July 25th, 2014
Struggling to have a child is stressful enough so the idea of having to include one more person in this process might not be particularly appealing – particularly when it comes to tackling the emotions surrounding what working with an egg donor might mean for you.
However, being given the opportunity to discuss anything about what it means to work with an egg donor in a confidential setting may offer information and guidance in how to move forward in the best possible way. This might very well be of benefit to the intended parents but could also very well impact the long-term emotional well being of your hoped for child. It is essential to be well informed and view egg donation as an opportunity as opposed to the default option.
Discussion topics during a psychological consultation can vary based on need and interest. It can focus on your concerns, curiosities, or on general information on what we know about the well being of children born through the help of a donor.
Discussion points can focus on:
- Sharing of information with family members
- Disclosure of information…when and where?
- Pros and cons of anonymity
- Pros and cons of open arrangements
- Bonding with your non-genetic child
- Privacy as opposed to secrecy
- Dealing with unresolved shame
- Telling or not telling your child about their reproductive beginnings
- Will your child love you if he/she knows
- How much do I need to know about my donor
- Future implications for the children born through egg donation
and much, much more….
The idea is to move forward with your family building plan from a place of strength, confidence, and excitement. Being informed and knowledgeable is key to a successful journey and a happy family.
 Elaine R. Gordon, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
1245 16th Street, Suite 210
Santa Monica, Ca 90404
Posted in Advice From Our Colleagues | No Comments »
July 24th, 2014
At Beverly Hills Egg Donation we support a number of fertility related organizations worldwide. Our professional memberships with ASRM and a number of other organizations keep us on the cutting edge of fertility treatment options, procedures, ethical standards, and medical guidelines. Our clients come from diverse areas around the globe, including China, Norway, Germany, South America, the Middle East, and Australia. We owe it to all of our egg donors and our egg donation recipients to stay involved in important fertility organization mandates.
More about our membership organizations:
 The Vision of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is to be the nationally and internationally recognized leader for multidisciplinary information, education, advocacy and standards in the field of reproductive medicine. The ASRM is a non-profit organization whose members must demonstrate the high ethical principles of the medical profession, evince an interest in infertility, reproductive medicine and biology, and adhere to the objectives of the Society.
 Fertile Action helps women touched by cancer become mothers through education, advocacy and financial aid for fertility preservation, sperm donation, egg donation, surrogacy and long-term storage of sperm, oocytes, and embryos.
 The American Fertility Association (The AFA) is an inclusive organization committed to helping people create their families of choice by providing leading-edge outreach programs and timely educational information. The scope of our work encompasses reproductive and sexual health, infertility prevention and treatment, and family-building options including adoption and third party solutions. The AFA is a national, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in New York City.
 At RESOLVE New England, we understand very personally the complexities of the infertility journey. Our personal connections to infertility drive our organization’s commitment to providing infertility patients with support, education and advocacy. As a trusted, unbiased leader in the New England infertility community, we support the professional development and comprehensive networking of infertility and adoption professionals within the region.
Whether you have questions about how IVF or adoption works to whether or not your insurance covers your infertility treatment, RESOLVE New England can provide you with answers. We offer a variety of educational programs and support groups throughout the year, from our full-day Adoption and Donor Egg Connect & Learn Seminars to our Annual Fertility Treatment and Adoption Choices Conference in November – the largest consumer fertility conference of its kind in the United States – RESOLVE New England connects you with the resources you need.
*compiled with website information from ASRM, Resolve New England, AFA, and Fertile Action.
Posted in Staff Corner | No Comments »
May 12th, 2014
 What is going to happen at the initial appointment?
You’ll have a consultation with the doctor, they’ll do a vaginal ultrasound to see how many ovarian follicles you have, and they’ll draw some blood. A small number of clinics will also have you meet with a psychologist and/or genetic counselor, too.
How long will it take to find out if I’m medically cleared?
If this is your first cycle, you’ll be having genetic tests done, and those results typically take about two weeks. Sometimes you’ll have genetic tests done even if you’ve cycled before. If you’ve cycled before and the doctor doesn’t need any additional genetic tests done, you could be medically cleared within a few days.
Do I have to find or pay for my own attorney?
No. We will refer you to a reproductive attorney with whom we frequently work, and your recipients will pay your legal fees.
How many monitoring appointments am I going to have?
Once you’ve started injectable medications, you will likely have between three and six monitoring appointments. You will also have an appointment just prior to med start to confirm that you are ready to begin.
I really like to exercise. Do I have to stop for the whole cycle?
To prevent ovarian torsion, your doctor will likely advise you to stop all exercise once you have started the stimulation portion of your cycle. Make sure to ask your doctor or nurse what their recommendation is, and do be certain to follow it.
For my travel cycle, how long will I have to be away for the retrieval?
The average is about a week. Some clinics don’t require you to be there for quite so long, but a few do want you there a bit longer.
What happens if I have complications after the retrieval?
You will be given a donor insurance card to cover any necessary treatment of complications related to the retrieval. If it is a local cycle, you can call the clinic to ask if they want to see you in their office. If it was a travel cycle and you have returned home, you can make an appointment at your local monitoring clinic.
Will I find out if my recipients get pregnant?
Only if it is written into your legal contract that you are allowed access to that information. You can discuss this with your attorney during your contract review.
When will I get a period after my retrieval?
Usually within about two weeks. If it takes much longer than that and you are concerned, give your nurse a call to discuss.
Why do I have to bring a companion with me to my retrieval?
You will have anesthesia for the procedure, so it’s not safe for you to drive afterwards (nor is it safe to get in a cab alone if you’re not fully lucid). So you are required to have a companion you know and trust who can drive you home. If it’s a travel cycle, your companion will accompany you back to your hotel.
Posted in From Donor's Perspective | 1 Comment »
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
Posted in Testimonials | 1 Comment »
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
Posted in BHED Success Stories, Testimonials | 1 Comment »
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
Posted in Testimonials | No Comments »
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
Posted in Testimonials | 1 Comment »
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
Posted in Testimonials | No Comments »
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
Posted in Testimonials | 2 Comments »
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
Posted in Testimonials | 2 Comments »
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