At Pacific Surrogacy & Egg Donation, our fertility specialists and reproductive endocrinologists with collectively over 30 years of experience, help women and couples start their families. Here, they answer surrogacy and egg donation FAQs for patients in the Los Angeles, CA, area and worldwide.
Egg Donation FAQs:
Who can become an egg donor?
Healthy women between the ages of 20-29 are eligible for egg donation. This age range ensures that a woman is mature enough to handle the decision to donate her eggs and reflects the fact that older women do not respond as well to fertility medications. Women who pass various medical screenings will be admitted to our donor list that hopeful parents can choose from.
How are egg donors selected?
Once admitted to the list of possible egg donors, hopeful parents will have access to a limited profile that contains basic information like ethnicity, hair and eye color, skin tone, and a photograph of the donor. If a donor is chosen by prospective parents, the donor will submit to various medical screenings before proceeding to the next step.
Will the recipient know the donor's identity?
In general, the egg donation procedure is anonymous. The intended parents will know the basic information from the donor's profile, but neither party will know the other's identity.
How will egg donation affect the donor's day-to-day life?
During the egg donation cycle, the process can be somewhat time consuming. In addition to taking medication, the donor will need to be available for frequent doctor's visits for blood tests and ultrasound monitoring. The donors must abstain from using alcohol, drugs, and tobacco products.
How long does the egg donation process take to complete?
An egg donation cycle typically takes about four weeks to complete from start to finish.
Surrogacy FAQs:
Who can become a surrogate (gestational carrier)?
Healthy women between the ages of 21-42 who have given birth to at least one child of their own are eligible to begin the screening process for surrogacy. Our screening process includes medical testing, criminal background checks, and psychological evaluations.
Why would someone choose surrogacy over adoption?
While adoption is an ideal choice for many hopeful parents, surrogacy offers many legal and biological advantages. When eggs or sperm from the intended parents are used, there is a genetic relationship to the baby. Because surrogate pregnancies involve an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle, our specialists have the opportunity to employ preimplantation genetic diagnosis to screen for chromosomal abnormalities before the embryos are transferred to the uterus. Gestational surrogacy will always involve a binding contract that limits the parental rights of the surrogate carrier.
Why would a woman choose to become a gestational carrier?
Choosing to become a gestational carrier provides a woman or couple who have had difficulty conceiving with the opportunity to have a family of their own. She will be compensated financially and receive excellent medical care as well, but the ideal surrogate will make this choice from a place of compassion and generosity.
Can single parents or gay and lesbian couples use surrogacy?
Pacific Surrogacy & Egg Donation supports the rights of all our patients to make their families whole. In many cases, surrogacy represents the best option for single parents and gay or lesbian couples.
How long does the surrogacy process take to complete?
While each case differs to some degree, it is best to anticipate between 15-18 months for the process from start to finish.
What type of relationship exists between the surrogate and the intended parents?
Each case is different, and the type of relationship between both parties will depend on the arrangement everyone is comfortable with. Your wishes will be respected, and you will be matched with a party that is seeking the same level of interaction as you are.
