Egg Donor & Surrogacy Consulting Blog

Study Regarding Paternal Age Affecting Embryo Quality & Implantation

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:53:28 -0800

The Reproductive Bio Medicine journal recently published a huge study for the area of Assisted Reproductive Technologies. This study was conducted by a group of Spanish researchers and is considered to be the largest and most comprehensive study regarding the effect of male aging and its effect on assisted reproductive technologies.

Following their extensive research, they found that male aging does not have any negative impact on the resulting embryo quality or the implantation rate for these resulting embryos. This is a very interesting study considering that it was believed that like female aging, male aging also had an effect on embryos and their implantation rate when using Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

However, it would be interesting to look at this study more closely and to see exactly what their findings were to compare to the same results from a study based upon female again and its effect on ART. What are your thoughts?

Click Here for Complete Article

ASRM - Single Embryo Transfers in the US?

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:31:31 -0800

At the ASRM’s annual meeting in San Francisco this year most of the speakers and participants spoke about the push towards only implanting one embryo at a time within the US, which is the standard throughout Europe.

However, some practitioners warned that this should only be pushed, as ASRM recommends, for patients under the age of 35 who have not had a failed previous cycle of IVF. If this was adopted in the US it is believed that it would save a total of $1 billion in healthcare costs from the adverse affects of multiple pregnancies.

However, it could also cost patients an extra $100 million to achieve the same pregnancy rates as with the multiple embryo transfer. Which is better? What are your thoughts?

Click Here for the Complete Article

Truth in Egg Donation Advertising

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:15:26 -0800

Articles regarding the possible danger of egg donation are nothing new. However, what is slightly less common and even more worthwhile are articles like the one in the Daily Princetonian which calls for higher governmental regulation of the assisted reproduction field.

The author calls for a national egg donation registry that would be able to keep the information of all egg donors within the United States and help to identify any long term risks that might otherwise not be seen. Additionally, this government regulated national registry could enable practitioners in the field of assisted reproductive technologies to see what which treatments are most effective and which are most ineffective.

Yet, as those of us in the field of ART are aware…governmental regulation is slow coming if ever, which is why those of us in the field of ART need to continue to build a national egg donation database of our own that is self regulated until the governmental regulation finally catches up. What are your thoughts?

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ASRM: Pressure Builds for Open-Identity Sperm Donation in the U.S.

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:09:22 -0800

In conjunction with ASRM's meeting last week, a report was released stating that pressue for open-identity sperm donation is building here in the U.S:

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14 -- Studies of people conceived with donated sperm suggest that many do not support the practice of anonymous sperm donation.

Roughly a third of people who know they were conceived by open-identity sperm donors make a request for the donor's identity by the time they turn 20, according to the world's first study on this subject.

However, it is likely that other offspring will make the request at an older age, predicted Joanna Scheib, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis.

In addition, they provided action points as follows:

Action Points

Explain to interested patients that most donor-conceived children want information about their donor's identity.
Note that this information was published as an abstract and presented orally at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Click Here for the Complete Article

Assisted Reproductive Technology and Birth Defects May Be Linked

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:07:16 -0800

According to a new study, birth defects and ART may be linked.

"Epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe there may be a connection between use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and birth defects, specifically abnormalities in the heart wall, gastrointestinal disorders, and the presents of a cleft lip.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies are classified as anything involving the surgical removal of eggs from a woman’s uterus, the fertilization of the egg in the lab and the reimplantation in either the same or another woman."

But, note that they ended the information with the statement that more studies need to be done, especially on a larger population, as follows:

"They found that babies conceived with ART were twice as likely to be born with heart wall defects, more than twice as likely to be havea cleft lip, and over four times as likely to have gastrointestinal difficulties. However, it is not known if ART causes these defects to occur, if it has more to do with the woman’s infertility, or if its’ something else entirely.

Many say there is a need for more research with a larger sample of women who used ART to conceive."

Click Here for the Complete Article

Important Read for Intended Parents, Surrogates and Donors

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:43:54 -0800

"The Ultimate Medical Privacy Guide: 100 Tools and Resources to Secure Your Health Records" looks to be an important read for all ART clients.

"Have you heard the positive points about putting your health records online? Or, like many, are you concerned about security and privacy issues about using your credit card online, let alone adding your health records to a Web-based program? If you stand in either camp, you’re not alone. But, even online health record advocates are leery about security.

With that fear in mind, the following list contains 100 tools and resources you can use to make an informed decision about this issue. Health records have, historically, been protected by regulations that protect the patient’s privacy. An online venue, on the other hand, requires different measures to secure sensitive information. So, we’ve included links to opinions about health record security, tools that will help you understand new regulations and technology that centers on health industry security, blogs that focus on frequently updated news about this movement, and background information on eHealth, Health 2.0 and law support for various health issues."

Click Here for a Link to Post

Egg Donation Regulation? What Should We Do?

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:42:14 -0800

Recently as last year, a physician from Arizona had begun lobbying in front of Congress to regulate egg donation. This is in response to the fact that her own daughter, who donated her eggs several times, died of colon cancer at a young age. Now, I met this woman personally at a conference in Chicago earlier this year, and I do sympathize with her; however, I was unable to find a direct correlation between her donation and the cancer. I must note that my investigation was only cursory at best.

With that in mind, how are we to resolve this issue for this donor and for all other donors? As of right now egg donation is not regulated beyond the FDA testing and the ASRM guidelines that are in place to "guide" everyone.

Additionally, the field of Assisted Reproduction is not required to hold on to any of the medical records for any egg donors following the completion of their egg donation cycle. I will note that this Arizona doctor is suggesting that Congress create a national egg donor database where medical records and other information on the egg donor will be kept for future children, as well as for the donor herself if she suffers any complications or the like.

Now, even though this national egg donor database seems like a great idea, could it not also cause problems of its own? For example, will fewer women be willing to donate their eggs if it is not completely anonymous? Will there become waiting lists for egg donors who are willing to make this information known? How far will this database go? Will donors become completely known or will they be given an identifier where their medical information is only known? What are your thoughts?

Click Here for the Arizona Article

Click Here for an Intended Mother's Perspective

Infertility Sucks! So, Join the 1st Annual Haiku Competition

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:49:53 -0800

Erickson Law is sponsoring the grand prize of $100.00 for My Fertility Plan's 1^st Annual

International Infertility Haiku Contest.

Here are the rules:

"Why haiku? Anyone can do it. A haiku is a three line poem, made up of only 17 syllables. The first line has 5 syllables. The second line has 7 syllables

The third line has 5 syllables. That’s it.

Your haiku must relate in some way to your family-building journey and it must follow the haiku-syllable rules. There are 2 categories – Serious and Silly. Just make sure you label which category your poem falls in (even if you think it’s obvious). If your entry relates to medication, it will also be considered for the medication-related haiku award.It is free to enter – and you can enter as many times as you want. Each haiku must be in a separate e-mail. Please include your name and email as well. The contest is open to international entrants, but the entry must include an English translation."

Go to My Fertility Plan for more information. And, get writing!

When Ovaries Attack: Risks of Egg Donation

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:01:30 -0800

With new stations declaring that young women are donating their eggs to make money in a sagging economy, we need to address the risks that go along with this money making endeavor. Advertisements are in college newspapers and university halls contain signs encouraging young women to become egg donors for a pretty penny. The lure of thousands of dollars calls many women to look into egg donation or to actually participate in egg donation.

The worry is the uneducated decision these women are making. Along with most medical procedures, there is a risk involved in egg donation. As an egg donor these women should be aware of the facts about egg donation and the risks involved.

Certain facts that should be noted are:

1) Time Commitment: Several weeks of injections, ultrasounds, blood tests, egg removal (transvaginal ovarian aspiration), and recovery are a few of the time consuming activities that take place for an egg donation.

2) Infertility risk: Biggest risk with egg donation is the possibility of complications that might lead to infertility, even though these complications are extremely rare.

3) Ovarian Hyper Stimulation Syndrome: Ovaries can become “hyperactive” retaining water. While usually treatable and donors still continue through the procedure, in extreme cases, one or both the ovaries might be removed.

4) No sex during the process: Since a donor is on fertility medications to stimulate the egg production, it is best to avoid sex since unwanted pregnancy risks are multiplied.

Even though egg donation might seem like a quick fix for cash it is a medical procedure and women need to understand that make sure they are educated on the process. A great doctor and a great agency will make this process safer and more efficient for the donors.

What are your thoughts:

1. Should there be an age limit beyond 18, to make sure women understand the risks, process, etc?

2. Should there be classes, seminars, etc that women should have to attend to be able to donate eggs?

3. Is this from a old world mentality that women cannot decide for themselves or for their body?

4. Should we assume that college educated women cannot understand a medical procedure or the process they are going to start?

For More Information, Click Here

Sperm Donor Conceived Child Files Lawsuit

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:10:22 -0800

For the first time in Vancouver, a class action suit was brought to attempt to change the laws regarding sperm donor’s anonymity last week. The plaintiff is Olivia Pratten, the daughter of an anonymous sperm donor who is attempting to get information about her biological father before the medical records are destroyed.

Currently, the laws in Canada are that gamete donor’s medical files can be destroyed after six years; however, Pratten in her suit is attempting to overturn this law so that she may learn pertinent medical information. Additionally, Pratten is arguing that this law violates the rights of those conceived using gamete donation.

On Tuesday, a British Columbia judge issued an injunction to stop the destruction of any medical records related to artificial insemination. This is of course being appealed as we speak. However, if this decision is to be upheld what would that mean for the donor’s anonymity? Could Canada eventually become like the UK where donors are not anonymous? Also if that were to happen, would there be a decrease in those willing to donate their gametes?

Click Here for Link

National Infertility Awareness Week - Egg Donation & Gestational Carrier Teleseminar

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:09:31 -0800

Resolve: http://www.resolve.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=24421

A Free One-Hour TeleSeminar
Friday, October 24th
1:00PM ET/ 12:00PM CT/ 11:00AM MT/ 10:00AM PT

Hosted by Dr. Marcus Jurema
IVF NJ

National Infertility Awareness Week Continues

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:37:01 -0800

A Free One-Hour Tele-Seminar
Thursday, October 23rd
9:00PM ET/ 8:00PM CT/ 7:00PM MT/ 6:00PM PT

Hosted by Michael Doyle, MD
Connecticut Fertility Associates

Click Here for Link

Take Charge of Your Infertility - National Infertility Awareness Week!

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:17:20 -0800

Check in with Resolve.org for events and information regarding National Infertility Awareness Week!

A movement to raise awareness about the disease of infertility which affects 7.3 million Americans - www.resolve.org/takecharge

India Gestational Carrier/Surrogacy Update!

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:18:45 -0800

After a 10 week battle, it appears that the Japanese baby girl born through Surrogacy in India will be finally going home to Japan. The Supreme Court in India ruled today that the little girl needs to be issued a passport and travel documents for Japan. The passport office in India stated that the passport and travel documents are being issued stating that the little girl is a citizen of Japan since that is where her father is from and lives. This is a huge decision and a happy one at that.

Click Here for Entire Article

Disclosure to Egg Donation and Sperm Donation Children

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:25:33 -0800

Fertility and Sterility magazine recently published physiological research done in Israel regarding single mothers who have conceived children through the use of both a sperm donor and an egg donor. The team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem wanted to look at single women from age 36 to 50 who conceived children using the assistance of an egg donor and sperm donor and determine whether or not they would tell their children how they were conceived and if the children exhibited any emotional and/or behavioral difficulties.

In Israel the identity of all egg donors and sperm donor are kept confidential by law, which means the children would not be able to find out that they were conceived via egg and sperm donation without their mother’s informing them. The researchers found that most of the women planned on telling their children that they were conceived through the use of a sperm donor by the time they turn 18, but were most likely not going to inform them that they had also been conceived with the use of an egg donor.

I wonder if this has something to do with societal and cultural ideas about motherhood and familial bonding, yet the research did not go into this. Additionally, the study also revealed that there was minimal, if any, impact on parenting and the children’s development through the use of assisted reproduction. What are your thoughts?

Click Here for Complete Article

India Gestational Carrier/Surrogacy Baby May Be Going Home to Japan!

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:59:07 -0800

As everyone will remember from prior blogs, the little girl born with the help of an Indian surrogate has been kept in India with her paternal grandmother since birth because of a long legal battle. However, it looks like she will finally get all of the paperwork that she needs to finally join her father in Japan.

Hopefully, these reports will turn out to be true and she will finally be able to leave India.

Click Here for Complete Article

Embryos, embryos and more embryos

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:55:52 -0800

As the LA Times recently reported deciding what to do with excess embryos is a daunting task for many individuals and couples who have gone through fertility treatments and achieved a healthy pregnancy.

Additionally, if you decide to donate your cryopreserved embryos to research it is often a lot easier said than done, especially in states that do not allow embryos to be used in medical research. However, even if you are donating your embryos in a state that allows embryos to be used for research it is still a daunting task with a lot of paperwork that needs to be completed.

Because of all of the paperwork many clinics report that couples and/or individuals are more likely to discard their excess embryos because that is the “easier” option. Yet, for some donating or discarding is not even an option because they feel that they would be donating or discarding a “child,” which, if that is your belief, only makes this decision all the more difficult.

However, if these embryos were to be donated to science there are numerous maladies that are being researched to find a cure for and these embryos could help find those cures.

Click Here for Complete Article

Ohio Judge Moves in Right Direction for Gestational Surrogacy

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:02:00 -0800

A judge in the state of Ohio took an encouraging step in the right direction for Assisted Reproduction Law. The judge ruled in favor of a single father, who used IVF and surrogacy to conceive his twins. However, he was not listed on the birth certificate; instead the surrogate was listed as the only known parent because Ohio state law did not recognize surrogacy. The judge in this case rule that the father’s name could be put on the birth certificate as the children’s biological parent. This is a huge step for surrogacy in the state of Ohio.

Click Here for Complete Article and Pictures

Affording IVF, Surrogacy, and Egg Donation in These Tough Economic Times

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:12:19 -0800

Many people thinking about using assisted reproductive technologies to start a family think of almost every possible outcome, except for how much all of it will cost - considering that most, if not all, health insurance policies will not cover assisted reproductive technologies. Even though these expenses are great, and even without the added expenses associated with the use of a surrogate and/or an egg donor, it is still possible for many…IF they just look through their financials and really focus on how much it could possibly cost them and what they can to do to budget and afford these costly, but ultimately priceless expenses.

So, it is best to start early with your own financial assessment and investigate the options available for financing. Yes, they are still out there, despite what is going on with Wall Street. Once that is done, ask questions of your doctor, your agency, your friends, and anyone else that have gone through this - after all, the only dumb question is the one that is never asked.

Click Here for Complete Article

59 year old Mother gives birth to triplets via IVF

terickson@ericksonlaw.net (Theresa Erickson) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:02:44 -0800

In surprising and happy news, a 59 year old woman recently gave birth to healthy triplets in France. The woman is said to have used IVF treatments to conceive the triplets at a private Vietnamese clinic. Not much is known beyond that information about the woman or how exactly the triplets were conceived. What are your thoughts?

Click Here for Article