Choosing Egg Donors and Gestational Carriers: Avoiding the Pitfalls

Abstract

Infertility is on the rise, primarily due to delayed childbearing. While technological advances have allowed many to successfully use gestational carriers and egg donors in their family-building process, there are certain challenges to conquer before embarking on third-party collaboration. These challenges may include, but are not limited to, identifying like-minded candidates for a collaborative arrangement, state-specific legal environment for gestational carriers, securing health insurance, and financial and estate planning. This chapter will illuminate all the considerations necessary to explore prior to embarking on a gestational carrier or egg donation arrangement and define the team of multidisciplinary professionals needed to accomplish the journey from beginning to birth. Most important, emphasis is placed on patients avoiding pitfalls and educating clients on how to be to be their own best advocates throughout this special pathway to parenthood. The use of infertility consultants to help patients navigate these complex procedures will be discussed.