Heartfelt Egg Donation

Heartfelt Egg Donation Announces Redesigned Website and Blog

2011-08-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC has a redesigned website! From now on all of our blog posts will appear within our website on the Blog page and not here on Blogger. If you have been following us please be sure to follow us here instead: http://heartfelteggdonation.com/blog/.

As well if you have been following us on Networked Blogs on Facebook, please be sure to update your notifications for the new site.

Thank you for following us!

The Value of an Egg Donation, by Robyn Nazar, R.N., B.S.N

2011-07-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

By Robyn Nazar, R.N., B.S.N. on Jun 30, 2011 (from The AFA - The American Fertility Association)

In the United States egg donors are often given substantial financial compensation in return for their donation to infertile couples – a practice that has allowed for shorter waiting lists and a wider selection of potential donors for recipients to choose from. Despite its benefits, this practice has also drawn a considerable amount of criticism from those who are concerned that financial incentive may cloud important medical decision making. However, egg donor Lindsey Kamakahi has now raised yet another issue with compensation through the filing of an antitrust class action lawsuit against the infertility industry on April 12 of this year. Ms. Kamakahi's formal complaint states that the $10,000 ethical cap set on compensation prices for egg donors by the professional organizations which represent fertility clinics is actually too low. She claims that this has resulted in price fixing of the egg donation market and violates antitrust laws which help maintain competitive markets.

Regulation of Egg Donation Compensation

The industry of egg donation in the United States has been around for many years. Healthy and willing female egg donors volunteer their time and efforts to undergo testing and medication administration which results in them being able to donate one or more reproductive eggs to another couple in need. As compensation for their efforts, fertility clinics offer a pre-set amount of money, which is given at the end of the process regardless of outcome.

Unlike many other countries, the United States does not regulate the amount of money that an egg donor can be compensated. Canada, for example, does not allow donors be given any compensation – a restriction that has sharply decreased the amount of donors available to Canadian couples. Also in the the UK, fertility clinics cannot compensate egg donors more than the rate that one would receive by performing jury duty (approx $100/day). In an interview, Dr. Norbert Gleicher, founder of the Center for Human Reproduction in New York commented on these types of restrictions on egg donor markets:

“Experience demonstrates that where compensation rules are that restrictive only few egg donors come forward. The consequences are long waiting periods for egg donation, poor donor quality, lack of donor selection options, inability to match donors and recipients appropriately and, ultimately, medical tourism from these countries to where egg donors are more widely available.”

Therefore, the absence of government regulation in the US on the egg donor industry has allowed the industry to not only thrive, but grow into one of the world's top places for egg donors and recipients.

However, the freedom for recipients to offer limitless monetary compensation in return for a donation inevitably raises the ethical concerns of how this may affect the decision making of potential donors.

The ASRM and SART Step In

These concerns prompted the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and its sister organization the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) to step in and create practice guidelines for egg donation compensation procedures. These guidelines, which were drawn up by organization members and evaluated by an ethical review board, support the idea of compensating donors in a reasonable manner for their time and efforts to make a donation. However, they also consider that offering too much money for eggs may cause some women to conceal medical information or agree to donate eggs even when it is not in their best overall interest. Therefore, the guidelines conclude that, “Total payments to donors in excess of $5,000 require justification and the sums above $10,000 are not appropriate.”

Lawsuit Says Ethical Guidelines Violate Antitrust Laws

According to the present lawsuit, the ARSM and SART represent more than 85% of the nation's fertility clinics and members are expected to adhere to the guidelines as set forth by the organizations.

Failure to do so would cause them to loose their membership and possibly their clients. Therefore, Ms. Kamakahi's argument is that these guidelines have created a price fixing on the egg donation industry, making it not only anti-competitive, but artificially low. Her argument also asserts that as a direct result fertility clinics are pocketing additional profits that otherwise would have been passed on to donors.

Although Ms. Kamakahi's legal team clearly has confidence that there has been a breach of antitrust law, or “conspiracy in restraint of trade” in the egg donation industry, it may be more difficult to prove that ARSM, SART, and fertility clinics have actually benefited from this price restriction.

The Cost and Competition for an Egg Donor

Despite the general perception of the egg donation industry is a high-profit business, what many don't know is that it can actually be quite a complicated and costly fertility treatment to offer to patients. In order to reduce wait times and create optimal donor/recipient matches fertility clinics must invest considerable amount of resources and personnel into pre-screened egg donor pools. Dr. Gleicher explains, “Responsible donor selection is a very detail-oriented, multifaceted process, involving multiple levels of information gathering, face to face interviews and medical testing. As a consequence of such a detailed process, a large majority of applicants will not be accepted.” Therefore, he goes on to explain, the fertility clinics must absorb the financial and resource losses of these rejected applicants.

Egg donation compensation also is not always fixed, but rather varies depending on location.

“Compensation levels for egg donors vary greatly in different cities. The highest fees are currently paid in New York City, where average compensation for egg donors is $8,000”, says Gleicher. Therefore defendants on the lawsuit may be able to argue that there is market competition for potential donors based on the fact that donors can, at any time, choose to contract with a higher paying fertility clinic.

Furthermore, an antitrust lawsuit is essentially claiming that the defendant is preventing a natural competition in a market. However, the compensation for an egg donation is not dependent on the production of the egg or eggs. “What the donor fee is supposed to represent is reimbursement for time and effort the donor extends on behalf of the recipient,” explains Gleicher. “It is NOT a "purchase" of [eggs], as often depicted by the media, because such a transaction would be considered unethical under universally accepted medical ethical guidelines. What the donor fee is supposed to represent is reimbursement for time and effort the donor extends on behalf of the recipient.” Therefore, this assertion that there has been a breech of an “anti-competitive” law may not take into account that the eggs are not actually a market commodity that can be bought or sold.

A Lawsuit Worth Paying Attention To

To date, this is really the first time that an egg donor has come out and challenged the ASRM ethical guidelines, which have up until now been widely accepted in the fertility community. This hot-button issue will likely ignite some renewed debates about the guidelines surrounding egg donors, the lack of government oversight of compensation measures, and how the sensitive matters of donors and recipients should be handled by authorities within the medical community. The results of the unfolding of this lawsuit over the upcoming months may actually change the future of egg donation and it something that I would suggest all members of the infertility community should tune into.

The ARSM has not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit.

IVF Use in America: State IVF Rates and Rankings (Map), by Abbie Waters

2011-06-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article by Abbie Waters of Fertility Nation in IVF
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Americans love in vitro fertilization.

Despite the fact that IVF is expensive and most insurance plans don’t cover it, more than 50,000 American children a year are born using the procedure. That works out to more than 1 percent of US births annually!

The people of Washington D.C. use IVF more than any other state and almost twice as much as the second-ranked state (Massachusetts), while those in Maine, Montana, and Wyoming don’t use IVF treatments at all — at least in their home states.

Scroll down for the complete rankings.

Via: Fertility Nation

The United States of IVF: State IVF Rates and Rankings

Rank	State	Per Capita IVF Rate For Every 100,000 People
1	Washington D.C.	227.1
2	Massachusetts	127.9
3	Maryland	98.3
4	New York	92.6
5	New Jersey	90.9
6	Connecticut	90.1
7	Illinois	67.4
8	Rhode Island	62.9
9	Delaware	58.1
10	Hawaii	55.4
11	California	44.1
12	Nevada	42.3
13	Colorado	40.5
14	Minnesota	37.0
15	Virginia	33.9
16	Washington	33.3
17	Florida	31.6
18	Kansas	31.4
19	Ohio	31.1
19	Utah	31.1
21	Texas	30.9
22	Pennsylvania	30.5
23	Michigan	29.5
24	Oregon	29.2
25	North Carolina	27.6
26	Nebraska	27.2
27	Arizona	27.1
28	Iowa	26.6
29	Missouri	26.1
30	Georgia	25.7
31	North Dakota	24.0
32	Indiana	22.9
33	South Dakota	22.1
34	Idaho	20.5
35	South Carolina	20.1
36	Louisiana	19.2
36	Vermont	19.2
38	Alabama	19.0
39	Wisconsin	18.1
40	Oklahoma	17.3
41	Alaska	16.0
42	Tennessee	15.7
43	New Hampshire	13.1
44	Arkansas	11.3
45	New Mexico	11.0
46	Mississippi	8.6
47	Kentucky	8.3
48	West Virginia	5.3
49	Maine*	0
49	Montana**	0
49	Wyoming**	0
* Maine had one fertility clinic fail to report its success rates. ** Montana and Wyoming have no fertility clinics.

States That Use IVF the Most
All of the top five and eight of the top ten states for IVF are located on the east coast (Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware).

It’s also interesting that all of the top ten states have lower-than-average percentages of people without health insurance coverage (the national average was 15.8).

States That Use IVF the Least
The ten lowest-ranked states are spread over more regions, tend to be located in low-density states with low populations and low average household incomes.

This helps explain why so few IVF procedures are performed in these places. Because IVF treatments cost a lot of money out-of-pocket, people in these states can’t afford as many procedures as their top-ranked counterparts.

How I Created State IVF Rates and Rankings
Using 2008 data on fertility clinic success rates from the CDC and 2008 state populations from the US Census Bureau, I created per capita IVF rates for each state. Per capita IVF rates tell us how many IVF cycles were started in each state for every 100,000 people living there.

These statistics count the total number of IVF cycles started using a woman’s own fresh and frozen eggs. Some IVF cycles may include additional fertility treatments such as GIFT, ZIFT, ICSI, and blastocyst transfers.

These statistics don’t count IVF treatments that used donor eggs, nor do they indicate states’ IVF success rates (live birth rates).

The Miracle of Nature - Eggs

2011-06-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Eggs, precious no matter who they come from. Found these in my rose bush, the mama sat on them and hatched 2 of the 4. Sadly, they didn't make it. She'll try again no doubt, and I look forward witnessing the miracle of nature.

Birth Announcement - Welcome baby girls!

2011-06-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

It is with great joy that I announce the birth of Sophia and Abigail. Aren't they absolutely gorgeous?! When I received the announcement, my eyes welled up with tears and I felt tremendous happiness for proud parents, Cindy and Mike.

Cindy, wrote a post on Heartfelt Egg Donation's blog back in September describing their journey to parenthood. I would encourage anyone who is feeling discouraged about getting pregnant or building their family to read Cindy's blog post by clicking here.

Congratulations to the happy family and may sleep come your way sooner rather than later!

British Columbia (Canada) judge says anonymity for sperm, egg donors is unconstitutional

2011-05-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Olivia Pratten poses for a photo outside the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010. Pratten, a woman born as a result of donor insemination, has won her lawsuit seeking to end the anonymity of sperm and egg donors in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Original Story: By Dene Moore, The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — A woman born as a result of donor insemination has won her legal battle seeking to end anonymity for sperm and egg donors in British Columbia.

Olivia Pratten was born in 1982 as a result of donor insemination.

After fruitless efforts to obtain records about the sperm donor, Pratten launched the lawsuit against the provincial government, arguing that the province's adoption laws discriminated against donor offspring like herself because they don't allow them the same ability to learn their genetic roots as adopted children.
In a ruling released Thursday, B.C. Supreme Court Judge Elaine Adair agreed.

Anonymous donation, she wrote, "is harmful to the child, and it is not in the best interests of donor offspring," Adair wrote in her ruling, which found sections of the B.C. Adoption Act and Adoption Regulations unconstitutional.

The law was revised in 1996 to allow adopted children the right to information about their biological parents, but it does not include children born of reproductive donations.

Adoptive children and donor offspring are similar in their need to know and have a connection to their biological roots, the judge said.

The ruling gives the B.C. government 15 months to amend the law to address donor offspring and grants a permanent injunction against the destruction of donor records in the province.
"I'm thrilled," Pratten said from Toronto. "It's finally validation of what people like myself have been saying for years."

The decision won't help Pratten to find out the identity of the donor whose sperm allowed her parents to conceive.

But the 29-year-old journalist, who works for The Canadian Press, said that's not why she pursued the long legal battle.

"I've always known that my records were probably destroyed. It was more about changing the policies going forward," she said.

"It was never just about me. It was about helping other people and using my situation, that was a negative, and turning it into a positive so no one else would have to experience having their records destroyed.
"I felt a responsibility to be public with this."
Pratten had the support of her mom and dad, who accompanied her to court every day for the hearings last fall.

"I'm not related to my dad but he's my dad," she said. "This is a victory for them as well because finally what they were saying 20 years ago has been heard and recognized as being accurate."
Pratten's lawyer, Joseph Arvay, said the end result of the decision is that anonymous egg and sperm donation will no longer be permitted in B.C.

"This case represents a monumental victory for our client, Olivia Pratten, and all the donor offspring she represents who have for too long been disadvantaged by their exclusion from the legislative landscape which has promoted and perpetuated prejudice and stereotyping and caused them grave harm," he said in a statement.

The ruling has no weight outside the province, but Pratten said she has been contacted by other donor offspring who have declared their intention to pursue similar legal action to force change elsewhere.
The Attorney General of B.C., the defendant in the case, had no immediate comment on the ruling.
"The court just delivered the decision today on this very complex matter. We will need time to carefully study the decision, decide what its implications are and what the next steps should be, including whether we will appeal," said a statement from the ministry.

Lawyers for the government argued that practices have changed significantly since Pratten was born. Today, a woman seeking donor insemination in B.C. can get detailed social and medical information on the donor even if the donation is anonymous.

There is simply no constitutional right, the government argued, for a person to know their origins or genetic heritage while there is a constitutionally protected right to privacy.

The judge noted that anonymous donation remains the choice of many would-be parents who want control over what their child knows, when they know and who might be involved in their child's life.
"But, based on the evidence in this case, I have concluded that anonymity is not in the child’s best interests," Adair wrote.

"Strong and positive relationships with social parents do not satisfy or eliminate the desire and need of donor offspring to know where they came from, and their need to know their origins is just as powerful and real as those of adoptees."

10 Popular Sayings that Hurt People with Infertility - Infographic: Fertility Nation, Abbie Waters

2011-05-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

10 Popular Sayings That Hurt People With Infertility – INFOGRAPHIC

by Abbie Waters of www.fertilitynation.com in Female Infertility, Male Infertility

When was the last time someone gave you instructions on how to reproduce?

If you answered “never” I’ll bet you’re not dealing with infertility.

If you answered “last Tuesday”, I’ll bet you’ve got a fertility doctor on speed dial…and are familiar with the dual frustration of coping with infertility and the rude comments of others.

By itself, infertility is an emotionally painful disease. But throw in the “well-intentioned” comments of friends and in-laws offering “advice” and that pain and hurt swells up like a water balloon straining to burst.

I made this infographic because I want people to know that the things they say to couples struggling with infertility ad undergoing fertility treatments like IVF — even “helpful tips” — can cause hurt feelings.

Supporting people with infertility is easy: all you have to do is listen and try to empathize.

Via: FertilityNation.com

Number of Eggs Retrieved Helps Predict IVF Success: Study - US News and World Report

2011-05-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Original Article Link: Number of Eggs Retrieved Helps Predict IVF Success: Study - US News and World Report

WEDNESDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) -- Retrieving about 15 eggs from a woman's ovaries in a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle offers the best chance of achieving a live birth while avoiding complications from fertility medications, according to a new study.

Researchers analyzed more than 400,000 IVF cycles in the United Kingdom between 1991 and 2008 and found a strong association between live birth rates and the number of eggs retrieved in one cycle.

The live birth rate rose with an increasing number of eggs up to about 15, leveled off between 15 and 20 eggs, and declined steadily beyond 20 eggs.

The study appears online in the journal Human Reproduction. "Our data show that around 15 eggs may be the best number to aim for in an IVF cycle in order to maximize the chances of a live birth while minimizing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which is associated with a high number of eggs, usually over 20," Dr. Arri Coomarasamy, a clinical reader and consultant in reproductive medicine and surgery at the University of Birmingham, said in a journal news release.

"Mild stimulation protocols aim to retrieve less than six to eight eggs; a standard stimulation should aim for 10-15 eggs, and we believe this is what is associated with the best IVF outcomes," said Coomarasamy. "When the egg number exceeds 20, the risk of OHSS becomes high."

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome can occur when women are given hormone drugs to stimulate the production of eggs for collection for IVF cycles. Abdominal pain, swelling, nausea and vomiting often appear in mild or moderate OHSS. In rare, severe cases, OHSS can be a life-threatening medical emergency.

My Take: Catholic Church should reverse opposition to in vitro fertilization - CNN blog post

2011-05-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

My Take: Catholic Church should reverse opposition to in vitro fertilization

Editor's note: Sean Savage is coauthor of "Inconceivable: A Medical Mistake, the Baby We Couldn't Keep, and Our Choice to Deliver the Ultimate Gift" and a cradle Catholic who lives in Sylvania, Ohio, with his wife and three children.

By Sean Savage, Special to CNN

According to the Roman Catholic Church, the only moral route to conceiving a child is through sexual intercourse. As a Catholic, I find the church's position to be discriminatory against couples who have medical conditions that prevent them from conceiving in that manner.

I never intended to challenge the church when my wife and I pursued in vitro fertilization in an effort to expand our family after a decade of unsuccessful infertility treatments. We loved our two boys and we'd always wanted a big family. After a successful IVF procedure in 2007 brought us our daughter in 2008, we tried again so that we could fulfill our commitment to give every embryo we created a chance at life.

When a fertility center made a critical error by transferring another couple's embryos to my wife, we were thrust into an unusual pregnancy and eventually found ourselves at the center of an intense media storm. On September 24, 2009, the day Carolyn gave birth to a very loved baby boy, who was immediately turned over to his genetic parents, the Catholic Diocese of Toledo released a statement to The Toledo Blade condemning IVF as "morally unacceptable."

Because we were the focus of the news, we felt as though the diocese was really condemning us.
The statement hurt Carolyn and me tremendously. We had hoped for the church's support and prayer on one of the hardest days we've ever faced.

Carolyn and I have always believed in our stewardship responsibilities to the church. I'd given thousands of hours over the years to coaching youth through my local parish, have raised funds for Catholic churches and schools and have given charitably to church causes. Carolyn had dedicated her career to teaching and working as a principal in Catholic schools.

Instead of support, the church branded us in a very public way with the apparently shameful letters IVF. Why couldn't the church recognize our journey for what it was - an affirmation of the sanctity of life? Their negative response motivated me to look closer at the issue.

I believe there is an ethical path a couple can take when pursuing IVF and I ask the Roman Catholic Church to consider adopting a new doctrine that provides moral guidance for Catholic couples on how to do so.
While I share many concerns with the Catholic Church about abuses within the science of IVF, I disagree with a number of points the church makes on the issue. The church spelled out its stance in Donum Vitae, a 1987 doctrine on biomedical issues released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - an office then led by Cardinal Joseph Ratziner, who is now Pope Benedict XVI - and in 2008's Dignitas Personae, another influential church document.

The original doctrine states that "even if it (IVF) is considered in the context of 'de facto' existing sexual relations, the generation of the human person is deprived of its proper perfection; namely, that of being the result and fruit of a conjugal act." Dignitas Personae echoes this position by stating "human procreation is a personal act of a husband and wife, which is not capable of substitution."

I am personally opposed to the intentional destruction and discarding of unwanted embryos and understand why this is condemned by the church. But to state that a child born of IVF is less perfect than a child created through sexual intercourse is absurd. Is the church truly claiming that our beautiful and innocent daughter, conceived through an IVF procedure, is somehow "less" because of how her physical life began? In her, Carolyn and I see God's precious creation.

Of course, the creation of a child through a conjugal act is the preferred method because it is the most natural, least expensive and least stressful. But that shouldn't mean it should be the only acceptable route to conception.

What about Catholic men and women who have legitimate medical conditions, like endometriosis, which Carolyn has and which caused infertility despite efforts at surgical intervention?

Carolyn and I would have been happy to save thousands of dollars and a decade of emotional ups and downs by conceiving the "old-fashioned way," but that wasn't possible. We turn to medicine for a litany of medical maladies and impairments, but infertile Catholics are supposed to avoid treating a medical condition which prevents them from building or expanding their family?

Yes, adoption is a wonderful option for the couples who decide it's right for them, but adoption should never be forced on anyone.

The Donum Vitae doctrine also states that "in vitro fertilization is in itself illicit and in opposition to the dignity of procreation and of the conjugal union even when everything is done to avoid the death of the human embryo."

The term "illicit" has such a grave connotation and to use it in this context seems quite out of place. Should a couple that seeks a child through IVF, and that does so with a commitment to allow every embryo a chance at life, be considered to be participating in an illicit activity?

The most perplexing and pejorative language from Donum Vitae is that "marriage does not confer upon the spouses the right to have a child... the child has the right, as already mentioned to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents and has the right to be respected as a person from the moment of conception."

Babies born of IVF are here because their parents loved, respected and longed for these children well before conception. These children could not get here through the conjugal love of their parents and it took a very deep love, respect, and commitment to pursue the medical treatment needed to conceive through IVF. There is no doubt in my mind that God is working through loving parents and ethical doctors to allow these children to come into this world.

Now for the ironic in Donum Vitae: "Scientists are to be encouraged to continue their research with the aim of preventing causes of sterility and of being able to remedy them so that sterile couples will be able to procreate in full respect for their own personal dignity and that of the child to be born."

So although there are solutions for sterile couples today, those should not be sought because they are outside of the conjugal act? If Carolyn and I were to wait until the scientific advances described in this statement before pursuing additional children, we would not have our daughter - or the opportunity to welcome two more children into this world this August.

If science can advance to the point that all procreation can happen within the confines of the conjugal act, that would be incredible. But what do couples do while waiting the years and probable decades before these advances come to fruition?

The challenge for the church is to see the beauty in the science and that there is a path within IVF that is worthy of God's grace and approval.

The church's presence in this field could help limit abuses and disregard for human life through advocacy, education, and support. Perhaps it could provide counselors as couples pursue IVF and face many technical and nuanced decisions. And maybe the church could help couples navigate even more complex situations, like embryo adoption.

Carolyn and I were victims of the worst IVF mistake on record. But we remain proponents of the science and understand the good that is done by God through ethical physicians in this industry. We value and support the sanctity of life, even if it's created with the help of IVF.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sean Savage.

Posted by: The Editors - CNN Belief Blog

2 Sets of Twins for North Carolina Couple - ABC News

2011-04-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

This story just warmed my heart! Any baby conceived is a miracle and then to find out twins are on the way is truly a double blessing. Can you imagine finding out the two embryos you transferred during IVF split and identical twins are expected. Holy moly! Take a look at this couple from North Carolina. I especially love the fact that they are nurses and have their daily routine down pat. I sure wish my husband and I had that background. It was not easy in our house with our 1 set of twin babies. Kudos to them!

Click on the link below to view the video:

http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/2-sets-of-twins-for-north-carolina-couple-24914748

Celine Dion and her miracle twins

2011-02-22T13:49:00.000-08:00

I don't usually like to get too caught up in celebrity baby watches but did anyone see Oprah's show with Celine Dion the other day? Celine introduced her twins from her home in Florida. Those baby boys are just precious and I couldn't be happier for Celine and her family. I've been following her story since she announced her difficulty with conceiving and like many others have been wishing her the best outcome. I knew she was going to be successful because of her determination and positive outlook. I loved seeing her in her jammies, without make-up along side her babies; her gratitude for her blessings was truly apparent. I wasn't able to embed the Oprah clip but here is a link.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/At-Home-with-Celine-Dion-and-Her-Miracle-Twins-Video

AFA Telephone Support Group: Dealing with Miscarriage and Early Pregnancy Loss

2011-02-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

You're Invited to a FREE Telephone Coaching Support Group

Wednesday, February 23rd

Dealing with Miscarriage and Early Pregnancy Loss

Many of us have persevered and stayed the course, became
pregnant only to be followed by loss with major set-backs,
sadness and disappointment.

This FREE AFA TELECOACHING group will explore the
aftermath of miscarriage, while managing our grief and healing.

During this one hour group conference call, you will receive
information on:

getting the support you need
be present for ourselves and our partners in healing together and apart
communicate with family and friends
effectively return to work and routine
accept, let go, and move on

WHEN: Wednesday, February 23rd

WHERE: Telephone Conference Line (call-in information will be
given at time of registration)

TIME: 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern time

FACILITATORS: Emily Laitmon, LCSW and Joan Winograd, LCSW

COST: FREE!

For further information and to register contact:

Emily Laitmon, laitmon@aol.com, 212-988-2054, 914-633-4224

Joan Winograd, joanwino@aol.com, 212-362-4003

Emily Laitmon, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in NYC and
Westchester specializing in women's issues, couple counseling, relationships
and family building. She is also a bereavement counselor and offers support
to several hospitals and genetic depts. She is a group facilitator and coach
for AFA. Ms. Laitmon has written articles and led seminars on emotional
challenges of infertility and couple therapy. She has experienced

repeated IVFs resulting in a daughter and adopted a son.

Joan D. Winograd, LCSW, has been a therapist specializing in infertility
issues, as well as pregnancy loss, for the over 20 years, having personally
dealt with such issues. She practices on the Upper West Side in New York
City, and sees individuals, couples and groups, and has spoken extensively
on the subject. She is a Coaching Support Group Leader with the

American Fertility Association.

How to Hire a Reproductive Attorney written by Melissa Brisman, Esq.

2011-02-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC provides a legal Services Agreement/Contract for each egg donation cycle as part of our services and is included in our agency fee. Our agreement is drafted by a reproductive law attorney and is customized for each egg donation cycle. We always suggest that you have a reproductive law attorney review the document and answer any legal questions you may have. Below is an article written by Melissa Brisman, Esq. that will help take the mystery out of how to hire a reproductive attorney.
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How to Hire a Reproductive Attorney written by Melissa Brisman, Esq. A version of this article originally appeared in the Winter 2006 issue of Conceive Magazine.

If you’re facing fertility challenges and turning to assisted reproductive technologies, you may need some expert legal advice. To make sure you get the best, you’ll need to do some interrogating. Because reproductive law is still in its infancy (no pun intended!) there are still very few attorneys who specialize in this area. That’s one reason it’s especially important for any prospective parents to research the qualifications of the lawyer they’re hoping will assist them on the path to parenthood. For instance, a family law practice is substantially different from a law firm specializing in reproductive law. Firms advertising themselves as specializing in family law may be willing to take your case, but may not have the expertise to handle it as well as an attorney specializing in reproductive law. Websites and Internet message boards can offer a wealth of information when you start your research. Once you narrow down your search, you should get answers to the following questions before retaining the services of an attorney or firm.

1. How much experience do you have in this specific area?
Obviously your attorney’s professional experience is crucial. You’ll want to make sure he or she has the expertise and qualifications of a reproductive attorney rather than a more general family law practitioner. The subtleties and ever-changing legislation in reproductive law mean you really need someone who specializes in this field and keeps up with all the latest developments.

But once you ascertain professional expertise, personal factors become important, too. The issues that come up in reproductive law can be quite delicate and intimate, and you need to feel comfortable with the attorney who is representing you.

Both factors need to be in place—professional qualifications and a good personality match—before you can be sure you’ve found at attorney who will give you the information and advice you need while protecting your interests and understanding your particular situation in this unsettled area of the law.

2. Does your law firm offer any services other than “legal”?
The list of things to do when you’ve started on the road to family-building through assisted reproductive technology can seem infinite. You’ll ask yourself: How will I find and manage the money needed to pay all these people? What about my insurance? Who will coordinate all the “little things”? How can I find a gestational carrier and/or egg or sperm donor if I need one? It goes on and on. You may wish to consider a “one-stop shopping” approach by choosing a law firm that offers all of these services, and more. By hiring this type of firm you can cut your “to do” list to a manageable size. And while the law firm offering all these services may charge more money than other firms, the cost can still be substantially less than if you were to pay for each of these jobs individually.

3. Do you charge a flat fee or an hourly rate?
Before you sign a retainer agreement with a law firm, you should find out about the way the firm charges for its services. For instance, some attorneys work on a contingency basis—meaning they are only paid if their work is successful—but this is not appropriate in the field of reproductive law, and you should steer clear of any attorney who offers this payment option. Most attorneys charge an hourly rate, which means you’re billed a set amount for every hour (or part of an hour) that the attorney is working for you. But since it’s nearly impossible to foresee the amount of time your case will take (especially in such a constantly changing area of the law), this arrangement means it will be virtually impossible for you to know how much your legal
fees will wind up costing.

Considering all the unforeseeable expenses prospective parents encounter, it’s a great advantage to know up front what your legal fees will be. You can do that if you hire an attorney who works on a flat fee basis. When you retain an attorney for a flat fee, you can budget for your legal fees in advance. Of course, there may be some additional expenses, such as court filing fees, but these are usually minimal.

4. Where are you licensed to practice law?
Attorneys must be licensed by each state to practice law there. As you will discover when you begin your search for legal advice, individual lawyers and firms in this field come from all over the country. It’s a great advantage to have an attorney who is licensed in the states relevant to your case. Your attorney should be licensed in any states in which any medical procedures are being performed. And if you’re using a “third party” (egg donor, sperm donor, surrogate/gestational carrier), you should try to have a lawyer licensed in at least one (and ideally more) of the states in which the individuals reside. Of course, it would be impossible to find an attorney licensed in all 50 states, but it is important to find an attorney licensed in the state(s) where your clinic is located, where your baby will be born, where you live, where any third parties live, and where the IVF procedure will take place, etc.

5. Do you have a knowledgeable and experienced support staff?
When you retain an attorney, you’re not just hiring one lawyer, but the entire law firm. One sign of a good attorney is having a capable and confident staff who can assist you when the attorney is unavailable. Although a lawyer’s support staff can’t offer legal advice, they can ensure that all other aspects of your case are handled in a timely and professional manner. (On the other hand, a “solo practitioner” who has no office staff, or an attorney with poorly trained or inexperienced personnel, can make the entire process more difficult.) If possible, try to find out how long the employees have been working with the attorney; a high turnover rate may indicate some problems in the office itself.

Melissa B. Brisman is an attorney who practices exclusively in the field of reproductive law and is considered by her peers to be a leader in her profession. Ms. Brisman’s experience and qualifications are unparalleled. She employs an experienced and qualified staff of legal and administrative professionals and is licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Ms. Brisman has a practice, Melissa B. Brisman, Esq., LLC, located in Montvale, New Jersey, offering a full range of legal services in connection with gestational carrier arrangements, ovum, sperm, and embryo donation, and adoption. In addition, Ms. Brisman is sole owner of Reproductive Possibilities, LLC. Reproductive Possibilities, LLC is an agency offering a donor record-keeping service which maintains contact information for intended parents and their anonymous ovum donors for a period of years following a donor arrangement. Reproductive Possibilities, LLC also facilitates gestational carrier arrangements. Ms. Brisman is also sole owner of Surrogate Fund Management, LLC, a company that manages escrow in connection with reproductive arrangements.

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #8 What Happens Once I'm Selected to be an Egg Donor?

2011-02-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

What happens once I am chosen by an Intended Parent and agree to be their Donor?

The entire process should take between 6 to 8 weeks.
If the Intended Parents and you agree to meet, we will schedule a meeting that will be facilitated by Heartfelt Egg Donation.
You will receive a contract and you will meet with an agency-appointed attorney for legal consultation and contract review.
We will schedule your initial required psychological evaluation and testing and medical evaluation.
The treating physician will counsel you through the process and inform you of your schedule and how and when to begin taking the fertility medication.
You will be scheduled for a procedure that will remove the eggs from your ovaries. This procedure usually takes about 30-40 minutes and is done under sedation in an outpatient setting.
You will receive your compensation check within 7 days after the retrieval.

How long will it take to be matched?

This is not something we can predict. Some donors have been matched within one week of applying; others have taken as long as one year and some may never be matched.

How much time will I have to take off from work or school?

Appointments are usually early in the morning, so little or no time is missed. You will need to schedule an entire day for the egg retrieval. If your retrieval requires travel to a city where the Intended Parents doctor is located you may have to take additional time off of work or school. All travel and accommodation requirements will be arranged and paid for by Heartfelt Egg Donation on the behalf of the Intended Parents.

How much will I be paid and when will I receive the check?

Heartfelt Egg Donation has signed an agreement with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) that states that we will abide by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Ethics Committee Guidelines governing the payment of egg donors. The guidelines pertaining to appropriate donor compensation specifically state: "Total payments to donors in excess of $5,000 require justification and sums above $10,000 are not appropriate." Donors will not be compensated over $10,000 under any circumstance. Typically, you will receive your check within 7 days of the egg retrieval.

Testimonial: A Kind Thank You

2011-01-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

January is always a contemplative month. Like many, I look back on the previous year and all that's happened and think about the possibilities of the new year not just for me personally and professionally but for the prospective parents and donors I work with at Heartfelt Egg Donation. The most exciting thing about doing what I do is learning that there are successful pregnancies and babies being born to well deserving parents.

This letter came recently and I truly appreciate the kind words.

---------------------------------------------------------

Dear Suzanne,

Lord knows that this letter of thanks is very long overdue but I hope that you will accept my apology for the delay nonetheless.

At this time of year as we all reflect on our many blessings I am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am that I found you and your agency to help me in my endeavor to create a family. Words cannot adequately express my sincere gratitude for everything that you did for me.

First and foremost, you are a person true to your word which is a rarity in today's society. You have integrity and to me that is priceless. I would recommend you to anyone going through the donor process. You were reliable, returned every phone call and e-mail in a timely fashion and made me feel very secure during an otherwise stressful time. I never once had to worry about things on your end. I honestly felt at all times that you had everything under control and that you had my best interests at heart. The fact that my husband and I received a refund from you of money that was not spent adds testimony to your honesty.

I am truly grateful to you and my donor for providing me with this incredible opportunity to form a family that I wouldn't have been able to do on my own. I don't want to jinx anything but I can say that as long as things continue to go well there will be lots of celebrating in the new year on the East Coast.

I'll keep in touch,

25 Reasons to Donate Your Eggs, by Abbie Waters

2011-01-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

Provided by: Abbie Waters of FertilityNation.com.

You’ve started thinking about donating eggs. You’ve done a little research online looking at egg donor agencies and programs. Maybe you’ve even made a list of the pros and cons of egg donation. But you’re still on the fence, unsure of what to do. To help you make your decision, here are 25 more things to think about!

25 reasons to get off the fence and become an egg donor
1. It will help you get over your fear of needles.
2. You’ll be making a child without getting stretch marks.
3. You’ll get to witness the wonders of modern medicine first hand.
4. It will make you feel powerful in your ability to make positive social change.
5. Many women and men desperately need eggs to make their families, and you could help them do that.
6. The entire egg donation process only takes a few months.
7. You’ll learn cool words like human menopausal gonadotropin.
8. You’ll learn more about the ethics of egg donation and assisted reproduction.
9. You’ll get to see ultrasound images of your ovaries. If you ask, you can probably get some copies for your wallet.
10. You’ll learn more about your body, your menstrual cycle, and human reproduction in general.
11. Donating eggs will give you an appreciation of the beauty and power of your body.
12. Donating eggs will give you an amazing symbolic connection to a family.
13. The experience will deepen your capacity to empathize with others’ suffering.
14. If your recipient is infertile, you can raise public awareness about infertility.
15. If your recipient is gay, you can raise public awareness about gay parenting.
16. The compensation could help you pay off your debts or start your retirement savings.
17. “I’m an egg donor” makes a great conversation starter at parties.
18. All the medical examinations and meetings with the egg donor agency will develop your communication skills.
19. Going through the entire process shows others that you are a dedicated person who accomplishes your goals.
20. You’ll be able to look back on the experience with pride.
21. The egg stimulating drugs they give you will temporarily make you a living fertility goddess.
22. You’ll have plenty of time to update your Facebook profile while waiting at doctor’s appointments.
23. You’ll be a member of a very small, very unique “sorority” of women who have donated eggs to others.
24. It will be a story you can tell your children and grandchildren.
25. You might be lucky enough to experience the joys of Lupron-induced hot flashes!

So what about you? What reasons would you give to a young woman thinking about becoming an egg donor?

Video: Meet the Twiblings and More on the Twiblings - MSNBC/NYTimes

2011-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful story regarding Third Party Reproduction, specifically gestational carriers and egg donation. You may click on these links for the original NY Times piece and for the reply to comments posted from the Author and Mother, Melanie Thernstrom. I love that Melanie has nicknamed her egg donor their Fairy Goddonor. To some it may seem silly but to those who go through this it makes perfect sense and is an easy term for their children to understand. I appreciate Melanie and her gestational carriers, Melissa and Fie, for being brave with sharing their story.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from Heartfelt Egg Donation! We are so grateful for all of our 500+ Facebook community friends, colleagues and beyond. Cheers to you and a New Year bursting with possibilities!

Lemon Blossoms - renewed faith, hope and possibilities

Pandora's Box? Gail Sexton Anderson, Ed.M.

2010-12-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt Egg Donation coordinates and encourages open and semi-open communication and arrangements between intended parents and egg donors if they decide this is the best route for them. I truly value Gail Sexton Anderson's voice in the egg donation community. Have a look at her recent blog post below and her insight regarding direct contact between parents and egg donors.

Pandora's Box? By Gail Sexton Anderson, Ed.M.

Some fear that allowing intended parents and egg donors to have direct contact could be opening Pandora’s box. My experience, of over 13 years, working with couples and egg donors is that knowledge soothes the fear of the unknown rather than creating problems. I have conducted many meetings between couples and egg donors and I can say they have been wonderful meetings were all parties walked away feeling better for having met.

When the donor gets the opportunity to meet the couple she is helping she has a stronger sense of commitment to the process. I’ve found that many donors would say to me after having met the couple that they were surprised how nice the intended parents are. They had been expecting some wealthy and superficial individuals rather than a normal everyday caring couple longing to be parents. The donor often finds it more rewarding to when they get the opportunity to meet the couple. Donors who done completely anonymous cycles as well as cycles were they have meet the intended parents wish they had been able to meet the all of their couples.

When intended parents meet their egg donor it acts to reinforce their choice and to take away many of the fears they may have. I have found that most intended parents have the desire to feel like they know the egg donor. It can be a very scary thing to put so much trust into an individual who will in essence be taking the mothers place in the gene pool. The meeting can help the couple to experience the egg donor as a multifaceted individual whom they can feel comfortable moving forward with in an IVF cycle. I have found that intended parents also feel a strongly sense of closure when they have been able to meet their donor.
I’m not suggesting that all couples and donor should meet but I am suggesting that we are not complicating issues but actually simplifying issues by not creating such a taboo around meeting and future contact. The bottom line is that the more the parties know about each other more the comfortable they usually are. Not knowing may cause the parties involved to make assumptions about each other that may not be founded in reality and may also cause anxiety in many cases.

I am finding that many intended parents are becoming more and more open to having some sort of contact with their egg donor and even more so wanting to have the option for future contact for the benefit of their future child. Trying to keep these parties apart creates more fear than is really merited. Most couples and egg donors have good boundaries and are not likely to become burdens to the each other.

Let’s also remember, at the bottom of Pandora’s box was hope.

Survey: Families through Gamete Donation Language

2010-12-15T12:43:00.000-08:00

One of the challenges and frustrations many parents have with Third Party Reproduction is the language and definitions associated with egg donation.

The Language Committee of Parents Via Egg Donation, a nonprofit organization, is creating a document to reflect the language of families created through gamete donation. Just as Positive Adoption Language (PAL) finally legitimized and clarified the role of birth and adoptive families, so too, do we intend to educate as to how and what to call the various participants of families created through assisted reproductive options.

The intent is to distribute this document to the media and to others so that journalists will have appropriate language to use in describing our families. To do this, we would like to know what language you as parents, siblings, and professionals in the field of family building prefer to use.

Answers to these questions are completely anonymous. Please help us know what language is appropriate to use when describing families of gamete donation. The entire survey should take approximately 15 minutes.

The survey can be found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/gametedonationlanguage

*** When you take the survey please remember to click NEXT at the bottom of the screen ad continue on to the second page. There is another page with another set of questions. I think there are 30 some questions in all.

Thank You.

Carole Lieber Wilkins, MFT and Britta Dinsmore, Ph.D., Co-Chairs
Parents Via Egg Donation

Study: Egg donors happy they helped out

2010-12-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Most women who serve as egg donors retain a positive take on their experience a year later, new research indicates.

Researchers polled 75 egg donors at the time of egg retrieval and one year later, and found that the women remained happy, proud and carefree about their experience. "Up until now we've known that donors are by and large very satisfied by their experience when it takes place," said study lead author Andrea M. Braverman, director of complementary and alternative medicine at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey in Morristown. "And now we see that for the vast majority the positive experience persists."Braverman and colleagues from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, N.J., were scheduled to present their survey findings Wednesday in Denver at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

A year after donation, the women said they seldom worried about either the health or emotional well-being of the children they helped to spawn. They said they only think about the donation occasionally and rarely discuss it. The donors also reported that financial compensation was not the number-one motive for facilitating another woman's pregnancy. Rather, a desire to help others achieve their dreams was pegged as the driving force, followed by money and feeling good.

Women who said the donation process made them feel worthwhile tended to be open to the notion of meeting their offspring when they reach adulthood. And most donors were receptive to the idea of meeting the egg recipients and participating in a donor registry. "These findings are only one year out, and this is part of a five-year ongoing study," cautioned Braverman. "And life changes a lot in five years, so it'll be interesting to see if this lasts that far out. We can't say yet. But so far we're seeing that the feelings persisted during the beginning of the journey. A year out, we're not seeing a change in donors' experience. And that's kind of a good thing."

Linda Applegarth, director of psychological services at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at the New York Presbyterian Hospital--Weill Medical College of Cornell University, described the study as "very useful," but expressed little surprise with the findings. "I actually routinely meet with donors a year post donation, particularly with donors who want to donate again," she said, noting that about 65 percent of her center's donors choose to repeat the process. "And I would say anecdotally that my experience matches the study findings," she added. "Many do choose to donate again because they have had a very positive experience," Applegarth explained. "And in addition to whatever had motivated them to donate in the first place, after they've donated, the experience often takes on new meaning for them, in a positive way. So their motivation becomes more multi-faceted, because they really do know that they've made a difference." Donors don't obsess about the experience, Applegarth said. "They move on with their lives. And this, I think, speaks well to the fact that there are any number of us who work with donors and try to be very sensitive to them and what they're doing, and want to make sure that they have a good experience with the donation," she said."We consider the donors as patients, and in that respect they're as important as anyone involved in the experience," Applegarth added.

Touching on the issue of egg donation from a different perspective, a second study to be presented at the conference found that women who serve as donors have a significantly different psychological profile than women who actually provide the service of carrying a baby to term. Compared with egg donors, the so-called "gestational carriers," or surrogate mothers, were found to have a higher degree of "belief in human goodness" and "contentment with life," researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago found. Carriers were also observed as having a stronger sense of "social responsibility."

How many eggs do you have anyway? By guest blogger Sharon LaMothe

2010-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

I attended a fascinating session lead by Dr. David Adamson, MD at this years SMART ART XI. His topic was Careers, Babies and Biological Clocks. I wanted to share one particular tid-bit that I don't think is in your typical woman's magazine or doctors office reading material.

Just how many eggs do we women have anyway? Have you ever wondered? I never have. I just figured that I had what I needed and left it at that. I never gave my husbands sperm a thought either...it seemed to be there when it was needed (and sometimes even when it was not! BTW male fertility drops to 70% in their 50's) But I never had a sit down with girl friends and chatted over how many eggs we had left or where they all came from. We might have talked about their expiration date but we used the word 'menopause' to describe those topics!

Dr. Adamson showed a slide that said this: In Utero (aprox at 5 months) an unborn baby girl has about 4 Million Eggs. At birth that same baby girl will have about 700,000 eggs and at puberty a young girl would have approximately 350,000! And just so you know...at menopause the number is about 1000 eggs and they are not doing well! Most of these eggs are lost to artesia, not ovulation which means that they are lost to the cells dying.

As you can see, we are born with all the eggs we will ever have. Amazing to know but now the question is just what will we do with those eggs?

Sharon LaMothe Infertility Answers, Inc. http://infertilityanswers.org/ LaMothe Services, LLC http://lamotheservices.com/ *Please note: Sharon LaMothe is not a MD, is not an attorney nor does she hold a mental health degree. All advice given is solely the experienced opinion of Ms. LaMothe. If you have any medical, legal or psychological questions or concerns, please contact your own Doctor, Attorney or Mental Health Professional.

Invitation: Donor Gametes, the Next Generation: Caring for Our Children

2010-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

I just received this invitation from The American Fertility Association. If you are one of the first 15 to register you'll be in luck and can get personal support and have your questions answered regarding the use of donor eggs, sperm or embryos. If you are already parenting children conceived via these methods you may also participate.

You're Invited to a FREE Telephone Coaching Support Group Thursday, November 18th

Donor Gametes, the Next Generation: Caring for Our Children

Are you considering the use of donor sperm, egg, or embryo to create children? Or, are you already parenting children created by donor sperm, egg, or embryo?

During this one hour group conference call, you will receive information on:

· The pros and cons of disclosure to children of their genetic origin
· What and when to share this information with children if you so choose
· How or whether to share this information with family or friends
· Questions you may have if you have already begun to share this information

You will also have the opportunity to share information and support one another in making the decision about disclosure and implementing this aspect of parenting.

WHEN: Thursday, November 18, 2010

WHERE: Telephone Conference Line
(call-in information will be given at time of registration)

TIME: 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern time

FACILITATORS:
Joann Paley Galst, Ph.D.
Patricia Mendell, L.C.S.W.

COST: FREE!

Registration limited to the first 15 responders who also send information regarding their particular situation and
any questions they would like addressed.

For further information and to register contact:

Joanne Paley Galst, jgalst@aol.com, 212-759-2783

Patricia Mendell, pmendell@aol.com, 212-819-1778

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #6 and #7 Risks and Side Effects of Donating Eggs

2010-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Will donating eggs now affect my fertility or the ability to have children in the future?

No. All currently available information shows that there is no decrease in a donor's ability to get pregnant after completing a normal retrieval. You will not “run out” of eggs or go through menopause any sooner.

What are the primary risks and side effects of taking the fertility medication?

The primary risk is a condition called Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome. This is relatively rare (1-3% of cases). Your physician will monitor you carefully in order to avoid this possibility. Side effects include weight gain and a feeling of extreme bloating. Also, as with any procedure, a risk of infection exists, you will most likely be given antibiotics to avoid this.

At Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC we do our best to educate prospective egg donors regarding possible side effects and risks associated with egg donation. Prior to the egg retrieval procedure, the treating physician and their staff will provide additional risk education.

Possible Medications, Side Effects and Risks:
These medications will be totally out of your system within a few days after completing the treatment. There is no evidence that these medications cause cancer or have any long term side effects. Not everyone will experience side effects and the degree to which they occur may vary widely among individuals.

• Birth Control Pills - An oral tablet used to synchronize your cycle to the Recipients. Side effects may include: headaches, bloating, nausea, breast tenderness and vaginal spotting.

• Lupron® or Antagon® - This suppresses the pituitary gland from allowing you to ovulate. This medication is given by injection. Side effects may include: hot flashes, sweats, headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, decreased libido, joint pains, emotional lability, dizziness, general pain, nervousness, skin reactions, vaginal dryness/itching, weight gain/loss.

• Gonal-f®, Pergonal®, Repronex®, Follistim® - This contains natural pituitary hormones that are responsible for ovarian stimulation and aid in the production of eggs. This medication is given by injection. Side effects may include: ovarian hyperstimulation, ovarian enlargement/pain, ovarian cysts, abdominal pain/cramps, allergic reactions (fever, chills, musculoskeletal aches, joint paints, nausea), headaches, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, skin rashes, swelling or irritation at the site of injection, dizziness, increased heart rate, breast pain, back pain, emotional lability, weight increase.

• Human Chorionic Gonadotropins (HCG) - This simulates the body's normal LH surge causing the final maturation of the eggs. It is expected that ovulation will take place 36-40 hour later. This medication is given by injection.

• Antibiotic - A broad-spectrum antibiotic to prevent infection. This is an oral tablet.

• Pre-natal Vitamin - A multivitamin that is given for good general health and egg quality. This is an oral tablet.

• Low Dose Steroid - May be given to suppress the production of male hormones during the treatment cycle and helps with egg quality. This is an oral tablet.

Rare Complications
In the unlikely event that there are medical complications, Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC purchases an Accident and Medical Complication Insurance Policy for the Donor and Intended Recipient on behalf of the Intended Parents.

• Minor discomfort or abdominal pain might occur following the egg retrieval and is controlled with pain medications.

• Bleeding from the site where the needle is introduced (in the vagina) can occur. Almost always it is controlled by applying pressure to the site. In the rare event that there is internal bleeding, surgery might be required to stop the bleeding.

• Vaginal and pelvic infections may result. As a preventative measure, the treating physician may prescribe antibiotics during the egg retrieval. Complicated infections may cause tubal damage and interfere with fertility in the future.

• The production of a large number of eggs (>30) which may cause abdominal swelling, discomfort and difficulty breathing. In rare instances the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen might have to be removed (through the vagina with a needle) to alleviate symptoms and in some cases admission to a hospital might be required for a few days. This complication can be prevented and physicians take all necessary measures to do so.

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #5

2010-11-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Why is it important to be height and weight proportionate as an egg donor?

It is necessary for you to be within a healthy weight range so that you are not at an increased risk for medical complications while participating in an egg donation cycle.

You may visit the Centers for Disease Control website to determine your BMI or Body Mass Index. All of our egg donors fall within the normal range for height.

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #4

2010-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Can I donate eggs if I just had a baby and I'm breast feeding?

You may not donate while you are breast feeding. It is also necessary for you to have at least three regular menstrual cycles prior to participating in an egg donation cycle. You may start the application process with Heartfelt Egg Donation.

To become an egg donor with Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC please visit the Donor section of our website for more information.

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #3

2010-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Can I donate eggs if I've had a tubal ligation?

Yes, you may be an egg donor if you have had a tubal ligation. Your eggs will be retrieved prior to being released in the fallopian tubes.

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #2

2010-10-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Are there any forms of birth control that will prevent me from being accepted as an egg donor with Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc?

Yes, you will not be considered or accepted into our program as an egg donor if you are currently using Depo-Provera, Norplant or a Hormonal IUD, such as Mirena. You will be required to have at least three regular menstrual cycles after you discontinue using these methods of birth control. These forms of birth control do not allow your menstrual cycles to be adjusted or synchronized and this is a very important part of the egg donation treatment cycle. Although some physician's and fertility centers will allow donation with a Mirena IUD, we cannot guarantee matching you with prospective parents who are working with a physician who accepts this practice; therefore, we will not be able to accept you into our program. If you have a Non-Hormonal IUD or are using birth control pills this will not affect your ability to donate.

Is Disclosure about Donor Parentage Wise? A Guest Blog by David Kreiner, MD., F.A.C.O.G

2010-10-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

A blog by David Kreiner, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., East Coast Fertility, originally posted October 4, 2010 - reposted with permission.

I received this letter from a former donor egg recipient. It made me think about what it might be like, years after the actual procedure for a child who grows up wondering about his/her donor parent.

Dr. David Kreiner, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

Dear Dr. Kreiner, I want to thank you and your wonderfully caring staff for all you did to help me have my daughter, Jessica. There was not a moment that I did not feel supported during the process, and for this I sing your praises constantly. My daughter is truly a blessing. and I will always cherish that you helped bring her into this world for me. We informed Jessica about her genetic parentage a few years ago with the help of a psychologist, who saw my husband and I first. and then with Jessica for two or three more visits. I thought it went well. Jess seemed to understand that we loved her and that Russ and I were truly her father and mother, and I cannot say that our relationship had changed in any significant way since then. However, Jessica is now 14 years old and has recently been asking me about what I know about her genetic mom, which is how she referred to her. I took offense to her use of the term ”mom” and immediately corrected her, saying “you mean donor, honey”. This started a huge argument and has created a tense rift that still exists. I know that she has been doing research to identify her donor, including calling your program. I don’t know what to do. Did we make a mistake by telling her? Should we seek out the donor and ask if she is willing to reveal herself to my daughter? Is it even legal or moral for us to ask? Should we tell my daughter that it is not possible to identify her and just leave it like that? I am afraid not to try, as it seems to be so important to her, and if I appear to be resisting she will get angry with me again. What should we do Dr. Kreiner? Still thankful but with some remorse, Former donor egg recipient

An Important Question

I have been involved in these donor egg cases since 1985, and this type of question is rare for me to receive. But now I wonder if that is because patients do not feel close enough to me to discuss these problems years after my services have been performed.

It is not uncommon for potential donor egg recipients to say to me ”I’m not going to tell my child about the donor. I’m going to carry him. I’m the mom.” We have always recommended that parents disclose that they had utilized donation to their child, since it is thought that honesty is better than trying to shoulder "the big lie," which ultimately would be found out and lead to much larger problems.

If you are planning to build a family with a sperm or egg donor, you may be thinking about these very issues. Many patients believe that disclosing their child’s donor origins will damage the parent-child bond that is so precious to them. They fear that a genetic connection to a donor could trump their relationship with their child. Most commonly, my patients plan to tell their child about the donor but want the donor’s identity to remain anonymous. They worry that an identified donor could disrupt the integrity of their family by inserting herself or himself into it.

Professionals in the field of infertility tell us that patients who need help to have a child often feel vulnerable and may view donors as threatening.

To Disclose or Not, That is The First Question

Unlike heterosexual couples, same sex couples and single individuals understand that from the moment they decide to build their family that they require assisted reproduction. These families openly disclose their children’s donor origins because it is the only way to explain their conception and birth. Inevitably, the children look at other families around them and wonder if they have a mommy or a daddy. It does not appear that disclosure in these cases has a negative impact on the families.

However, the heterosexual couples seek assistance only after failed attempts to have a child on their own and sometimes even after multiple IVF attempts using the woman’s own eggs. These couples typically experience incredible loss, frequently feel inadequate and often become clinically depressed. Assisted reproduction with outside help with their family building was not something they ever imagined. Many feel a sense of shame that may add additional motivation to keep the donor parentage a secret from their child. We are told by those professionals in the field who study this that many former donor recipients turned parents fear their child will see the donor as the “real” mom or dad and believe they are preventing potential problems by keeping the secret from their child.

Interestingly, many individuals who are the result of gamete donation report feeling like they don’t fit in with their families. I have heard that when they ultimately are informed of their donor origin that it often makes sense to them and not infrequently is received by the child with a degree of relief to explain their uniqueness from their family. Sometimes donor conceived individuals inadvertently learn about their origins under less than ideal circumstances, such as from a family friend or relative. Nondisclosure, in these cases, usually undermines trust and honesty within a family and may lead to psychological harm.

Professionals studying donation tell us that when children have been told about their donor origins, they are typically accepting of the recipient moms and dads. In fact, it appears that when children learn of their donor origins at a young age, they are more likely to have a more positive experience. Their donor conception is integrated from the beginning into their life story. It becomes who they are at an early stage when they develop their own identity and sense of self. Individuals told later in life are more likely to have more negative feelings about their donor conception than those told earlier. They may become angry about being deceived and often feel betrayed by the very people they thought were the most trustworthy in their lives, their moms and dads. Hence, disclosure at an early age is recommended by professionals studying this issue.

I will address the question of disclosing the identity of the donor in my next blog.

Series: Egg Donor Frequently Asked Questions - #1 How do I become an egg donor with Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC?

2010-10-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today our blog features the first in our series of Frequently Asked Questions by Egg Donors.

How do I become an egg donor with Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC?

1. Please review the Donor section of our Web site to be familiar with our Donor Criteria. We search for egg donors candidates with the following characteristics:

Ethical, honest and caring.
Responsible and committed to helping those who require an egg donor.
Between the age of 20 and 31.
In good health and live a healthy lifestyle.
Have a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index).
Non-smokers and do not use illegal drugs.
Not currently on the Depo Provera shot, Norplant or using a hormonal IUD such as Mirena.
May be willing to speak with and/or meet Intended Parents.
Able to provide health history and genetic background.
Willing to undergo medical and psychological screening.
Willing to be available for 6-8 weeks, attend approximately 10 doctor appointments.
Willing to perform self-administered injections for a period of approximately two weeks.
Willing to undergo a procedure via sedation to retrieve eggs.
May be willing to travel.

2. Print and complete the Confidential Donor Information and Consent Form, Donor Profile and FDA Addendum.

3. Return the Confidential Donor Information and Consent Form, Donor Profile and FDA Addendum along with a copy of your driver's license, educational transcripts and at least five photographs of you at various stages in your life. This information will be used to review your background. Please provide photos that show you positively. We ask you to provide as many photos as possible so that prospective parents can make an accurate assessment of your appearance and features. You may mail, fax or email your application to:

Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC

1344 Disc Drive, #402

Sparks, Nevada 89436

Fax: 775-354-0533

info@heartfelteggdonation.com

We prefer that you email your digital photos to us although you may mail them with your application. If you would like to have them returned, you must provide a self addressed stamped envelope, otherwise we will not be able to return them.

4. Upon receipt of your application and all the required components, we will schedule an interview with you to get to know you better and to discuss your motivations for wanting to donate.

In-vitro pioneer wins Nobel Prize

2010-10-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

British physiologist Robert Edwards, whose work led to the birth of the first ''test-tube baby'' in 1978, is awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine and physiology. (01:44)

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

2010-10-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a wonderful Q&A session from ABC World News with Diane Sawyer originally posted on their website January 15, 2008. I felt it was worth repeating as the questions are very common and the most asked of women considering becoming an Egg Donor.

____________________________________________

Last week "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 ASRM Web 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).

Question: Does undergoing fertility treatments and all the medication one takes over years of trying to conceive increase the risk of ovarain cancer? Are any of the drugs more likely to cause ovarain cancer? How and where would one get more info, and what should one ask a doctor for? Thanks for giving your time to a looming question long after treatment.
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.

If you are losing hope...My story, by Cindy

2010-09-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is for anyone out there who is losing hope…

In the fall of 2004 my husband and I received the greatest news that you can imagine. My Doctor said that I was pregnant at the age of 40. On May 16th 2005 our beautiful daughter was born, and we believed that life could not get any better. Then on September 11th 2008, we received the news that every parent dreads. Our daughter was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. Eight days later she was gone.

My husband and I could not accept facing a life without children, so soon after her loss, we began trying to have another baby. I was almost 44, when she passed. We tried on our own for a few months, but I knew our chances were very slim.

We decided to try IVF. Initially, we tried 2 cycles with my own eggs. The second cycle I got pregnant and carried the baby until the second ultrasound at 10 weeks. After having a solid heartbeat 2 weeks earlier, there was no heartbeat to be found on the second.

After that disappointment, we decided to try an egg donor. I became pregnant again, but unfortunately miscarried at 6 weeks.

We only had 2 frozen embryos from the first donor, so we decided to go with another egg donor, as our insurance benefits were about to expire. The second donor produced only 2 embryos, that were not of the best quality. We did 2 frozen transfers, and were not successful either time.

Then we received news from my husband's company that they were changing insurance carriers. This would give us another 4 chances with IVF. We took this as a sign, that perhaps God wanted us to keep trying. So we did…

We hired donor # 3. She was actually an acquaintance of ours. (This, I definitely do not recommend!) On her second blood test which came back the day before retrieval, something showed up in her blood work that forced that cycle to be cancelled.

Then, next there was donor # 4. Believe it or not, the same thing happened again.

After all of this, I am not going to lie, I was very discouraged, but I could not give up. I began to look for a new donor through Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC. When I saw the donor that we picked, I felt a sense of peace. I don’t know why, but I knew she was the one. Initially, we had looked for someone that looked like me, and she didn’t really, but I knew she was the one.

I will be 7 weeks pregnant tomorrow, and yesterday we found out we are having twins. I know this must read like a horror story, but I guess the moral of my story is that even when things seem impossible, we can not give up hope…

God Bless you on your journey…

______________________

Double congratulations to Cindy and Mike, very special clients of Heartfelt Egg Donation. May your pregnancy continue to be healthy, joyous and full of wonder. I can't thank you enough for sharing your story and for providing encouragement to others.

The Surrogacy Lawyer Radio Show: Your Guide to IVF & Third Party Family Building

2010-09-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

If you are considering building your family the non-traditional way (through IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, or surrogacy) you should tune in to tomorrow's (Thursday, September 30, 2010) The Surrogacy Lawyer Online Radio Show. Theresa M. Erickson, Esq. will be interviewing Dr. Kim Bergman of Fertility Counseling Services and Growing Generations and Ken Mosesian, executive director of the AFA, at 11AM PST/2PM EST on Voice America. They will be discussing donor-conceived children and same sex family building.

You can tune in weekly for The Surrogacy Lawyer: Your Guide to IVF & Third Party Family Building when it is broadcast live every Thursday at 11:00 am pst/2:00 pm est on Voice America Health & Wellness Channel. If you miss a show, you may download the free podcast from itunes. Here are some links from past shows.

Egg Sharing: A better way to cheaper eggs? By Guest Blogger Sharon LaMothe

2010-09-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Although I am not an egg donation expert by any means, I would like to broach the subject of egg sharing. It's not a common situation however, with the cost of IVF and Egg Donation in general, more Intended Parents are looking at ways to cut back the costs of ART and egg sharing can be one way.

Sharon LaMothe, Infertility Answers, Inc.

Egg Sharing can be done when two Intended Parents/Couples like the same egg donor and want to share her egg donation. If she has a good track record of producing many eggs per medicated cycle or there is an agreement up front of how the split will be determined then it can work out to everyone's advantage. Because an egg donor does not get compensated per egg...just per donation, she is not compromised in anyway. The IP's will split all the costs regarding her fee, medication, egg retrieval, travel etc. The eggs then would be divided per the agreement and fertilized with each IP's sperm. Then following the protocol, the embryo transfer will take place per the RE's orders.

How do you find someone willing to share an egg donor? Talk to your clinic, if they have an in-house donation program. Tell the coordinator that you are interested in egg sharing and what you are looking for in a donor. She/he can put the word out to potential patients and see if anyone is also interested in the same type of donor. This same conversation can be had with the egg donation agency. Some agencies do not advocate shared donations. Its best to know that before you sign on with them so all the options are open. (I would like to note that a couple going through IVF with more then enough eggs for themselves maybe open to "donating" the extra eggs in return for the retrieval procedure or other costs covered by the recipient couple. This is something else that can be discussed with your Doctor.)
One issue to consider is the emotional aspect. How would one party feel if the other did not conceive? Or should that information be shared in the first place? When considering the costs of IVF and ART in general, Egg Sharing may be one of the less costly solutions.

_______________________________________________________

Sharon LaMothe has been in the Infertility Industry since 1998 when she signed her first Gestational Surrogacy contract. She subsequently gave birth to twin girls and in 2000 was invited to join a FL law firm recruiting & managing surrogacy arrangements. After leaving the legal arena in 2003, Sharon then co-owned and operated Surrogacy Consultants of Florida, LLC, the first successful independent surrogacy agency in Florida. Sharon participates on many advisory boards well as being a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. In January 2005 Sharon once again became a Gestational Carrier and gave birth to girl/boy twins for a same sex New York couple using Donor Eggs. She is currently the owner of Infertility Answers, Inc. & the Creator of Surrogacy 101. Sharon is also the Owner of LaMothe Services, LLC http://lamotheservices.com, an Assisted Reproductive Technology business solutions service. Sharon currently guides couples who need more information regarding their Third Party Family Options. You may follow Sharon on Twitter http://twitter.com/SharonLaMothe

_______________________________________________________

Please note:

Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC does not coordinate shared Egg Donation Cycles at this time.

Welcome Baby Girl, Charlie!

2010-08-11T09:55:00.000-07:00

With great joy I announce the birth of Charlie; sweet baby daughter to M & S and big brother L. Charlie arrived healthy and pink on July 27. She was cared for and protected by her gestational carrier, Tina. As things settle down in the household, we hope to have Charlie's mother write a guest blog and share her experience about what it's like to team with a carrier and an egg donor in an open arrangement. Her experience will surely provide encouragement and comfort to others. Congratulations!

Charlie - Isn't she beautiful?!

NIAW Day 7 - Find Support. Do you need help coping with your infertility diagnosis?

2010-04-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Find Support (as provided by RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association)

Do you need help coping with your infertility diagnosis? If you answer YES to any of these statements, please consider finding a support group or mental health professional in your area. You are not alone.

I can not enjoy the pregnancy news of friends/family.

I have a difficult time being around babies.

I find myself withdrawing from gatherings with family/friends to avoid questions about my "baby plans".

I feel alone, like there is no one else to talk to.

My partner and I have different ideas on what to do next.

The stress of infertility is effecting my work performance, personal finances, social life--I'm having trouble keeping it all together.

Sound familiar? Consider connecting with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association's support resources.

Find RESOLVE near you.
Find a RESOLVE support group.
Listing of programs nationwide.
Get online support 24/7.
Call your local RESOLVE HelpLine.

NIAW Homepage

Video: Project IF - Raising Awareness for National Infertility Awareness Week

2010-04-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

iReport —Posted, Wednesday, April 28, 2010

1 out of every 8 couples struggles with infertility. This piece seeks to put a real face and name to the very real disease of infertility, and what it's like for millions of people in the country who cope with infertility every day. This video was made as part of ProjectIF for National Infertility Awareness Week, which runs through this Saturday, May 1. After today's successful congressional briefing on infertility with the CDC, members of Congress, and RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, this piece is vital to spreading awareness for a healthcare issue that affects over 7 million people in this country.

ABC News: Health Care Bill offers little comfort to the infertile

2010-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this article regarding the Health Care Bill and infertility care related costs. Very little is going to change for those going through fertility diagnosis and treatment.

Health Care Bill Offers Little Comfort to the Infertile

NIAW Day 6 - Navigate the Costs of Family Building

2010-04-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Navigating the Cost of Family Building (as provided by RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association)

Infertility exacts an enormous toll on both the affected individuals and on society. Women and men in their most active and productive years are distracted by the physical, financial and emotional hardships of this disease. Infertility is more than a disease, it is a devastating life crisis which can greatly impact the health, relationships, job performance and social interactions. Added to the emotional and physical toll exacted by infertility is the financial burden carried by many seeking treatment.

RESOLVE aims to ease that burden by providing comprehensive information on insurance coverage for infertility and alternative options for making your infertility affordable.

RESOLVE.org Resources

The Costs of Infertility Treatment

Setting and Reaching Financial Goals

Creating a Financial Plan

Infertility Financing Programs

NIAW Homepage

NIAW Day 5 - Impact your community

2010-04-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Think about and decide how you can have an Impact Your Community today!

Volunteer, host a support group, raise awareness. (as provided by RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association)

Making an impact on your community with RESOLVE's message will not only benefit the thousands of women and men who suffer with infertility in silence, but it will benefit you. We hear from our volunteers every day that giving back and engaging their community in a conversation about the issues surrounding infertility helps them find hope and a resolution to their own family building journey.

Take a moment and think about how you can make an impact on your community.

Order free brochures from RESOLVE and drop them off at your local ob/gyn offices so you can reach someone sitting in that office wondering "why is it so hard to get pregnant?"--email: publications@resolve.org
Host a RESOLVE support group--visit this link for more details.
Call a local radio station during "drive time" and let them know it's National Infertility Awareness Week and if listeners are having trouble getting pregnant, they need to "take charge and know the facts". Make sure to mention resolve.org/takecharge
Talk to your family, friends and coworkers about your family building journey. Engaging others in conversation can help change perception, create a support network you didn't realize was there, and help you find a resolution. Here are some "Fast Facts" about infertility.

Visit "Get Involved" for more volunteer ideas.

Impact Your Community. Because 1 in 8 is someone you know.

NIAW Day 4 - Send a free NIAW ecard

2010-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today's call to action regarding National Infertility Awareness Week is, Take Charge: Send a NIAW eCard:

Want to thank someone for the support they've given you during your family building journey?
Know someone that could use some support during this difficult time?
Want to help spread the word about the National Infertility Awareness Week movement?
No matter what the reason, sending a NIAW eCard is easy!

Click here to send your ecard today!

Taken with permission from RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association

Press Release: Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC joins with RESOLVE to Take Charge During NIAW

2010-04-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC joins with RESOLVE: The National Infertilty Association to Take Charge During National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24 - May 1, 2010)

NIAW Day 3 - Become an advocate

2010-04-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Become an Advocate (As posted by Resolve, The National Infertility Association)

Whether you have been diagnosed with infertility or know someone who has, becoming an advocate is one of the most important steps you can take when it comes to the infertility movement.

If you have been diagnosed with infertility, become an advocate and you will:

Regain a sense of control that is lost when you are dealing with infertility.
Know your voice will be heard.
Find others that understand what you're going through and won't feel so alone.
Feel empowered.

How to become an advocate:

For friends and family, become an advocate and you will:

Understand what to say during a difficult time in your loved one's life.
Feel part of the journey having a better understanding of their disease and treatment.
Feel empowered to stand together and know you're making a difference.

How to become an advocate:

Back to Take Charge
NIAW Homepage

NIAW Day 2 - Take Charge of your fertiliy: Design a plan

2010-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's Day 2 of National Infertility Awareness Week. Resolve, The National Infertility Association can help and point you in the right direction for moving forward regarding your family building options. They are a tremendous resource and provide insurance information, options, and support.

Design A Plan (As provided by RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association):

If you or a loved one is struggling with infertility, you need to know that there are many roads one can take. Visit resolve.org to learn more about the family building options listed below.

Medical Treatment
Medical treatment options include drug therapy, surgical procedures, intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surgical techniques. Get the facts.

Adoption
Adoption can take many forms: domestic or international; closed or open; private or public. If you are considering adoption as a family building option, learn all you can to make the decision that's right for you.

Donor Options
Many options exist today for couples who are facing infertility and one or both partners is unable to have a genetically-related child. Learn more about donor egg, donor sperm and donor embryo here.

Surrogacy
Sharing a pregnancy with a surrogate or gestational carrier may be the right option for you if involvement with the pregnancy, prenatal care, genetics and being present for the birth of the child are important.

Childfree
Choosing to live childfree is a way to resolve your infertility. When couples experiencing infertility move through the grief over not having a pregnancy or a biologically linked child, it's an opening into a world of possibilities.

Back to Take Charge
NIAW Homepage

NIAW Day 1 (National Infertility Awareness Week) - Infertilty 101: Get the facts

2010-04-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day of National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). In order to "Make a Difference for you and others" it's important that you educate yourself. Do you need to see a fertility specialist? Do you know someone who is trying to conceive and not understand what they are going through? RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association, provides these common myths and facts as a starting point to understanding infertility.

National Infertility Awareness Week (April 14, - May 1, 2010) is a movement to raise awareness about the disease of infertility which affects 7.3 million Americans.

Infertility 101: Get the Facts (as provided by RESOLVE)

Myth: Infertility is a women's problem.

Fact: This is untrue. It surprises most people to learn that infertility is a female problem in 35% of the cases, a male problem in 35% of the cases, a combined problem of the couple in 20% of cases, and unexplained in 10% of cases. It is essential that both the man and the woman be evaluated during an infertility work-up.

Myth: Everyone seems to get pregnant at the drop of a hat.

Fact: More than 7.3 million people of childbearing age in the United States experience infertility. When you seek support, you will find that you are not alone. Join RESOLVE, a support group, or talk with others who are struggling to build a family, so that you won't feel isolated.

Myth: It's all in your head! Why don't you relax or take a vacation. Then you'll get pregnant!

Fact: Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system. While relaxing may help you with your overall quality of life, the stress and deep emotions you feel are the result of infertility, not the cause of it. Improved medical techniques have made it easier to diagnose infertility problems.

Myth: Don't worry so much -- it just takes time. You'll get pregnant if you're just patient.

Fact: Infertility is a medical problem that may be treated. At least 50% of those who complete an infertility evaluation will respond to treatment with a successful pregnancy. Some infertility problems respond with higher or lower success rates. Those who do not seek help have a "spontaneous cure rate" of about 5% after a year of infertility.

Myth: If you adopt a baby you'll get pregnant!

Fact: This is one of the most painful myths for couples to hear. First it suggests that adoption is only a means to an end, not an happy and successful end in itself. Second, it is simply not true. Studies reveal that the rate for achieving pregnancy after adopting is the same as for those who do not adopt.

Myth: Why don't you just forget it and adopt? After all, there are so many babies out there who need homes!

Fact: For many, adoption is a happy resolution to infertility. But choosing how to build your family is a very personal decision. Learning about all the ways to build a family can open your eyes to options you may not have thought of as a possibility. Education is key to finding resolution.

Myth: Maybe you two are doing something wrong!

Fact: Infertility is a medical condition, not a sexual disorder.

Myth: My partner might leave me because of our infertility.

Fact: The majority of couples do survive the infertility crisis, learning in the process new ways of relating to each other, which deepens their relationship in years to follow.

Myth: Perhaps this is God's way of telling you that you two aren't meant to be parents!

Fact: It is particularly difficult to hear this when you are struggling with infertility. You know what loving parents you would be, and it is painful to have to explain to others that you have a medical problem.

Myth: Infertility is nature's way of controlling population.

Fact: Zero population growth is a goal pursued in a time of world overpopulation, but it still allows for couples to replace themselves with two children. Individuals or couples can certainly elect the option to be childfree or to raise a single child. Infertility, for those who desire children, denies them the opportunity to choose.

Myth: I shouldn't take a month off from infertility treatment for any reason... I just know that this next month will be THE one!

Fact: It is important periodically to reassess your treatment and your parenting goal. Continuity in treatment is important, but sometimes a break can provide needed rest and renewal for the next steps.

Myth: I'll be labeled a 'trouble maker' if I ask too many questions.

Fact: The physician/patient team is important. You need to be informed about what treatments are available. What is right for one couple may not be right for another, either physically, financially, or emotionally. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your doctor.

A second opinion can be helpful. If needed, discuss this option with your physician.

Myth: I know I'll never be able to stop treatment until I have a pregnancy.

Fact: Pregnancy is not the only pathway to parenthood. You may begin to think more about parenthood than about pregnancy. You may long for your life to get back to normal. You may consider childfree living or begin to think of other ways to build a family.

Myth: I've lost interest in my job, hobbies, and my friends because of infertility. No one understands! My life will never be the same!

Fact: Infertility is a life crisis -- it has a rippling effect on all areas of your life. It is normal to feel a sense of failure that can affect your self-esteem and self-image. You will move through this crisis. It is a process, and it may mean letting go of initial dreams. Throughout this process, stay informed about the wide range of options and connect with others facing similar experiences.

More RESOLVE Resources
NIAW (National Infertility Awareness Week) Homepage

Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc to participate in National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24 - May 1, 2010)

2010-04-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc will participate in National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), April 24 - May 1, 2010. Our goal is to help raise awareness about infertility and family building options and to support RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association in their efforts to educate those who may be experiencing infertility or know of someone trying to conceive with difficulty.

Starting tomorrow, April 24, 2010, I'll provide information on how to educate yourself. You'll be given the tools to Take Charge with 7 things you can do in 7 days:

Educate yourself
Design a plan
Become an advocate
Send a free ecard message to someone
Impact your community
Navigate the Costs of Family Building
Find Support

I'm excited to see the information that will be coming from the infertility industry and those affected by infertility. What a great way to open the lines of communication and to help remove the stigma associated with infertility.

I came across an article/blog post by Connie Shapiro, PhD from yesterday titled "Celebrating Infertility Awareness Week". I encourage you to read it as it touches upon the many facets of infertility that are not discussed openly or frequently.

Video: Life = Risk

2010-04-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

We've all faced hard days and times that seem to last an eternity. Continuous struggles and/or perceived failures are no joy ride. The "why me" syndrome can be a real spirit killer. Some of us need to be reminded a little more than others that Life = Risk and success can only come after failure. So when the going gets tough, remember to lift up your chin and look at all your accomplishments whether big or small. Look to those who love you for support and try to keep your mind and body in a good place. As we enter the weekend, I leave you with this video and hope your days are sunny and warm even if it's raining and cold.

The Egg Donation Dilemma - Compensation Vs. Enticement

2010-04-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Pamela Madsen is one of my favorite bloggers who always gets to the issue at hand and doesn't hold back with her voice and beliefs. I came across her post on Monday and thought it provided great insight. It also included wonderful, detailed comments from an donor egg agency owner, Amy Demma and Marna Gatlin, a mother via egg donation and founder of Parents via Egg Donation. Their comments are so very poignant for prospective parents and donors, alike. I hope that their voices resonate with you or give you some pause with regard to egg donation and the compensation vs. enticement debate. Please take a look at the link below for the full blog and comments. Feel free to add your own comments.

The Egg Donation Dilemma - Compensation Vs. Enticement

Book Review (Children): Daddy and Pop, from the "Love Makes a Family" Series

2010-04-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of reading Daddy and Pop from The "Love Makes a Family" Series presented by Guess Who? MultiMedia and Pacific Fertility Center, Los Angeles. Written by Tina Rella, this is a new children's musical book series that celebrates families made possible by adoption, egg/sperm donation, and surrogacy.

The story is about Jessica, a little girl starting first grade who along with the other children in her class, is asked to share information about her family. She has two fathers. At the end of her presentation, someone asks about her mother. She never really thought about this before. After school she asks her fathers why she doesn't have a mother and they explain how she was conceived through the help of an egg donor and carried until born by a gestational carrier. Both women helped to bring Jessica to them and make their family complete.

I first read the book without the CD and then again along with the CD. It was a quick read, simple and to the point: love makes a family. The story is realistic. The music made the story come to life even more than expected and I can easily see how youngsters curious about their beginnings would enjoy it. There's no doubt that story time will be lots of fun in a household reading Daddy and Pop and I anticipate that the other musical books in The Love Makes a Family Series are equally entertaining and informative.

The official release date of the Love Makes a Family Series of musical books is April 16, 2010. Anyone who purchases one or more musical books on this date will receive a 10% discount. In order to receive this discount, email your order to Info@guesswhomultimedia.com. Purchases may also be made directly through Guess Who? MultiMedia or through Amazon.com.

ABC News / Diane Sawyer Looking for Previous Egg Donors and Parents via Egg Donation

2010-04-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

Calling all previous egg donors and parents via egg donation...ABC News and Diane Sawyer are looking for you and want your personal story. Check out the link below. If you happen to get the opportunity to share your story, let us know.

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/mailform?id=10332052

Welcome baby boy J!

2010-04-07T15:05:00.000-07:00

It took many years and tries but finally baby boy J was born April 5, 2010. His parents are happy to share the news of his birth and I'd like to share their joy by sharing this image. J was carried and cared for these past 9 months by a wonderful and selfless gestational carrier. I love this photo of "hands"; hands of baby, father, carrier, grandmother. Congratulations to all who made this day possible!

Through the eyes of an Egg Donor - My Story

2010-03-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

Egg Donation is your one chance to truly answer a prayer

By Camille, a former Egg Donor through Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc

Ever since I can remember, I have known that I was adopted. I grew up in a small northern California town where families ate dinner together at the dining room table, kids talked to their parents about their day, and everyone was friends with their neighbors. It was a very close knit community; not for a second, did I ever feel I didn't belong.

My parents were the greatest blessing I ever received. My dad is a cattle rancher, a gold ole' boy, with old school morals and ideas that make him the strong father that I know. My mom is the woman that puts everyone before herself. She is the kind-hearted soul that everyone needs in their life. Our family is concrete, with a strong bond that will never fade and a love that shows every day. My brother and I were fortunate enough to be able to throw our parents a surprise 40th anniversary party. After watching the slide-show of our family that I made as a gift, they came over and hugged us with tears in their eyes. My mom said, "We are thankful everyday that we were able to adopt you two, how did we get so lucky? I love you".

We have always been an open family when it comes to talking about things. When I turned 18, I decided that I would like to find out who my birth-mother was. I went to my mom and told her about my interest. She made some calls and came back with some information on how to find birth-parents from a closed adoption. I took her advice and began my search. After making many calls, digging through papers and some waiting, I had a name! I realized that this name would have probably changed due to marriage but I had to give it a shot.

I went home for Christmas vacation, grabbed some friends and hit the road. I knew that I was born only 45 minutes from where I grew up. I was just hoping that she had given birth near where she was from, but knew that might not have been the case considering that many young women were sent to stay with relatives when they became pregnant. I decided to visit the court house and look for her birth certificate. I found it and recorded all the information off of it. I now had addresses, parents' names, etc. I then decided to go to some high schools. I visited about 6 schools and found nothing. I was loosing hope and some interest. About a week later I was visiting a friend in the city that I was born in. I always thought that there was no way she would have given birth in the same city that she was raised in and the agency would have never placed a child so close to their biological parents. I went to the first school and found nothing. I was pretty much done. My friend said, "There is only one more school, then we can be done". I agreed. We walked into the library with the excited librarian, eager to look through yearbooks. I grabbed the first yearbook that I saw. I opened the cover and hand written on the inside was, "Have a great summer" signed by my birth-mother! I couldn't believe it. I had found her!

Within the next week I had spoken with her and began a relationship. We continued to talk on the phone, exchanaged a few letters and emails. A few years later she passed away, before I was able to meet her. I had never experienced that kind of regret. It was a very strange feeling and it consumed me. I had lost my chance and would never get it back. Within the next few years I began a relationship with her daughter, my half sister. The strange thing about this is that I did not ever see my birth-mother as my mother but I did see my half-sister as my sister. Maybe because I had never had a sister. We have grown into great friends and have seen each other on a number of occassions. It feels like a blessing to have her in my life.

I decided to become an egg donor when I was 26 years old. I had just graduated college, got married, and started my first "real" job. My husband and I were happy living in a small apartment in mid-town Sacramento. I had heard about egg donation and was interested to find that each family situation was different with special circumstances and demands. These families come from all different parts of the world and all different cultures. Some couples are all-male, some are all-female and others are traditional married couples; but all have a common dream: to have a child to love, cherish and raise.

Egg Donation was a perfect choice for me. I felt that this was my chance to make someone's dream come true. I cannot imagine my parents growing old without having children. I must admit that the compensation was also a deciding factor for my husband and me. This would help us start saving for our first house that we could start our family in. Once I felt I had found the right agency, I found the courage to apply and wait to see what happened from there. The application process with Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc was fairly painless: questions about my health, ancestry, hobbies and goals. I also participated in a medical evaluation and a psychological evaluation to ensure that I was mentally sane and healthy and had the intended parents' best interest at heart.

Not too long after, I received the first call from Suzanne Myers that would change the rest of my life, as well as those of others. She informed me that she had matched me with a family and wanted to know if I would consider working with them. I must say, at first I was surprised and a bit nervous that a couple foresaw their future family coming from my genetic material. I agreed to become their egg donor and was actually excited to start the process of doctor appointments and medication. Everything went smoothly throughout the entire process.

Soon after my first donation, I was blessed to become pregnant with my first child. My husband and I were ecstatic about the news. I gave birth to a precious baby girl! I now realized how very lucky I was to become pregnant and give birth to a healthy child with no complications along the way. I was so happy that I was able to make another family feel the joy that I had experienced.

I have been an egg donor twice and couldn't be happier to have been involved in this process. To help give life to a family is an incredible feeling that's tough to describe until you experience it yourself. More than the financial reward, it made me feel righteously proud - a feeling that intensified when I heard that my first family gave birth to a beautiful baby. I look at my parents and am so thankful that everything worked out the way it did. I just know that some day that baby, with my genetic material, is going to look at their parents and feel the same way I do with my parents.

Now when I peak about my experiences as an egg donor, I am proud to share my story. Yes, the money was an important benefit, but I found myself very involved in the process and actually excited each time I had the opportunity to help. I am so happy that I have helped families who needed my assistance in creating their family. And so when people ask me why I am an egg donor, I respond back, "Why aren't you"?

Sisterhood of the Traveling Sperm - The Boston Globe

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

At 39, Carey Goldberg decided to have a baby as a single mother, choosing a clinic and an obstetrician and buying eight vials of sperm from an anonymous donor. This excerpt from the book Goldberg wrote with two other women who also wound up in possession of the same donor’s vials is the start of her story.

Please click on the link below for a excerpt from the book "Three Wishes: A True Story of Good Friends, Crushing Heartbreak, and Astonishing Luck on Our Way to Love and Motherhood," by Carey Goldberg, Beth Jones, and Pamela Ferdinand.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Sperm - The Boston Globe

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Webisode: Part 5 - Neil and Karen, I had a window

2010-03-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the fifth and final video in the increaseyourchances.org. webisode; a new campaign sponsored by EMD Serano, aimed to de-stigmatize the taboo topic of infertility.

I'm sorry to see the end of this series. I want to know what happens along the way with Neil and Karen and hope that they finally are able to make the baby they want so badly. Their characters and their situation just tug on you and you hope for their success.

I'd like to know more about what EDM Serano is planning if at all for this series and awareness campaign. I'm curious to know if they will bring it to other cities and how it will be received.

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!

Webisode: Part 4 - Neil and Karen, I'm not sick, Neil

2010-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the fourth video in the increaseyourchances.org. webisode; a new campaign sponsored by EMD Serano, aimed to de-stigmatize the taboo topic of infertility.

I love that Neil tries to make his wife feel better but ends up making her feel worse. Isn't that what most kind-hearted people try to do when they know nothing about a subject and try to give their support? Unfortunately, they always seem to end up saying or doing something that just doesn't cut it.

What do you think of today's video. I love seeing your comments. Have you had a similar experience?

If you are trying to view the video from our Facebook Fan Page, click on "view original post" to see it directly from our Heartfelt Egg Donation Blog.

Webisode: Part 3 - Neil and Karen, Jane's pregnant again

2010-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the third video in the EMD Serano sponsored webisode which aims to bring awareness to fertility challenges.

In this video Neil and Karen learn that another friend, Jane, is pregnant. They are anything but overjoyed at this news and it reminds them of the difficulties they are having trying to get pregnant. Does this hit home for you?

If you are trying to view this video from our Facebook Fan page, please click on "view original post".

Webisode: Part 2 - Neil and Karen, They must not be working

2010-03-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here is the second video in the increaseyourchances.org. webisode; a new campaign sponsored by EMD Serano, aimed to de-stigmatize the taboo topic of infertility. What do you think?

If you are trying to view this from our Heartfelt Egg Donation Fan page on Facebook, please click on the link "to view original post".

Webisode: Part 1 - Neil and Karen, A year and a half

2010-03-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the first video in the increaseyourchances.org. webisode; a new campaign sponsored by EMD Serano, aimed to de-stigmatize the taboo topic of infertility. This campaign launched February 19 and 20, 2010 in Baltimore and took a light approach to educating couples about how to increase their chances of conceiving. What do you think of their approach and do you think it hits the mark?

I'm unable to tell if this campaign will go any further than the Baltimore region. Supposedly "Bird and Bee" couples were out and about in Baltimore on February 19 and 20 to get couples talking about fertility issues. They visited museums, restaurants, coffee shops and other local hot spots. I'm very curious to see what the response was and if the campaign was successful.

This week I'll present one video a day from their webisode series. I like their lighthearted comical approach to dealing with a sticky and emotional subject matter.

If you are viewing this from our Facebook Fan page and are unable to view the video, please click on "view original post" to direct you to our blog where the original post resides.

What is an egg retrieval - By Gail Sexton Anderson

2010-03-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

These are the basic steps involved in an egg retrieval protocol.

Step 1. Synchronize the donor's menstrual cycle with the intended mother’s cycle, using a hormone called Lupron. This hormone quite the ovaries by lowering the estrogen level. The intended mother also takes Lupron, so that she and the donor are on the same cycle.

Step 2. The donor has a light period. The doctor takes an ultrasound of her ovaries to see the size and number of follicles (where the eggs are stored) prior to stimulation.

Step 3. The donor takes a follicle-stimulation hormone. During a normal cycle, a woman has one dominant egg ready for fertilization. Taking a follicle-stimulating hormone causes the little eggs she would slough off with her next period to become dominant also, so that they can be retrieved and fertilized. The donor has several monitoring appointments to allow the fertility specialist to check her hormone levels and to see when the eggs have matured to the optimum size. When the eggs have matured, the donor takes one last hormone known as HCG (a hormone that pregnant women carry). Approximately 36 hours after taking HCG, the donor has the egg retrieval.

Step 4. The donor needs to arrange for a ride home after the egg retrieval, since she will have been sedated during the retrieval. At the clinic, the donor is administered a semiconscious sedation. She should feel no discomfort during the process. The doctor retrieves the eggs with an ultrasound guided needle (as shown above). The retrieval usually lasts less than 20 minutes. When the donor wakes up, she may not remember the procedure. She may feel a bit groggy and experience some bloating. She should take the day off and rest.

Most donors are ready to return to their usual activities (for example, work or school) after a couple of days, depending on how they feel and how physically demanding their day-to-day life is. The donor should use condoms until she has her next period, because her chances of conceiving are very high. There are no guarantees that all of the dominant eggs have been removed. The donor should have her next menstrual period approximately two weeks after the retrieval. This cycle may be a bit heavier than usual as her body sloughs off excess hormones.

Visit Gail Sexton Anderson's site www.DonorConcierge.com and her blog for more insightful information regarding egg donation and fertility news.

Video: Struggling with Infertility - Marlo Schalesky, Author

2010-03-11T07:42:00.000-08:00

Many facing infertility turn to God. Below is The Full Circle ladies interview with Marlo Schalesky about her struggle for many years with infertility and how the Grace of God sustained her. Marlo Schalesky is the Author of “Empty Womb, Aching Heart” & “If Tomorrow Never Comes”.

Video: An Interview with Egg Donors

2010-03-10T07:22:00.000-08:00

Have a look at this video produced by Johnson and Johnson regarding Egg Donors. This will help take some of the mystery away for prospective Egg Donors and it will also give a peak into the mind set of donors for prospective parents.

A new look for Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc

2010-03-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited. A new look, logo and brochure have been created for Heartfelt Egg Donation, llc. Brochures will be available in the coming weeks. I'll also be making some changes to the website and blog design. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

ASRM Launches Reproductivefacts.org for the general public

2010-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has revamped their website for professionals and it has a new patient advocacy site called ReproductiveFacts.org for the general public that I highly recommend for anyone going through infertility. It's also a great place for prospective egg donors to learn more about their reproductive health and the egg donation process.

Included:

Headlines in Reproductive Medicine
Top 5 Reproductive Health Topics and Topics A-Z
ASRM News and Research
Book Reviews
Reproductive Fact Sheets and Booklets
Find a Health Care Professional and Egg Donation Agency

Keep this resource in mind when you get overwhelmed by the amount of information on the internet. It's one of the most informative and reliable sites out there.

Top 6 Infertility Organizations that offer Scholarships and Support

2010-03-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

Take a look at Infertility Answers for the top 6 infertility organizations that offer scholarships and support. These organizations could provide what you are looking for and may offer some assistance during difficult financial times.

I Love this Blog! Check Out My Fertility Plan

2010-03-03T16:52:00.000-08:00

There is so much information out on the web regarding infertility and thank goodness! But as we all know, too much information can lead to more confusion and overload.

Take a look at one of my favorite blogs by: Evelina Weidman Sterling, PhD and Angie Best-Boss from My Fertility Plan. Their blog is to the point and always full of great information regarding organizing your fertility journey. I especially liked today's blog regarding fertility organizers. I will be reviewing their suggestions and hope to bring my picks to our readers and fans shortly. There are a few that are peaking my interest especially The IVF Companion.

Premature Ovarian Failure - ABC News

2010-02-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

What is Premature Ovarian Failure? You may have been diagnosed or know someone who has been diagnosed with this and are confused. Take a look at this informative piece regarding Premature Ovarian Failure - ABC News and consider reading Women's Health For Life by Dr. Donnica Moore,

Heartfelt Egg Donation, LLC reaches 300+ fans on Facebook!

2010-02-15T12:34:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt Egg Donation has surpassed 300 fans on Facebook. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our community of industry professionals, parents, donors and those interested in family formation and fertility news for making this possible. Your support, comments and continued interaction is invaluable.

One Flaw in Women

2010-02-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

I received a "junk" email this morning from my best friend; my friend who never sends spam because it goes against her principal. You know the type of emails I'm talking about, the ones that say pass it on to 9 women you love and care about. Well my friend decided to send this one on and it meant so much to me because I know how much she despises these things and yet she just let it go and sent it to her dearest friends anyway because she loved the message. Thank you Christine, I love you! So instead of passing this on and clogging the system, I'm sharing the message here and hope that the women who see it take the time to ponder its meaning.

One Flaw In Women

Women have strengths that amaze men.....
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Alarming increase in maternal mortality rate: ABC News San Francisco

2010-02-03T15:44:00.000-08:00

I'm starting to see more and more news of an increase in maternal mortality rates in the United States. This particular piece is from ABC News from San Francisco; reporting on the steady and dramatic increase of maternal mortality rates since 1996. This is very concerning. Isn't our maternal mortality rate supposed to decline? Why has it returned to rates seen in the 1970's? Aren't we supposed to be getting the best care possible? Aren't we more educated and informed regarding our childbirth options and health during pregnancy? Every day I work with individuals and couples trying to build their family. None of them are thinking they will die during childbirth. It's hard to comprehend that this could even happen. Is it the fact that c-sections are more common or could morbid obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes be possible contributing factors? I hope to see more information soon about this study in California and elsewhere and hope they can determine the cause of the increase and enact measures to decreases the rate of maternal mortality.

Book Review (Children): A Tiny Itsy Bitsy Gift of Life, an Egg Donor Story by Carmen Martinez Jover

2010-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

A tiny itsy bitsy gift of life, an egg donor story by Carmen Martinez Jover is the first children's book I've read to my daughters regarding egg donation. The book was a gift from friends we met through a RESOLVE support group; we had our first born children within months of each other and we shared the same concerns regarding how to best approach the subject of their conception with them. To this day, I can't thank them enough for their thoughtfulness. This is one of our favorite books.

When I received the book, I was immediately excited about it and its message. I decided I would interject "our" story when I read it to the girls. My first reading to the girls was such a success they wanted me to read it over and over again. An amazing thing happened during the second and third reading; they started asking questions. The most memorable was, "Mommy, were you sad when the doctor told you that you didn't have enough eggs to make a baby?". Heck, this brought tears to my eyes as I recalled what I felt at that moment and as I looked at their sweet beautiful inquiring faces. I replied, "Yes, I was very sad although we were so happy that we found a wonderful woman who gave us her eggs and it was one of the happiest days of our lives when we found out you were growing in my tummy"; I then proceeded to tell them about the rest of their birth story, which they already knew (growing in my tummy, being born, etc.). Honestly, the whole conversation just came naturally with the help of this book and I felt a huge sense of relief. I know their little minds are constantly churning. No doubt, someday, they will ask more complicated questions but for now the story of the bunnies has helped us get past that first hurdle and we did it beautifully! I highly suggest this book to any parent looking for a way to broach the subject of donor egg conception with their child.

Product Description/Author's Note:
A touching children's egg donor story about a happy couple of rabbits, Pally and Comet who have everything in life except a baby bunny, you accompany them in their longing for this child, the waiting and the moment the mother is informed she has no eggs to conceive. One day a good lady rabbit brings her a tiny itsy bitsy gift of life, which is the egg, the half, she needs to conceive. The rabbit s tummy then begins to grow and finally her baby bunny is born and the happiness of how this family is formed is shared. The book is very colourful and ideal for children even before they can read, because the pictures are so full of details it easily captures the child s attention. It is my intention that the book should be easy for parents to read to their child so that gradually, as the child grows they will begin to understand their origins, in an easy and amusing manner.

Egg Vitrification: Stop the Biological Clock

2010-01-27T12:46:00.000-08:00

Egg Freezing is the hot topic this week. Thank you to Dr. Christo Zouves from Zouves Fertility Center of Foster City, California for this educational video regarding Egg Vitrification. Many don't know how egg and/or embryo freezing is accomplished and Dr. Zouves explains Egg Vitrification and compares it to traditional cyopreservation. As a visual person, I appreciate this and hope it helps clear up the mystery of how freezing occurs. Another interesting thing about this video is that it includes an interview with a woman who needed IVF years ago to conceive her children. She and her daughter, now a young woman, are advocates of egg banking.

Mindy Berkson of Lotus Blossom Consulting Speaks About Egg Banking: A Great Option for Biological Birth

2010-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

On January 18th, WSFL-TV's THE MORNING SHOW (Ft. Lauderdale) turned to Mindy Berkson of Lotus Blossom Consulting for insights into fertility treatments for those who may have delayed childbearing. Her insights about when fertility naturally decreases gives great pause to those who may think that 35 is the ultimate time to have a child. With sharp fertility declines from the mid 30's, Mindy provides information on one of the best new options, Egg Banking. Click on the link to see the interview with WSFL TV.

I appreciate Mindy's positive approach to fertility alternatives. As mentioned in a past post, this option may be cost prohibitive to many young woman, although with continued success, education and awareness this option is priceless.

Egg Donor Spotlight - Binish 490665 (East Indian and Middle Eastern)

2010-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt Egg Donation is proud to announce its Egg Donor Spotlight segment. We will bring this feature to you on a regular basis in order to draw attention to some of our very special exclusive Egg Donors.

We are delighted to introduce and highlight Binish 490665. Binish 490665 is a first time egg donor of East Indian and Middle Eastern (Syrian/Saudi Arabian) decent. She is 21 years old, married and attends college in pursuit of a degree in nursing. Her GPA is 3.42 and she tested 2150 on her SATs. She has received three gold and one silver Presidential Service Awards and was selected for Whose Who among American High Schools. She excels in English, Health Sciences, Foreign Language, and speaks Hindi, Urdu, Gujurati, and Spanish. She enjoys speech, debate, poetry, museums, yoga, pilates and aerobics. Physically, she stands 5'2" and is 115 lbs; her complexion is of medium tone. She is in excellent health and has an allergy to strawberries. Amazingly, multiple twin births run in her family and both identical and fraternal births have occurred. She has volunteered for the American Red Cross and Aga Khan Volunteer Corp. She is dedicated to her religion and taught Aga Khan Religious Education for 4 years. Binish has been described as "amazing". Her friends say she is a fiercely loyal friend and a very caring and charismatic person. Her mother says that when she is put in a room with children they flock to her.

Binish 490665 is available immediately and is willing to travel from New Mexico to help you. To learn more and to see her detailed donor profile, please contact Suzanne Myers toll free at 866-223-0003.

The Drafty and Heated Resolution

2010-01-22T15:06:00.000-08:00

My husband and I needed to have some extra insulation put in our home today due to a roof leak that destroyed an area of insulation. While the crew was up in the attic they discovered that there wasn't insulation above one whole room. For at least 5 years we've been wondering why our house is so cold and drafty in the winter and so hot in the summer. Hmmm, could this be the reason?! I'm happy to report that we now have insulation above that room and our heat hasn't kicked in once since it was put down. We even feel nice and toasty. As much as I can't stand the thought of knowing that our heating and air bills were so outrageous because of this ridiculous mistake, I'm thrilled to know we finally found the cause of our discomfort and won't spend the next 10 years complaining about shivering.

On that note, let's lighten it up a bit. It's Friday after all! I'll be showing this one to my kids tonight and think they will get a kick out of it. What about you?

Happy Friday and stay warm.

Minnesota Air Show - Watch more Funny Videos

Educational Piece - Young Women Open Your Eyes, You Are Not Fertile Forever!

2010-01-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Pamela Madsen for bringing her appearance on Oprah 2002 to my attention. I leave you this week with this posting and video and hope that young women ponder the message and digest every single word of it. Don't be "blind sided by nature", open your eyes to the reality of fertility. Be fully aware that the ability to have children becomes more challenging in your late twenties and even more so in your early to mid thirties.

Countless couples and women I help need an egg donor to help them conceive because they waited too long to try to have a family and their fertility naturally declined to the point they weren't able to have children. Thank goodness egg donation is an option and there are younger women willing to help these women have children. Many of the egg donors I speak with tell me that they want to donate their eggs because they imagine themselves not being able to have children and they hope that if they are ever in the same situation someone would be willing to help them. Thank goodness for the kindness of human nature.

Crystal balls are hard to come by and the future cannot be predicted so I ask young women to educate themselves when it comes to their bodies and fertility and to be aware of the challenges that they may face if they do not have children sooner rather than later.

Freezing Eggs: Kids on Your Time

2010-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Are you a young woman thinking about if and when you'll ever have children? Are you planning on getting your education, working, traveling and enjoying yourself before you find the "one" and settle down and have a family? Well then you may want to take a look at this ABC News Good Morning America Health segment with Rachel Lehmann-Haupt who wrote "In Her Own Sweet Time". Rachel talks about the option of Freezing Eggs for when you are ready to have children on your terms and time line and has even gone as far as freezing some of her eggs.

As much as this procedure is very enticing and a wonderful option for some, I believe it is unattainable and unrealistic for most. Right now it is very expensive and a procedure that most young woman do not have the funds for. I hope that Egg Freezing can become a more cost effective option for younger women and those going through cancer treatments who will have their fertility compromised. There is no doubt that this technology will only continue to improve and I hope that the cost effectiveness also allows this to be an attainable option for many.

What would I have done 20 years ago if this was a viable option available to me and it was cost effective? If I knew what I know now, maybe I would have taken the chance and invested in Egg Freezing when I was 25 years old and at the peak of my fertility. Although you know what? I don't regret my family formation decisions one bit. I believe that my family came to me as it was meant to come to me and I'm so proud of the faith, determination and hard work. It all paid off.

Freezing Eggs: Kids on Your Time

British Couple Finally Has a Family After 25 years of Fertility Treatments

2010-01-20T17:53:00.000-08:00

Could you imagine going through 25 years of fertility treatments to have a family? Going through any time period of fertility treatments is emotionally and financially taxing enough but to endure treatments for 25 years is beyond words. Congratulations are in order for the perseverance of British couple, Neil and Monica Ward, who welcomed twin boys on December 29, 2009.

Check out the full story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/01/19/2010-01-19_british_woman_gives_birth_to_twin_boys_after_25_years_of_ivf_treatments.htm

AFA Webinar - Egg Donation as a Family Building Option

2010-01-15T14:14:00.000-08:00

You Are Invited

The American Fertility Association Presents:

Egg Donation as a Family Building Option

Tuesday, January 19th at 12 PM EST

Richard Grazi, MD, of Genesis Fertility, will lead a one hour discussion, addressing all aspects of egg donation. Questions like...What procedures are involved?...Who is a candidate for egg donation?...will be addressed. A perfect opportunity to learn more about whether egg donation is the right option for you.

You are invited to attend this very educational slideshow presented by Dr. Grazi on Tuesday, January 19th at 12 PM EST.

What: Egg Donation as a Family Building Option Webinar

When: Tuesday, January 19th, 12:00-1:00 PM EST

Presenter: Richard Grazi, MD, of Genesis Fertility

Sponsor: Genesis Fertility & Reproductive Medicine

Register for WebEx Event

200+ Fans - Heartfelt Egg Donation on Facebook

2010-01-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt Egg Donation has hit a milestone with our fan page on Facebook. I'm excited to share the news that we now have 200 plus fans. If you haven't already joined us, please become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/heartfelteggdonation.

Thank you for your support and interest in staying on top of the latest fertility news. Remember to suggest Heartfelt Egg Donation to industry colleagues and family and friends who may be in need of fertility support and/or family formation guidance. I look forward to seeing your comments and getting to know you.

Twins Meant for Adoption, But Surrogate Mom Keeps Them - ABC News

2010-01-12T08:43:00.000-08:00

This story is just so unbelievable and incredibly heartbreaking. How could something like this happen, you ask. It's about the Kehoe's from Michigan, parents unable to conceive and carry a pregnancy on their own, they decided to conceive through donated eggs and sperm and hired a gestational surrogate to carry their twins for them.The beautiful babies were born and the parents so happy to finally have the children they spent 9 years trying to have. All went terribly wrong.

What I'd like to know is why the parents aren't fighting harder. My guess is that their finances have been exhausted after 2 miscarriages, 5 failed IVFs, and then donor eggs and sperm coupled with surrogacy; they simply don't have the funds to fight the legal system. It's unfortunate that these parents, the surrogate family and the babies will suffer for the lack of laws regarding surrogacy contracts in Michigan. This is a hard lesson yet one that hopefully will help to change state law regarding surrogacy contracts.

Please read more and watch the story by clicking on the link below.
Twins Meant for Adoption, But Surrogate Mom Keeps Them - ABC News

Fertility Advocates Take Note: MASSACHUSETTS MANDATE FOR INFERTILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE AT RISK!

2010-01-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

I know clients, colleagues and friends who live in Massachusetts who are grateful for the fact they have insurance coverage for infertility treatments. Thank goodness they don't live where there is no financial assistance. I look up to Massachusetts for being pro-family and having this coverage available. Please take a moment to review this press release with valuable information. The overturn of the infertility mandate would be a disaster for those seeking care.

RESOLVE of the Bay State Opposes Bill Allowing the Overturn Of Landmark Massachusetts Infertility Mandate - Free-Press-Release.com

3D/4D Ultrasound-Guided Embryo Transfer

2010-01-11T16:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you Dr. Robert Gergely for bringing the study of 3D/4D Ultrasound-Guided Embryo Transfer to my attention. How wonderful it is to know that pregnancy rates from IVF transfers can be increased and that multiple births can be decreased by using your method of targeting the "Maximal Implantation Potential Point" (MIP) in the uterus.

I'm including the press release link here (3D/4D Ultrasound-Guided Embryo Transfer) and feel this is wonderful educational material for IVF patients. What better way to be more informed and to have information at hand to ask appropriate questions related to embryo transfer procedures.

I'm hoping that the medical community will embrace this method of transfer. Have a peak at this video for more of a visual of the MIP procedure.

Posted using ShareThis

A New Year, New Hope and the Meyer Lemon Tree

2010-01-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

I was sitting at my kitchen table this morning looking out the window at the cold gray skies thinking about my "to do" list for the day and my goals for the year. Just then, I looked over at the Meyer Lemon tree we brought in right around the first frost. The tree had lost most of its leaves at the time and I remember being upset that we might lose it. But then, I noticed the beautiful white blossoms that were opening and smelled so sweet with the scent of renewed life. I couldn't help but be reminded of the saying "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade". Many other analogies came to mind.

I know there are many women and men out there who are feeling very sad over a recent diagnosis with infertility, a failed IVF cycle, a miscarriage, news of a donor not passing medical screening or a failed donor cycle and many more other scenarios that leave them feeling an overwhelming sense of despair because their dream of having a child or building a family seems stalled or unreachable. They don't know if their dream will ever come true.

I can remember the year my husband and I got the call from our Reproductive Endocrinologist telling us that my ovarian reserve was diminished and my husband's sperm motility was a little on the slow side. We were at my parents' house and had just celebrated Christmas. None of my family or friends knew anything about our struggles with trying to conceive or that we were seeing a specialist. I was devastated by this phone call. My fear was staring me in the face. Wasn't this the nightmare I had thought about when I was in my 20's; not being able to have children if I got married later in life? I was left numb after the call. Our Dr. suggested we come in and talk about options. We did and we were quickly set on a different course for building our family.

I can't believe how different my life is now. I have three children. There were days when I thought I wouldn't have children. I know there are folks out there thinking the same thing I thought when I was at that cross road. The Meyer Lemon tree is a sweet reminder that life goes on, good comes from bad, dreams do come true yet they may come in blessings disguised.

I wish all those who are facing despair or uncertainty are able to find any little reminder of the miracle of life, to embrace change and to have hope and faith that better times are ahead and dreams do come true.

Happy New Year and blessings abound in 2010!

Recommendation: Path to Fertility Blog

2010-01-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

I recently became aware of www.pathtofertility.com and have been introduced to new friend, Lisa Rosenthal from RMA of Connecticut. Lisa is their featured blog writer and I suggest you take a look at this highly informative blog for more information and insight into fertility and pregnancy.

This particular blog entry is courtesy of Mark P. Leondires, MD: Medical Director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of CT. I'm posting it here because many of my clients have recently become pregnant for the first time and this is a great outline of what to expect once that pregnancy test reads positive.

http://fertility-news.rmact.com/Path-To-Fertility-Blog/bid/24841/Pregnancy-test-positive-Fertility-specialist-gives-advice-A-to-Z

The Fertility Advocates 2009 Top Ten List of Fertility Do's and Don'ts

2009-12-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

The Fertility Advocate’s 2009 Top Ten List of Fertility Do’s and Don’t’s

An Egg Donor Child's Perspective

2009-12-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled that Heartfelt Egg Donation can include this video in its blog library for parents considering egg donation and for prospective donors who are interested in seeing how their donation can change the lives of many.

Thank you to Parents Via Egg Donation (PVED) for bringing this video to my attention; the perspective of an egg donor child.