty of experts has been assembled to make sure that participants receive great value for their time. Panel discussions have been added, so that participants have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of multiple health care professionals in most of the sessions.

 

Family Matters NY 2008 has a limited supply of tickets and booths for sale. Thanks to a generous grant, 25 scholarships are available to cover the $40 registration fee for those who would like to attend but are having financial difficulties. To apply, submit your request to info@theafa.org or call 888.917.3777.

 

An exhibit hall will feature companies providing the most up-to-date information available to support your family-building journey. The day starts off with a continental breakfast and wraps up with a wine and cheese reception. This venue also gives you a unique and valuable opportunity to interact with others who are experiencing the same challenges in a beautiful setting. Steiner Studios is on the waterfront in Brooklyn and has picture windows overlooking New York City.

 

All those who are interested in family building -- young, mature, gay, straight, single, married or partnered -- are enthusiastically invited to attend. Whether you are just beginning to think about family-building or actively trying to conceive or considering adoption -- Family Matters NY is for you.

 

For more information or to register, visit http://www.theafa.organd click on the Family Matters banner or e-mail lisav@theafa.org or corey@theafa.org. You can also call 888.917.3777.

 

The American Fertility Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a lifetime resource for fertility preservation, reproductive health and family-building. We offer services through our free membership program, including an extensive online library, weekly online chats, telephone and in-person coaching, hosted message boards and a toll-free support line. Contact us at http://www.theafa.orgor 888.917.3777.

No more Baby Manjis in India, draft law on surrogacy ready...

Finally!  Surrogacy, egg and sperm donation laws that show India HAS been listening to the rest of the world! The one thing that I do find interesting is the bit that states:  “Provided that no woman shall act as a surrogate for more than three successful live births in her life.” I wonder how that would go over in the USA where I personally know of women who have been surrogates 4 and 5 times....there is more to these laws and legal battles in 'other countries' that meets the eye and ART professionals including agencies should take note. The rest of the world is regulating Third Party Reproduction....when will the US follow?

 

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

 

No more Baby Manjis in India, draft law on surrogacy ready

 

Posted: Sep 27, 2008 at 0136 hrs IST

New Delhi, September 26 With the dust of the ethics debate and legal battle over Baby Manji — born on July 25 to a surrogate mother in Gujarat using the sperm of a Japanese man and the egg of an unknown donor— yet to settle, the first move has been made in the direction of setting up a regulatory framework for surrogacy in India.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Friday came out with a draft Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2008, that said the surrogate baby of a separated or divorced couple will remain their “legitimate child” if both parties had consented to assisted reproductive technology (ART) to have the baby. The baby’s birth certificate will have the name(s) of the genetic parents/parent.

The draft Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament’s winter session.

A foreigner or foreign couple not resident in India, or a non-resident Indian individual or couple seeking surrogacy in India, will have to appoint a local guardian who will be legally responsible for the care of the surrogate mother during and after pregnancy until the baby is delivered to the parent/parents or the local guardian.

The draft Bill says semen banks must obtain semen only from men between the ages of 21 and 45, and arrange to obtain oocytes from women between 21 and 35. Banks will have to advertise for gamete donors and surrogates, who may be compensated financially by the bank.

“No woman under 21 years of age and over 45 years of age shall be eligible to act as a surrogate mother under this Act,” says the draft, adding, “Provided that no woman shall act as a surrogate for more than three successful live births in her life.” No woman shall donate oocytes more than six times in her life, with not less than a three-month interval between oocyte pick-ups.

Gynaeologists say the absence of a legal framework so far has resulted in college students ‘selling’ semen and eggs for pocket money.

ASRM Urges Caution, Strong Counseling for Women Seeking Egg Freezing

Although this news flash is almost a year old I believe that it is prudent for women not to rely on this type of procedure exclusively for protection against their reproductive "ageing". As will all things ART, there are no guarantees and this certainly is nowhere near a sure thing!   Sharon www.InfertilityAnswers.net   ASRM Urges Caution, Strong Counseling for Women Seeking Egg Freezing

ASRM 17 October 2007 Washington DC – The Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine today issued a committee opinion saying that oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, remains an experimental procedure that should not be offered or marketed as a means to defer reproductive aging. The report emphasizes that the currently available data are too limited to allow egg freezing to be considered an established medical treatment. However, many women understandably have an interest in this emerging technology as an elective fertility preservation strategy. The committee recommends comprehensive counseling for any women who may be seeking egg freezing services. The report lays out ten points of information that should be provided. These include information about the treatment methods, fees, success rates and policies about disposition of unused eggs. “With any new technology it is vital that patients understand completely what the process entails and the likelihood of a successful outcome. Women contemplating the use of egg-freezing technologies need to receive extensive counseling to help them make a fully informed decision,” said Marc Fritz, MD, Chair of the ASRM Practice Committee. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 8,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians, and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, The Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Society of Reproductive Surgeons.

MSNBC: Egg Donors selling their eggs because of hard times?

 I agree that egg donation is a win win situation...its women helping women (or in some cases, helping men) by donating their eggs and earning money for the time and effort that they go through when they complete the process. What most people might not know is that if the donation is not completed, meaning if the cycle is canceled for any reason or the donor chooses to back out, there is no compensation. The egg retrieval MUST be completed and then there is payment at that point. As far as these economic times being a factor in the rise of egg donation....perhaps, but it might also be that there is more information out there regarding egg donation, more agencies are available across the country and its easier then ever to give your eggs as far as the location of the clinics and the women willing to use donor eggs.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26529406#26529406

What are YOUR thoughts?

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

High Demand for Asian Egg Donors

 

I wanted to share with you a company that assists Asian couples and singles when looking for egg donors of their own ethnicity. I hope this information is a help for those who have been searching  for just the right person!

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net   

 

If you are searching for an egg donor, chances are great that you have more than enough profiles to choose from at your clinic or agency. You may even find one that is close to your physical and educational attributes, ensuring that your potential children will be genetically similar to both parents. In the dark corner of the room however is a group of couples who are still on a waiting list to find their right match.

 

Asian (including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, and East Indian) donors are in high demand and couples find the pool of donors available at their clinic or agency isn't sufficient enough to find their preferred choice. In most clinics, Asian egg donors total to less than 5% of their donor pool. Some couples will wait years before settling on a donor they can be happy with, in cases compromising for a donor of a different ethnicity or being half-Caucasian. In places like Toronto, where there are many East Indian couples waiting for a donor, some couples must face the decision to consider a Hispanic donor if they are to even have a chance of conceiving a child. If a couple can afford it, they can pay the costs to fly a donor to their clinic from across the country.

 

One of the speculated reasons for this is due to some of the culture of the Asian people. Blood lineage is important and almost sacred to families and it is difficult for a woman to contemplate participating as a donor. As well, awareness is practically non-existent. So, why don't the potential mothers ask a member of her family to donate? Infertility is seen as failure in some cultures – so couples do not even tell their families of their struggle. If a donor is found, the secret may remain between the parents and the child may never know they were donor conceived. This secrecy makes finding the right donor even more crucial.

 

 So while it may at the time look scarce, hopefully the database will continue to fill with these Asian donors who have looked beyond the silk curtain to find that helping her fellow woman is more rewarding than to dwell on her traditional culture's views.

 

 An egg donation agency has established itself to be the number one (and currently only) source to provide a wide variety of Asian donors. Asian Egg Donation, LLC, based in the East Coast, provides unique matching services to Asian egg recipients located in clinics around the country including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, New York, Boston, and Toronto in Canada. While all the other agencies post their advertisements in English-speaking newspapers and websites, Asian Egg Donation has Asian-speaking managers to translate ads to more commonly read Asian periodicals and speak in their language. Sara, from Denver, is a donor manager with Asian Egg Donation, LLC. As of Sep '08, the database reports 81 available Asian donors and Sara is working with 58 more applicants to complete their profiles to be added to the pool. Couples and donors may visit and apply or refer others to their website at www.asianeggdonation.com. 

'You Asked, We Answered': Questions About Egg Donation

I do, at times, receive questions from women wanting to be egg donors...I found this article that I think will be really helpful and answers some of the most common questions.

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net 

 

'You Asked, We Answered': Questions About Egg Donation

Our expert contributor Dr. Rick Paulson Answers Your Questions on Egg Donation.

Jan. 15, 2008

"World News With Charles Gibson" aired a report on egg donation and invited viewers to ask questions. Our expert contributor, Dr. Rick Paulson, has answered some of your questions below.

Paulson is chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Southern California and co-author of "Rewinding Your Biological Clock: Motherhood Late in Life: Options, Issues, and Emotions."

Question: How do I find out where I can donate my eggs in my area? Is there a Web site where safe or approved sites or facilities that perform the extraction are listed by ZIP code?

Tara in Emmaus, Pa.

Paulson: I would recommend two Web sites: The first is the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM,), where you can find specialists, a listing of the programs in your area, etc. The other Web site you may want to check out is the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SOCREI). I would suggest that you choose a physician who is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and these are listed on that Web site.

Question: Where do we go for information on donating our eggs? Whom do we contact? Who pays for the medication that we take before we donate our eggs? Who is actually paying us for our eggs? Where is the list of agencies in our own city/state that want to buy our eggs? How much can we get paid for our eggs?

Seleta in Charlotte, N.C.

Paulson: It's very nice that you want to donate; an infertile couple will be very grateful! We don't consider it "buying" or "selling" eggs, but rather that you donate, and are reimbursed for your time and trouble! There is no cost to you, and a typical payment ranges from $2,500 to $,5000. The recipient couple pays for the medications and the medical treatment. You should start with the Web sites of the professional organizations that deal with infertility and egg donation, like those mentioned above (or click here for ASRMWeb site, or here for SOCREI,) to find a doctor and practice near you. That practice can then either match you to a recipient couple directly, or it can direct you to an agency it likes to work with.

Question: What are the cancer or other health risks, short and long term, associated with the many drugs used to stimulate the ovaries?

Linda in Dix Hills, N.Y.

Paulson: Every medical procedure is associated with some degree of risk. Some risks are known, and others may not be known. As of now, egg donation is about 20 years old. We know that some 1 percent of donors experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (where the ovaries get very swollen and the donor becomes bloated and uncomfortable) to the point where it interferes with her life to an appreciable degree for about two weeks. The egg retrieval is associated with a very rare but possible risk of bleeding and infection (much less than 1 percent).

There were several studies that seemed to link ovarian stimulation to ovarian cancer, but they have been disproved, at least for now. So at the present time, there is no proven reason for limiting the number of donations. However, because we know we don't know everything, most programs recommend limiting the number of donations to five or six. But this is an arbitrary rule, and is not based on a risk of cancer. And yes, having babies decreases the risk of ovarian cancer by quite a bit (30 percent for the first pregnancy, more with additional pregnancies).

Maria in Ill.

Paulson: See links to Web site above for additional information on these issues.

Question: I was an egg donor at the age of 20, and now that I am 27 and trying to have a baby, I can't. I have had four miscarriages. Have there been any kind of studies on women who donated their eggs and having subsequent problems of getting pregnant themselves?

Barbara in Melbourne, Fla.

Paulson: What bad luck! It would be very interesting to know if the recipient of your eggs actually had a baby when you donated. As far as we know, there is no effect of egg donation on subsequent fertility, or on the risk of a subsequent miscarriage. Remember that there are many reasons for miscarriages, and they may include factors such as your male partner. Also, your uterus was not a factor in being an egg donor but may be a factor in miscarriages. I would suggest that you see a reproductive endocrinology specialist to evaluate your situation. With a complete work-up, chances should be on your side that you will eventually be successful.

 

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Prenatal Vitamins/ Folic Acid

Q: Why do I need to take prenatal vitamins or even folic acid before I even get pregnant? I thought that taking prenatal vitamins was for when YOU ARE pregnant!

A: For those who aren't used to taking any vitamins at all and are reluctant to start any time soon should really rethink the reasoning behind prenatal's especially folic acid. Below are some facts about the importance of folic acid from http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/pregnancy/folic_acid.html:

Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach, orange juice, and enriched grains. Repeated studies have shown that women who get 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a serious neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.

The most common neural tube defects are spina bifida (an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column), anencephaly (severe underdevelopment of the brain), and encephalocele (when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an abnormal opening in the skull). All of these defects occur during the first 28 days of pregnancy - usually before a woman even knows she's pregnant.

That's why it's so important for all women of childbearing age to get enough folic acid - not just those who are planning to become pregnant. Only 50% of pregnancies are planned, so any woman who could become pregnant should make sure she's getting enough folic acid. (and women planning on becoming egg donors and surrogates)

Doctors and scientists still aren't completely sure why folic acid has such a profound effect on the prevention of neural tube defects, but they do know that this vitamin is crucial in the development of DNA. As a result, folic acid plays a large role in cell growth and development, as well as tissue formation.

Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net

British woman freezes eggs for daughter aged 10

Not that I am sick of hearing myself 'talk' but having a 12 year old daughter I can certainly relate to this mom.....but do I think it will work? Only time will tell!

Sharon

www.InfertilityAnswers.net

British woman freezes eggs for daughter aged 10

Katy Sinclair Progress Educational Trust 03 June 2008 [BioNews, London] A British woman has had some of her own eggs frozen for her ten-year old daughter to use in the future, as she will be rendered infertile by a genetic illness. As frozen eggs for donation can only be kept for 10 years, and the mother's eggs were frozen when the girl was only eight, her daughter will have to use the eggs before she reaches the age of 18. The girl has Turner syndrome, where one of the two X chromosomes carried by women is missing, and which almost always causes infertility, although women with the condition can conceive using donor eggs. The syndrome affects around 2,500 girls born each year. In 2005 her mother decided to freeze some eggs for her daughter, to give her the chance of having a baby genetically related to her. The case has caused some to call for a change in the law, as the girl is unlikely to be in a position to want to have children by 18, when the eggs will have to be either used or destroyed. The mother, who is campaigning for the law to be changed, said 'I don't want to put my daughter under pressure, and I don't think she should be having to make that choice at that age. We feel real sadness that, for no particularly justifiable reason, our daughter is going to be put in an impossible situation'. Proponents of a change in the law argue that the ten year rule is arbitrary, with Gillian Lockwood, medical director of Midland Fertility Services, arguing that it has 'no scientific justification at all'. The family's cause is being supported by their MP, Andrew Stunell, who has also raised the issue in the House of Commons. Mr Stunell is considering tabling an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which is in the process of being debated in Parliament. He said, 'my constituent and her family are in a Catch-22. She faces a ten-year maximum storage period, by which time her daughter, who would be the beneficiary of the donation, would not be at an appropriate age or stage in her life'. The Department of Health has said that the storage rule could be changed without primary legislation, and is an issue that will be considered once the new Bill has been made law. Another solution would be for the girl to have the eggs fertilised with donated sperm, and to have those embryos frozen, which could then be stored for a further 10 years.