My Journey: Elsa Hensel – A Surrogate Who Traveled the Surrogacy Path Twice - 12 min read
Elsa, it’s such a pleasure to speak with you about your surrogate journey. How did you start thinking about becoming a surrogate? I thought about being a surrogate back in 2014. My son was a toddler and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. I also wanted to be pregnant again so that is where it all began. I was young but it had been…
read moreIn the Spotlight: Surrogate Alternatives Inc. - 3 min read
In a nutshell. Owned and run by women who have been surrogates and egg donors themselves and have a deep understanding of the emotional and operational aspects of the journey; industry pioneers and the oldest operating agency in San Diego. Founder, President and CEO. Diana Olmeda Surrogate Alternatives, Inc. (SAI) is a true veteran in the fertility industry, with 23 years experience under its belt.…
read moreHow To Choose the Right Egg Donor - 4 min read
There is no manual that tells you exactly how to select the right egg donor because the process of choosing and the choice itself are very individual. Still, there are some criteria you might want to consider when you choose an egg donor. 1. Similar physical appearance Many intended parents want to find a donor who shares some similar physical characteristics to themselves. Although you…
read moreWhat Can Disqualify You From Becoming A Surrogate in the US - 6 min read
In addition, it’s also crucial to make sure that the surrogate isn’t risking her physical or mental health and that all parties involved in the process, and especially the gestational surrogate, are protected. Although there are several factors that can automatically disqualify women from becoming surrogates, each agency and clinic has its own requirements. Think you can make it as a surrogate? Take our 2-minute…
read moreHow to Become an Egg Donor? The Complete Breakdown - 5 min read
Choosing your agency or clinic There are two types of providers you should consider for your egg donation. The first is fertility clinics that offer egg donor programs to their IVF patients. The second is egg donor agencies that may work with intended parents from various locations, which means travel could be part of the process. Generally speaking, there is no right or wrong agency…
read moreWhere Are All The Surrogates? - 3 min read
The surrogacy market is exploding and more and more couples and individuals are using a surrogate to fulfil their dream of a family. This strong upward trend is driven by three powerful forces. First, the growing number of couples struggling with infertility (one in six in the world); second, celebrities using a surrogate to bring their child into the world, turning surrogacy into a popular…
read moreConsidering A Twin Surrogacy? Read This First - 5 min read
Here’s what you should know if you are thinking about a twin pregnancy via surrogacy. How Is Multiple Gestational Surrogacy Even Possible Generally speaking, there are two ways that make it possible to have twins during a surrogacy. Double embryo transfer. Before an embryo is transferred, the embryos are evaluated to make sure only the healthiest ones are transferred to the surrogate’s uterus. If two…
read moreThe Egg Donation Process – From Start To Finish - 6 min read
For some, starting or growing a family comes easily, but for others it may take more time and effort, and might require the use of third party reproduction alternatives. One of these is egg donation - an assisted reproductive treatment utilized by women who do not have any viable eggs for whatever reason, as well as by gay or single men who want to start…
read moreThe Surrogacy Process Roadmap – Step By Step - 7 min read
Surrogacy is quite a long journey and if you’re considering it, it may be useful to know what to expect and understand the timeline. Although each surrogacy journey is different and its length depends on varying factors, the average process takes about 19-22 months. Here is a breakdown of the five steps that make up your journey to parenthood. Surrogacy is a method of assisted…
read moreGenerous Donors: Egg Donors and Surrogates - 3 min read
Egg donation and Surrogacy process are called the miraculous procedures to welcome a child in your family whether you are a couple facing infertility issues or you are a gay couple that wants to have a child. A third-party reproduction like this might sound impersonal. It’s anything but. The women who donate eggs or become a gestational carrier are sacrificing a part of themselves in…
read moreHow Many Times Can You Donate Your Eggs? - 2 min read
How many times can a woman donate her eggs? This question is answered here. How many eggs can you donate? It’s important to understand that through each cycle, the ovary matures 10 to 20 eggs. However, only one of these eggs makes their way to ovulation. The rest of them are absorbed back into the body.Taking medication helps your body mature most of all of…
read moreEgg Donation Process: Is It Painful to Be an Egg Donor? - 2 min read
The honest answer to this question is that “it depends”. Every woman is different, and multiple steps are involved in the egg donation process, which is likely to affect each donor in a different way. To understand that, let’s break down the egg donation procedure and see how it can affect the donor: Shots and Medication The egg donation process starts with medical testing and…
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