egg donor agency
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010
 Donors are Only Donating for the Financial Compensation
While the donors we work with appreciate the compensation they get from participating in a cycle, in most cases money is not the primary driving force behind their decision to donate. Through conducting one-on-one interviews with all of the donors in our program, we’ve found that most of them come to us with some sort of personal connection to infertility. Often they’ve seen a family member, close friend or colleague struggle to conceive and want to help someone else in the same position. Others are parents themselves and feel compelled to help others experience the joy of starting a family. Regardless of a particular donor’s situation, money is rarely the only motivating factor in her decision. Successful donors with our program understand the gravity of their decision and are invested in the donation process.
All Potential Donors who Apply to Participate are Accepted
Not so! Most candidates who apply to our egg donor program do not make it onto our database, for a variety of reasons. For starters, only a small percentage of those who apply are even suitable candidates for donation. Even to be initially considered for our program, applicants must fall within the appropriate age range (21-29), have the flexibility to accommodate the demands of an IVF cycle, have a clean personal and family health record (free of infectious diseases and genetic conditions), and have completed or are completing some form of higher education. Even then, BHED’s donor application process is rigorous, and many potential candidates are weeded out before they are added to our site because they haven’t met one or more of our requirements. A potential donor is asked to not only fill out a lengthy application, but must meet with a BHED donor representative for a personal interview (in person or via webcam), submit a wide range of photos for her profile (including family and childhood pictures), provide transcripts and other relevant education documentation as appropriate, and respond to emails and phone calls from our office in a timely manner. If we feel that a donor does not have the time or dedication to see a cycle through, we won’t add her to our program.
A Donor Might Drop Out of a Cycle at Any Time
Donors do occasionally drop out of cycles. It’s rare, but it happens. For this reason, we have a number of checks and balances in place to ensure that all of our donors actually ARE committed to participating in a cycle at any given time. We call them regularly to check in, request updates, and confirm their availability and willingness to donate. In the rare instance that a donor does drop out after being matched, it almost always happens very early on in the process. In particular, it’s extremely unlikely that a donor won’t follow through with a cycle after she’s started medication. At that point, she’s attended several doctor’s appointments, coordinated with an attorney, and done psychological and genetic evaluation – all without any compensation. As with most egg donor agencies, our donors receive a small portion of their fee once they start medication (in our case, $750) and then get the remainder of their balance after the retrieval. It’s unusual for a donor to drop out of a cycle in the first place, but almost completely unlikely for her to call it quits “late in the game.”
Donors Lie on Their Applications
In general, the vast majority of donors are not inclined to lie on their applications because most are well-meaning candidates who are donation for very personal reasons. However, this is another reason why we find it beneficial to have a system in place to substantiate the information that donors provide. We review every applicant’s profile during her interview and, if the donor claims high academic achievements, ask that she provide documentation from her school to back up her claims. Impartial professionals also gather additional information through the psychological evaluation, genetic counseling, and medical screening which can be crosschecked for inconsistencies. It’s important to restate that it’s very unlikely for a donor to deliberately submit inaccurate information, but we hope that the steps we’ve put in place to weed out those that do give our clients added peace of mind.
Tags: Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donor, egg donor agencies, egg donor agency, egg donor program, egg donors
Posted in Staff Corner | No Comments »
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
If you’re reading this, you are most likely as bewildered as my partner and I were when we started this process…
 So many moving parts, so many businesses ready to “help us create our family”.
How does one choose the perfect place? This was the biggest thing we’d ever take on. This was not buying a new car. Our fertility doctors sent us his top 4 recommendations for Egg Donor Agencies. We found 4 others on our own. We spent MANY weeks searching the sites. After awhile, it felt like online dating. Only the “date” would be the genetic mother of our child.
Fairly quickly, it became clear what we should focus on. In addition to the actual donor profiles, we realized the importance of the egg donor agency itself. Because we’d be going into business with BHED, the particulars mattered a lot. The fees , the management, the rules, it all became important. Of the 8 sites we kept searching, BHED’s language and demeanor was the fit we were looking for. Very upfront. Very reasonable. Very tidy. In terms of profiles, we found several profiles where the Donor only offered the perfect answers from top to bottom, with absolutely no familial health risks or conditions. It simply was not realistic. Because we’d be placing so much trust in someone, honesty was crucial to us, even if we never met that someone. Several times, we had specific questions about a donor. Not only did Lisa Greer answer them immediately (yep, I said immediately), she took it all a step further by providing her email, and all of her phone numbers to us. This spoke volumes to us about BHED’s level of dedication. How many Managing Partners make themselves completely available to you in this day and age? Not many.
Once we selected our Donor (not an easy process), Lisa hosted a conference call wherein we spoke to our donor. There’s an inherent awkwardness to that phone call, and Lisa could not have navigated it any more perfectly. She kept it discreet, kept it moving, and somehow kept it comfortable. Because we live close by, I wanted to not only meet Lisa, but see the office. I felt like it was a good idea to see the business in person. I’m very glad I did. It only made me feel even better about entrusting BHED with our Egg Donation.
 From then on, my partner and I were graced (yep, I said graced) with Liz Bader-Natal as our Case Manager. Over the next 3 months, Liz gently and firmly guided us with such straightforward knowledge, it was a gift. Granted this was all a business transaction of sorts, but given the nature of the process, there is very much a human element. I had no idea how important she would become to us in the coming months. Amazingly, Liz answered the phone each time I called. Each time. I still don’t know how she did it. My partner and I are 2 men, far from well-versed in terms of the Fertility world. Lupron? Follistim? Menopur? Each step of the way, Liz explained everything to us with the patience of a Saint. Really. As with anything complicated, so much can go wrong. Every single thing Liz and/or Lisa said to us we believed. We were never given a reason not to. And everything they said was true. In hindsight, I realize now how amazingly they anticipated situations, as opposed to only handling them as they occured.
We still have a ways to go. 8 months to be exact. Sadly, our actual time with BHED is finished. I’m not sure it Lisa and Liz know this, but they will be posted with all upcoming milestones. Given how tremendous they were with us at every turn, it’s the least we can do.
-Seth, BHED Recipient
Tags: Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donation, egg donor, egg donor agencies, egg donor agency, egg donor wanted, egg donors, IVF, ivf cycle, Southern California egg donor, surrogacy and egg donation
Posted in Testimonials | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
 I was 21 when egg donation sparked my interest (a friend of the family was struggling through infertility and decided to use an egg donor). I had never heard about it or thought of it, so, of course, I wanted to know more. Once I learned about the process and saw how much joy it brought to my friend and her family, I knew it was something that I wanted to do.
Unfortunately, Iowa doesn’t have many fertility clinics that use donors. In my research, I was surprised to find that California was always popping up! So, I decided to give it a try with an out-of-state egg donor agency. I now have two previous cycles under my belt (not with BHED, but through another California agency). When I got matched for my first cycle, I was a bit nervous about all of the traveling – it was my first time on a plane and my first time out of the Midwest! However, I soon realized that traveling was actually an unexpected perk! I was assigned a coordinator who took care of everything from airplane tickets, to hotel and rental car reservations. I didn’t have to worry about anything!
Not only that, but I didn’t have to be alone which went a long way towards putting me at ease when it came time to travel. I got to bring a companion with me, which made the whole experience much more enjoyable. My meals were also paid for – I got a per diem so I wasn’t required to pay for any necessities out-of-pocket (well, until I went shopping, which I had plenty of time for!). I usually had about 4 days in California before my procedure, and during that time I usually just had one appointment a day.
Now, while there were a lot of great things about traveling, there can also be downfalls. The first is that I never knew the exact dates of my travel until about a week beforehand, because it all depended on how my body reacted to the hormones. So, it’s important to have flexibility with your schedule! Also, I had to make sure that the companion I brought had flexibility as well. I received all of my medication in the mail and when I received it I spent awhile on the phone learning how to mix and inject it properly, as opposed to just going to a clinic and having a nurse teach me. Especially at first, I felt that I had to be a bit more pro-active than a donor working with a clinic that’s just down the street.  Once I started medication, I had appointments to be monitored at a clinic here in Iowa and they would fax the results to my doctor in California. I never got to meet the doctor or nurses I was working with until I arrived shortly before the retrieval! Also, one of the things that I didn’t like about the agency that I was working with is that I was usually on a plane headed home the day after my retrieval. I would’ve felt more comfortable with more follow up  before I went back home, but that is one of the reasons that I’m excited to work with Beverly Hills Egg Donation. I know that they’re great about following up with their donors afterwards.
I think that the whole experience for an out-of-state donor is exciting and fun overall. It’s definitely a perk! I can be nerve-racking at times, because the clinic and doctor you’re working with are in another state, but I think that it’s important for the donor to take charge and be as communicative as possible! The nurses and coordinators that you’re working with are there to help, so don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want. Being flexible with your schedule is also important and it’s great to have your companion picked out early on, if possible. It takes a lot of the stress off. If you get the chance to donate away from home, enjoy it knowing that you’re getting a great opportunity to travel while also helping make a couple’s dreams come true!
-Nichole, BHED donor #8438
Tags: egg donation agencies, egg donor, egg donor agency, egg donor programs, egg donors, out-of-state egg donation
Posted in From Donor's Perspective | No Comments »
Friday, May 28th, 2010
 Become an egg donor. Â Such a small phrase for such a large responsibility. Â For most people, the prospect of egg donation offers one thing: money!
“Oh, the things I can buy!” she thinks, “and definitely getting those hair extensions I’ve been eyeing for the summer.”
Now, please don’t assume I’m one of those cynical types that are against hair extensions or, for that matter, anything girly or high maintenance, I’ve just already got them. Â *Wink*
No, to me, becoming an egg donor would fulfill one of the largest goals of my life, and something that I’ve already begun to bring to fruition. Â It is my life aspiration to create a piece of software that provides cost effective pricing and constant algorithmic calculations to maximize profitability in restaurants, then roll out the production of the software with my very own restaurant. Â When I close my eyes and imagine this day, I am a hero! Â I’ve essentially altered the course of food service forever! Â People love me! Â And I, of course, am free to do as I please, probably selling the rights to my software to some large conglomerate and sitting back and running my restaurant (not without my constant residuals, though!).
Yet, take a look at present day me. Â Sure I’ve got a great job. Â Sure I could make a profitable career for myself offering consulting services with a focus specifically on real estate portfolios…
I bet you have no idea what I’m talking about. Â Exactly.
In the current economic climate, my entrepreneurial goals are stifled by a “not now” society that fears new ideas and lives trapped in its laissez faire attitude. Â ”But hey, we’re not making it worse right?” society thinks. Â Wrong.
Enough of my critique. Â My point is that I was drawn to register with an egg donor agency when I realized how immediate the potential was to actually pursue my goals. Â This is not something I need, nor is it something I’m relying on, but it is something that can greatly speed up the process for me, and something I would be genuinely appreciative of should I be chosen to be a part of it.
Now, there is the altruistic perspective of egg donation. Â At its most stripped down core, an egg donor is providing others with opportunities that previously did not exist to them. Â The intrinsic motivation is therefore preset and a major factor in my decision to become an egg donor. Â I have complete faith in BHED to find those who I am properly suited to donate for and now, my question to you, prospective parents, is what are you waiting for?!
- Camber, BHED donor #7132
Tags: become an egg donor, Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donation, egg donation agency, egg donation southern california, egg donor, egg donor agency, egg donors, Southern California egg donors
Posted in From Donor's Perspective | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Below is our final topic in Brenda Fahn-Hardt’s series of discussions for Intended Parents. Â Thank you, Brenda, for all of your contributions over the past few weeks!
Will I Feel Bonded to My Child?
One fear that intended parents sometimes bring up is that they may not feel as connected or bonded to their child because they used an egg donor. Â I don’t think I have encountered any cases that substantiate this fear, but of course it is a valid concern. Â I tell intended parents that they may be more prepared to handle their child than parents who have biological children. Â Biological parents many times assume that they will understand their  child, yet each child is unique and may or many not resemble their biological parents either. Â The key to parenting is to be attuned to who your child is. Â When you enter the world of parenthood, it is a daily challenge to let go of who you think your child “should” be and accept them for who they are. Â A daily lesson as a parent is to listen and accept your child for who he/she is. Â If you can do that there is no doubt that you will feel connected to your child.
- Brenda Fahn-Hardt M.S., MFT
Beverly Hills Egg Donation Staff Psychotherapist
Tags: assisted reproduction, Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, Brenda Fahn-Hardt, egg donation, egg donation southern california, egg donor, egg donor agencies, egg donor agency, egg donor psychologist, egg donors, intended parent, intended parents psychological issues, IVF, ivf cycle, resources for intended parents, Southern California egg donor, Southern California egg donor agency
Posted in Advice From Our Colleagues | No Comments »
Monday, May 17th, 2010
Part 3 in Brenda Fahn-Hardt’s informal discussion for Intended Parents.
Meeting the Donor? Â There is No Right Choice.
At some point during the egg donor process most parents consider whether or not they should meet their egg donor.  There is no right or wrong answer to this question.  Each case is different and depends on the intentions and expectations of the intended parents.  If their expectations seem reasonable and realistic, then meeting the egg donor can turn into a very positive experience.  Most of the time intended parents want to be able to meet their donor so that they have the option of telling their child at a later date.  Statistically, only about 20% of intended parents choose to meet their donor.  If you intend to tell your child that they were conceived with an egg donor and you want to tell your child something about the donor, then meeting would likely be a positive experience.  Many times parents to not have an interest in, or feel comfortable, meeting their donor, which of course should always be respected.  Each situation is different.
- Brenda Fahn-Hardt M.S., MFT
Beverly Hills Egg Donation Staff Psychotherapist
Tags: Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donation, egg donation agencies, egg donation agency, egg donation california, egg donation los angeles, egg donation process, egg donor, egg donor agency, egg donor blog, egg donor cycle, egg donor los angeles, egg donors, how to choose an egg donor, intended parent, IVF, ivf cycle, resources for intended parents, should I meet my egg donor
Posted in Advice From Our Colleagues | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Last year, we posted this happy news from recent recipients, Valerie and Adam:
I went to FPNC today at 9:00AM for the first ultrasound, and Dr. Abusief showed me on the TV screen that there are two babies growing, each with a nice heartbeat and a “diamond ring” which means something like the cells are growing very well. Â When she started, she immediately said that she could see “two sacks,” but I had no idea what that meant. Â Then, she spent five minutes showing me the heartbeat in one of the sacks but wasn’t able to find the heartbeat in the other. Â This was a touch five minutes, with her saying things like, “this is normal…sometimes it just takes some time for the other one to start growing…” Â Then, Dr. Abusief finally was able to see the other heartbeat, and we all saw it really clearly. Â It had been over at one side. Â Dr. Abusief was very happy with everything she saw and said that the risk now of a “problem” is down to 15%. Â We’ll go back in two weeks for another ultrasound, and will know at that point if Baby A and Baby B are boys, girls, or one of each.
I’ve got a print-out of photos of both Baby A and Baby B.
I am so happy!!! Â I cried until my makeup ran down my face and I had to get back to work.
Thanks everyone for your help and support, especially to Lisa and Ellie from Beverly Hills Egg Donation for being such great advocates for us.
This has been a long and miserable journey for Adam and me, and hopefully we’ll now have the joy of parenthood.
-Valerie
Well, we are SO pleased to announce that the twins have arrived! Â Happy, healthy and oh-so-cute, Hermione and Dashiell were born in September….
Congratulations!!!!
Tags: assisted reproduction, Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donor, egg donor agency, egg donors, IVF, Lisa Greer, Southern California egg donor agency, Southern California egg donors
Posted in BHED Success Stories | No Comments »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
You’ve been searching for weeks for your ideal egg donor candidate, taking into consideration physical characteristics, fertility history, family health and educational achievements. Â You’ve ranked your favorites, narrowed them down, slept on it and now that you’ve found your perfect match and are ready to book her, you can breathe a big sigh of relief and know that your search is finally behind you.
Right?
 Not quite.  Despite the best of intentions, something will go wrong in 25%-30% of all egg donor cycles and most, if not all of these issues cannot be predicted in advance.  Beverly Hills Egg Donation has an extensive in-house screening process and a team of donor reps who work diligently to ensure that our selection of donors is the strongest that it can be, but there is always the potential for surprises once a cycle gets underway.  As is the nature of working with a young woman in her early to mid- twenties, your donor will be having medical testing for a number of things that, if not for this donation, she likely would never have been tested for at her age.  There are also occasionally unforeseen issues that come up in the psychological testing, genetic counseling, or during the legal process.  In fact, this is why we utilize these professionals in the first place – to protect you and ensure that you have the best chance possible at a successful outcome once the medication phase of the cycle begins.  While our personal screening process is an initial review, we employ others to help uncover any health/genetic problems that may otherwise have gone undetected and confirm that your donor is psychologically prepared to donate.
This is why, no matter how perfect your donor may seem, we always recommend that you select a backup option before going forward with your cycle.  We have many repeat donors available (which lessens the possibility that something unexpected will come up to deter or derail your cycle), but even then if something goes wrong and you have a backup choice, our cycle coordinator will be able to help you move seamlessly onto that donor without using any momentum.  There is also no additional agency fee to switch donors; your full fee will be applied to the subsequent cycle.
Ideally, your cycle will be completed smoothly and without a hitch. Â However, one of the best things that you can do to make your experience with egg donation as successful as possible is to remain flexible and be prepared for the unexpected – which includes having a backup donor in mind before you book your perfect match.
Tags: Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donation, egg donation agencies, egg donation california, egg donation process, egg donor, egg donor agency, egg donor california, egg donor cost, egg donor cycle, how to choose an egg donor, IVF, Southern California egg donor agency
Posted in Staff Corner | No Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Check out our freshly updated “Who We Are” page to meet the newest staff members to join the BHEDÂ team. Â Liz Bader-Natal, Bay Area Coordinator, Â provides support to Donors and Intended Parents throughout the duration of the cycle. Â Sally Blackford manages our online server and has lent a tremendous hand in keeping day-to-day administrative work running smoothly. Â And Diana Ashley, a previous donor herself, works in Donor Outreach to keep each of our donor’s profiles accurate and up-to-date.
With the increases that we’ve seen in every area – from donor applicants to interview, to cycles to manage and medical records to request (and fax, and file, and update…), these ladies have jumped in with both feet and done a stellar job helping our program grow with grace.
Tags: Beverly Hills Egg Donation, BHED, egg donation, egg donation agencies, egg donation california, egg donation los angeles, egg donor, egg donor agency, egg donor california, egg donor cycle, egg donor database, egg donor los angeles, egg donors, Southern California egg donor agency
Posted in Staff Corner | No Comments »
Friday, September 25th, 2009
I was thirty-seven when I finally realized I was ready to be a mom. Â I felt happy, secure in my job, well-traveled and healthier than I had been in years. Â When I informed my doctor of my plan, he immediately ran a battery of routine tests, but felt confident that all would be perfect. Â There were no visible signs, or symptoms, that I would have any trouble conceiving.
 About one week later, I got a call from my doctor. Â He explained calmly that having a baby the traditional way was not going to be possible for me. Â My FSH was 48 and my eggs were no longer viable. Â He immediately introduced the egg donation process to me. Â He was unbelievably kind, patient and understanding. Â He answered all of my questions and then some.
I needed time to digest what he had said. Â While I was grateful that I lived in an age where modern technology would allow me to have the experience of carrying a baby, I still needed a bit of time to mourn the loss of not having a child genetically related to me. Â I had always placed so much importance on being able to recognize a piece of myself (my long fingers, green eyes, thick hair, stubborn will, etc) in my future little boy or girl. Â This was now gone.
Luckily, I come with an enormous support system of family and friends. Â They listened to my fears, remorse, etc. until I was finished. Â It didn’t take me long to realize that my GOAL had not changed. Â I wanted to be a mom. Â I needed to be a mom. Â I was BORN to be a mom!
Immediately I got to work. Â I scoured the internet for information and began my do diligence. Â There were so many egg donation agencies to choose from. Â My mom helped me search through at least twenty of them! Â My doctor even offered to find a donor for me if I was patient enough to wait at least a year. Â I’d waited thirty-seven years and couldn’t bear the thought of waiting yet another.
It didn’t take long before I ran into BHED‘s website. Â I read it thoroughly and it was easy to navigate. Â It felt classy, professional, safe…right. Â I called to set up a log in and spoke with Lisa Greer. Â She was wonderful! Â I immediately trusted that she knew what she was doing. Â I was not disappointed when I perused the donors either. Â They were all beautiful and well-rounded. Â I felt I couldn’t go wrong. Â Hence, the trials and the tribulations of the fertility process thus began.
I used two fertility groups. Â One was near my house on the East Coast. Â The other was on the West Coast, a doctor that BHED recommended, where my egg donor was located. Â The embryo was implanted on a rare rainy day in Southern California in early February. Â I am blessed and very excited to say that I am now expecting my first baby (a girl) in October.
Dr. Michael Feinman of HRC deserves many kudos, but the real heroes are Lisa and Ellie Klein from Beverly Hills Egg Donation. Â Lisa had a hands-on approach that carried me through many a crisis. Â All of this was accomplished with a calm, personal and professional touch. Â Lisa is all about getting the job done, while seemingly having an interior made of marshmallow. Â Ellie, with her kind heart, was a pleasure to work with. Â She is competent, compassionate, and returned all of my calls and emails (no light compliment in this busy and imperfect world). Â To put it mildly, I could have NEVER gotten through this process without both their support and guidance.
BHED is the only place to go for the help you need, both emotional and physical. Â I thank Lisa and Ellie from the bottom of my heart and will always remember their kindness.
Finally, I owe my egg donor a very, very sincere thank you. Â I will NEVER forget her and will always be grateful for this baby that will be born this fall!
- Melissa, Recipient
Tags: Beverly Hills Egg Donation, Dr. Michael Feinman, egg donor, egg donor agency, fertility clinic, fertility group, HRC, Huntington Reproductive Center
Posted in Testimonials | No Comments »
|
|
|
|
