What are your options for carrying an embryo? There is the classical birds and bees method. But, there are also egg donors, sperm donors, and surrogates. Celebrities have made these options famous. From Mariah Carey and Christiano Ronaldo to Ellen Pompeo and Angela Bassett.
Sperm and egg donation is regulated by the FDA. When the donor is a stranger, the donor must be deemed free of communicable disease: HIV, Hep C, etc. This is made certain by screening and testing donors twice with a six-month quarantine of their specimen between tests. The donor is tested; if negative, the specimen is collected and quarantined; then after six months, the donor is tested again; and if negative again, the specimen is made available to families for use. This rigorous screening is done to make sure any incubation window in which a disease was undetectable at the first testing has closed. Tissue banks use the same CLIA laboratory regulations that all healthcare providers must use and keep records of the tests.
Tissue banks also are licensed and inspected by the states. In New York, the Department of Health issues licenses for tissue bank operation. In addition to STD screening, New York state requires all donors’ genes be tested for Cystic Fibrosis and that tissue banks create a policy for gene testing of known racial and ethnic conditions, such as Tay Sachs. The tissue bank you choose should have its state licenses posted on its website.
An accredited tissue bank may be found here: Accredited Bank Search | American Association of Tissue Banks (aatb.org)
Surrogacy may become an option for many reasons. Male same-sex couples, women without a uterus for example to due hysterectomy, single-men, or women whom have suffered multiple miscarriages and/or failed IVF may choose surrogacy to build a family. There are two types of surrogacy: a traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate’s egg is used, and a gestational surrogacy, in which the intended mother’s egg or a donor egg is used. In either case, the intended father’s or a donor’s sperm may be used. Gestational surrogacy is an added barrier to surrogates claiming parental rights. Surrogacy is not covered by most insurances and costs are typically in the six-figures. One reason surrogacy is expensive is due to the legal cost. In the United States, surrogacy is governed by individual states. Legal counsel is recommended before entering an agreement for surrogacy.
Parents.com has reviewed surrogacy agencies Best Surrogacy Agencies of 2023 (parents.com)
There are many aspects to consider when deciding on surrogacy. The below ‘VICE News’ segment covers the nuances.
And for contrast, a U.S. experience is documented below by ‘ELLE.com.’
Intended parents may want to hire a Birth Doula to support their surrogate or gestational carrier through the pregnancy, labor and delivery.
References
- eCFR :: 21 CFR Part 1271 — Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) | CDC
- Search Approved Clinical Laboratories | New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center
- Tissue Bank Operation License – NYC Business
- Title: SubPart 52-8 – Reproductive Tissue Banks | New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (ny.gov)
- Egg Donation Fact Sheet (ny.gov)
- What Is Surrogacy And How Does It Work? – Forbes Health
- Family Building Through Gestational Surrogacy | ACOG
- The New York Child-Parent Security Act | RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
Wisdom The Sweetness 