When they want to grow their family, many aspiring parents use a surrogate. A surrogate carries a baby to term on behalf of the parents. Upon birth, paperwork is filed to transfer all rights to the parents.

A known sperm donor agreement (“KspDA”) is used when prospective parents want to make an agreement with a person known to them for sperm donation services. Sperm donation helps parents conceive in any case where the male partner is infertile or among same-sex female couples.

Even if you know someone who has agreed to serve as a surrogate mother for your future child – and even if that person doesn’t reside in your state – it’s still essential to find an attorney you can trust to help you through the process in your home state.

Egg donation happens when a donor gives her eggs to another person(s) to allow the recipient to become pregnant or to use with a surrogate. An egg donor may be someone known to the recipient or could be connected through the IVF clinic or an Egg Donor Program.  To donate, the donor must be given medication to develop multiple eggs over a single cycle.

Surrogacy is a long journey for both the Intended Parents and the surrogate mother. It takes much longer than nine months – many  Intended Parents work toward the dream of growing their family for years.

Every surrogacy process needs to include a surrogacy contract. The contract lays out the responsibilities and rights of all the parties to the surrogacy. While the idea of a contract can sometimes be intimidating, it is for the best when everyone knows exactly what to expect!

Wondering about the egg donation process? Here are some common questions and answers.

Although conceiving a child becomes more challenging with age, women of any age or background can experience fertility issues. Infertility may be a problem even when there are no other underlying health conditions. Genetic factors might be at play if a close female relative has had similar concerns.Infertility can be an intimidating problem to face. That said, millions of women all over the United States have successfully conceived after appropriate fertility treatments. Which fertility healthcare approach is right for you will depend on your current health status and goals. Let’s look at the key steps involved in treating infertility: 1. Talk to Your OB/GYN Almost all discussions about fertility start with the OB/GYN. If you currently wish to get pregnant, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends trying for a full year if you are under age 35 and for at least six months if you are over 35.Your OB/GYN will discuss your medical history and any known genetic factors or contributing conditions that may affect conception and pregnancy. Generally, this results in a referral to a fertility specialist. You may see a specialist sooner if you or your partner experience any of the following: ● Problems with sperm quality or motility ● Endometriosis● Uterine, tubal, or peritoneal disease ● Infrequent or absent periods 2. Fertility Specialist Consultation and Screening Before fertility treatments, most patients should undergo a series of screening tests to ensure that no undiagnosed conditions are interfering with conception. Tests will generally be used to rule out PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), uterine fibroids, endocrine imbalances, or metabolic issues. Treatment recommendations focus on the findings of these tests and any other known factors. Some of the above conditions are treatable with medication. Others may require surgery. Patients can receive guidance on timing their attempts to conceive so they fall within the maximum fertility window. 3. Infertility Treatment Options In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most common and successful fertility treatments in the U.S. today. However, it is not always the first option explored. Many women opt for intrauterine insemination, or IUI. This involves inserting sperm directly into the uterus at the appropriate time in the woman’s cycle. IUI has a success rate as high as 20% per cycle. However, IUI is much less likely to be effective after the third cycle. At this stage, many women look to IVF. During IVF, medication is used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then retrieved and fertilized in the lab. Finally, the fertilized embryos are re-implanted. When using the patient’s own egg, IVF has an extremely high success rate: ● 35 and under: 48.5% ● 35-37: 47% ● 38-40: 35.8% ● Over 40: 20.1% The likelihood of success continues to grow with multiple cycles of IVF. In a recent study involving 157,000 women with a median age of 35, nearly a third of the participants became pregnant as a result of their first IVF cycle. The success rate was nearly 70% for women who had six IVF cycles. 4. Other Family-Building Options While IVF is the best fertility treatment available for many patients, it is not right for everyone. Some women may not wish to undergo surgical procedures. If this describes you, you might wish to consider other family-building approaches, such as adoption. Every year, thousands of families grow by bringing a child in need of a loving home into their lives. If desired, you can also explore surrogacy. Gestational surrogates may use the father’s sperm, mother’s egg, or both.

In a pregnancy, a gestational carrier has a role similar to a traditional surrogate. The difference is that the gestational carrier is not genetically related to the child. Before pregnancy, an embryo is fertilized using the egg and sperm of the intended parents or of donors the parents choose.

Women seeking to become pregnant can explore many different fertility treatments that may help them. While almost everyone has heard of in vitro fertilization (IVF), there is an alternative more suitable for some women: Intrauterine insemination, also called IUI. Although lesser known than IVF, IUI is also safe and effective. It is a common choice when a male partner has low sperm count or low sperm mobility. What Is Intrauterine Insemination? During an intrauterine insemination, sperm are concentrated and placed directly into a woman’s uterus. This means they are very close to the egg when the treatment is complete. Comparatively, during typical conception the sperm must travel from the vagina through the cervix, into the uterus, and up the fallopian tubes. What Is The Difference Between Intrauterine Insemination and IVF? IVF is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedure where a sperm and egg are combined in a medical laboratory. That is, it takes place outside of the body. Before the treatment, a woman must take medication to stimulate the ovaries so that egg retrieval, which requires sedation, will be successful. How Effective Is Intrauterine Insemination? Although IVF has higher success rates than intrauterine insemination overall, IUI is still highly effective. Each IUI cycle produces a 10% to 20% chance of pregnancy. Doctors often recommend that women undergo three cycles of intrauterine insemination before considering IVF, in part due to IVF’s rate of multiple births. When Is Intrauterine Insemination Used? Intrauterine insemination can be used in almost any situation where a couple has had long-term difficulty conceiving a child. That said, there are some health conditions that may predispose a couple to using IUI in preference to other fertility treatments. Intrauterine insemination is often chosen in cases of: ● Unexplained infertility with no clear medical explanation on the part of either partner ● An adverse medical condition of the cervix, including issues with cervical mucous ● Cervical scar tissue left by past surgical procedures inhibiting sperm passage ● Erectile or ejaculation dysfunction When Should Intrauterine Insemination Not Be Used? Like any procedure, intrauterine insemination is not right for everyone. In particular, IUI is usually avoided when the patient has a severe disorder of the fallopian tubes, when there is an established history of recurring and serious pelvic infections, and among women who have moderate or severe endometriosis, the growth of uterine-like tissue outside of the uterus. What Are the Risks of Intrauterine Insemination? Performed correctly under the supervision of a qualified physician, the risks of IUI are relatively mild. There is an enhanced chance of multiple births if a woman takes fertility medications while undergoing IUI. There is also a small chance of post-procedure infection, comparable to many other minimally invasive procedures. What Are the Advantages of IUI? IUI is less invasive than many alternatives. It can be performed on a monthly basis without significant risk of side effects and with little disruption to the patient’s daily life. Because it is less invasive than IVF, there are few significant health risks. It is also substantially less expensive than a course of IVF treatment. What’s more, the IUI procedure is quick, induces only mild (if any) discomfort, and does not require anesthesia. How Long Should Couples Attempt to Conceive Before Pursuing IUI? It is a good idea to talk to your OB/GYN if you have questions about your suitability for IUI or any other type of fertility treatment. The best way to proceed depends on your age, health, and many other factors. If you are 30-35, it is common to attempt conception for at least six months. To learn more about assisted reproduction, contact Jennifer Fairfax .

Bonding with a newborn is very important.  Emotional bonding between a child and parent is essential to healthy development. These early bonds are the basis of an infant’s sense of security. Children develop their first instincts about whether their world is safe or unsafe – “approach” or “avoid” – based on parental bonding.  This raises an obvious question: How can you bond with your baby carried by a surrogate?