April 1st, 2014
Thank you Robyn and Tamara for your help and guidance during the donor process. This was a very overwhelming process for us and we really didn’t know what to expect. Not only were you able to help us find our perfect donor but your advice through each step in the process was invaluable. Everything was clearly explained upfront and we didn’t encounter any surprises. All questions we had were answered quickly and they were very reliable.
We would highly recommend BHED to anyone looking for the perfect agency to help them through this process.
-CM, US
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March 6th, 2014
Hi Rebecca,
Hope you had a wonderful Xmas & New Years with your family.
J and I had an amazing xmas gift. We arrived back in Asia recently and J is now 14 weeks pregnant, as we anticipate the arrival of our twins in early Aug. 2014 (possible late July due to twins).
Thank you and your support staff in guiding us through the donor selection criteria. BHED’s level of care and professionalism made a huge difference in understanding our requirements, and ultimately selecting the most wonderful donor on our behalf. We couldn’t have done it without.
We would like to extend our warm appreciation to our donor, the angel in our heart, whose contribution was instrumental in making this most beautiful gift possible.
Thanks again for all your support.
Kind Regards
- JA & JA, Asia
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February 10th, 2014
My husband and I were going through the surrogacy route for our children, and we were referred to BHED for the egg donor. We had a wonderful experience with them from the start. The website is extremely user friendly and selecting an egg donor was simplified and reassuring. Once we had narrowed the search down, we met with Robyn in the LA office and again had a great experience. She was welcoming and informative. The entire time there was one that will never be forgotten. The visit at the office followed up with a lunch with Robyn and our egg donor. And again, this lunch was one we will never forget. Everything was so easy and so wonderful. This journey can be challenging and daunting, but the team at BHED and the ease of the website made the experience a great one. I would highly recommend anyone in search of an egg donor to contact BHED.
GS and AW
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December 18th, 2013
Deciding to go with the donor was a difficult decision to make. Once we did so, we decided to go with BHED and worked closely with Rebecca. Our experience with BHED was very positive and the staff was very professional. Working with Rebecca was amazing! She would return my calls and answer my emails promptly and kept us informed on every step of the process. I would definitely recommend BHED to anyone in need of a donor agency.
- S., United States
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December 18th, 2013
 Hi Roger,
I hope that all is well. thought I would share the FANTASTIC news! I am indeed pregnant and the numbers are very high so there is a chance of twins. FYI, we put in two embryos and froze 6, 4 of which were their highest grade.
I can’t thank you enough for helping make my dreams come true and for being a caring, candid “agent” with character – a big change from our first experience.
I will continue to keep you posted.
And please thank Margaret – by all counts she was an impeccable, responsible, easy going, mature, wonderful donor.
All the best for a wonderful holiday and fantastic 2014.
- J., United States
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September 17th, 2013
Our experience with BHED was extremely positive from the very beginning! The decision to go down the donor egg route is never an easy one. The BHED team ensured that every question was answered and led us step-by-step through the entire process. My initial consult with them lasted over an hour. Roger answered, in detail, all of our questions and addressed our concerns. In addition to the excellent, worry-free service that all of the team members provided, BHED had the largest selection of donors, especially donors with high achieving academic records, which was extremely important to us. We found our perfect match in no time! Our reproductive center even commented on how professional and prompt the agency was in getting all of the legal documents and medical records. Considering this is a very time-sensitive process, it’s imperative to work with an agency that is as responsive and committed to the process as BHED. Lastly, their policies reflect their commitment to the end-goal, getting pregnant! Luckily, we are expecting two beautiful and healthy twins on our first try. However, if we had not been successful, we felt assured that we could continue the process without any additional agency fees, removing duplicative financial burdens. I have recommended BHED to family members and close friends who are considering this process. It has been one of the best decisions we could have made!
- P., BHED Recipient
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August 22nd, 2013
 Last year we were faced with the overwhelming reality that we could only have another child if we found an egg donor. The avenues available to us in Australia were limited, unregulated, and uncertain, and we were in a hurry. We were referred to an IVF clinic in LA that could help, which in turn referred us to a number of egg donor agencies including BHED. Of the agencies we contacted, Robyn and the team at BHED were the most timely in contacting us and the most responsive to our needs. In short, with one skype session with Robyn, we felt that the egg donation process which had seemed baffling and impossibly difficult to arrange from the other side of the world, was in fact relatively straightforward and eminently achievable. The egg donation process, finances and legal issues were all explained thoroughly, and we even got tips on where to stay and what to see in LA! Throughout the process, we found the BHED team’s approach to be caring, ethical and highly professional, and we would recommend their services to anyone wanting to secure an egg donor. With the help of BHED, we are now the proud parents of a baby girl and boy and we will always be grateful to the BHED team for their care and attention and for getting us started on what has been, and will continue to be, an amazing journey.
- C, from Australia
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August 13th, 2013
Reposted from our friends at Donor Concierge, written by Gail Sexton Anderson.
My clients often ask how we know whether the information a donor reports on her application is true. And the truth is – you don’t. And, in fact, there may be hereditary issues that she’s not aware of, just as you may have genetic issues you’re not aware of. You need to take a leap of faith and realize that you often have more information about your egg donor than you do about your partner. That said, there are a few checks and balances in place so you don’t have to feel as though you’re “driving blind.” I think that most donors tend to be straightforward when they complete their profiles, but it’s also a wise choice to work with a genetic counselor.
 Much in the way a psychologist can tease out more information when they interview an egg donor, a genetic counselor can uncover details a donor might not have thought of, or known about, when completing her profile.
Genetic counselors are trained to ask targeted questions based on the family history, and to know which conditions may share a genetic basis. Hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and psoriasis are all autoimmune conditions, and likely share an underlying genetic component. Certain patterns that are suspicious of mental health or substance abuse issues can also be uncovered. If there is missing information, the genetic counselor can request that the donor provide medical records for documentation. Many times, a genetic counselor is able to uncover information that the donor herself was not even aware of.
The genetic counselor will need to interview both intended parents, as well as the egg donor. Even if the intended mother’s eggs aren’t being used, it’s important to gather information about her genetic history, as it could have an impact on the pregnancy. The intended father or sperm provider contributes 1/2 of the genetic material, and it’s important that he undergoes appropriate screening as well.
From these interviews, the genetic counselor will be able to recommend whether further testing is needed. Once the testing is complete, the counselor can interpret the results and help the intended parents make an educated decision.
BHED requires genetic counseling and testing for all donors as part of the first cycle. For previous donors, you can find results on the individual’s profile under “Personal Medical History.” If needed, we’re happy to share a donor’s report / results with your physician as you’re making your decision.
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July 15th, 2013
From a California-based intended parent…
“Thank you for all of your thorough communication throughout this process. You have been extremely timely and consistent in providing step-by-step details throughout this sometimes nerve-wracking journey. You helped give me peace of mind and that goes a long way! Thank you again so much – it truly has been a positive experience working with you and with BHED”
- B
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July 6th, 2013
During the early years of IVF treatment, it was always assumed that transferring more embryos would improve success rates. Even 20 years ago, it quickly became apparent that this success came at the expense of a high multiple birth rate. In response o this, many European countries and Australia limited the number of embryos that could be legally transferred to woman’s uterus. While laudable, these restrictions tend to be rigid and do not always take into account the age of the producer.
In the U.S., we have adopted a voluntary system through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). The ASRM has published guidelines that take into account maternal age and are more flexible. However, as seen in the recent case of the famous octuplets, there are no serious consequences when a poor outcome is attributed to not adhering to these guidelines.
While these measures have greatly reduced the incidence of triplets and higher-order multiple births, the incidence of twins remains high, especially with egg donation. Many patients may think this is fine. In fact, many couples express a desire to have twins. Their preferences are affected by a belief that transferring two or three embryos improves success rates, and, for some, a financial motive that sees twins as a “two-for-the-price of one.”
The success rate belief may be inaccurate. Many European studies, as well as our experience, strongly suggest that the success rates with two day-3 embryos is equal to the success rate with one good quality (day-5) blastocyst. The ASRM guidelines allow either choice. Yet, many clinics are still transferring two blastocysts, with predictably high twin rates. So, what’s wrong with that?
The problem with twins is that they have a 50% chance of being born prematurely. As a result, they have higher rates of cerebral palsy and other complications of prematurity. The combined medical costs from IVF twins due to ICU care and life-long complications from prematurity are easily in the billions of dollars. Furthermore, from conception to delivery, there is a reduced chance of actually delivering two live babies. Even when twins are born close to term and are healthy, there are considerable financial and emotional costs associated with them.
With appropriate statistical analysis, it may be possible to demonstrate that the chance of a live birth is the same after the transfer of one blastocyst compared to the transfer of two embryos.
While twins may seem cute and a bargain at first, patients undergoing egg donation should inform themselves of the risks of twins and discuss the potential merits of single embryo transfer (SET) with their physician.
- Michael Feinman, MD
Medical Director, HRC Fertility
Huntington Reproductive Center Medical Group
feinmanivf@havingbabies.com
Tags: American Society of Reproductive Medicine, ASRM, ASRM guidelines, Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, blastocyst, day-5 blastocyst, Dr. Michael Feinman, egg donation, egg donation success rates, egg donor, egg donor cycle, HRC, Huntington Reproductive Center, IVF, multiple pregnancies, multiples, reproductive endocrinologist, SET, single embryo transfer, twins
Posted in Advice From Our Colleagues | 1 Comment »
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