FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements for becoming a gestational carrier?

You must be between the ages of 21-45 years.
You must have carried at least one, full term, healthy pregnancy without complications. *full term meaning at least 38 weeks gestation.
You should have had no more than FIVE prior pregnancies, and no more than THREE cesarean section deliveries.
You should have a stable home environment with adequate support to help her cope with the stressors of pregnancy.
You will be required to pass a psychological evaluation.
You should not have had a tattoo or piercing within the past 12 months.
You AND your partner must not be users of illicit drugs and marijuana or abusers of alcohol.
You must be a non-smoker and will receive nicotine tests as part of the screening process.
You must not have a history certain non-curable sexually transmitted disease (i.e., HIV, Hepatitis)
You should have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 (preferred 30 or less)
History of a preterm delivery
History of a child small for gestational size or low birth weight
You must not have a  history of preterm delivery, preeclampsia or postpartum depression.

I don’t have a friend or family member to carry for me. How do I find a gestational carrier?

Laurel Fertility Care will provide you with list of recommended surrogacy agencies that we frequently work with. We realize there may be other programs for you to choose from and will work with you and your chosen agency to achieve your goal of parenthood.

If you are interested in taking the next steps, contact us at 415-673-9199 and a member of our team with walk you through the next steps.

 

What are the requirements for an egg donor?

Laurel Fertility Care follows the FDA requirements and ASRM guidelines for oocyte donation (egg donation). This is not intended to be the final determination of acceptance.

Good candidates for the Laurel egg donation program include the following:

You must be a healthy female and between the ages of 21-30 years.

You must not have impaired cognitive functioning or be mental incompetence

You not have health issues with your immediate family, such as Diabetes, Cancer, MS, Autism, etc.

You must be a Non-smoker and Non-drug user or other substance abuse

You not have two or more first-degree relatives with substance abuse

You must not have history of mental illness for yourself or within your family

You must not be currently taking any medications for blood pressure, anxiety, depression, etc.

You must not have had any tattoo’s and/or piercings within 12 months without a health certificate from the facility or Artist

You must not have any history of certain non-curable sexually transmitted disease (i.e., HIV, Hepatitis)

You should have a stable home environment with adequate support

You will have to pass a psychological evaluation which will include a clinical evaluation and occasionally, psychological testing

Please contact us today to learn more about donating your eggs and our program at 415.473.9199.

 

I don’t have anyone that I know to be a known donor for me, how can I find a donor?

Laurel Fertility Care will provide you with a list of recommended egg donor agencies and frozen egg banks that we work with frequently. We realize there may be other egg donor programs for you to choose and will work with you to achieve your goal of parenthood.

You will work with the agency/egg bank of your choice to match with an egg donor or lot of eggs. Once you have selected the donor/lot the agency/bank will provide us with her medical records for review. After reviewing the medical records provided to us, our Third-Party Treatment Coordinator will determine if the candidate is eligible for medical screening or moving forward with the purchase of lot.

What is the difference with fresh and frozen donor eggs?

In a fresh egg donor cycle, immediately after retrieval the eggs are fertilized with sperm to create fresh embryos to be transferred to the recipient.

In a frozen egg donor cycle, frozen eggs are usually provided in consistent but smaller cohorts (batches of eggs). The eggs are thawed and then inseminated with sperm to create fresh embryos to be transferred to the
recipient.

I am interested in becoming an egg donor. What do I do?

Egg Donor Requirements

 

Donors:

You must be a healthy female and between the ages of 21-30 years.

You must not have impaired cognitive functioning or be mental incompetence

You must not have health issues with your immediate family, such as Diabetes, Cancer, MS, Autism, etc.

You must be a Non-smoker and Non-drug user or other substance abuse

You must not have two or more first-degree relatives with substance abuse

You must not have history of mental illness for themselves or within their family

If you are interested in taking the next steps, click here to complete the prescreening application and a member of our team will reach out with next steps.

I am interested in donating my embryos. How do I start the process?

Log into your Embryo Options account and select Donate to Another Couple. Once you have completed the information needed a member of our team will contact you with next steps.

If you are unsure and want additional information, call your office at 415-673-9199 and ask to speak with a team member of our Embryo donation team.

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LGBTQ+

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

We take pride in ensuring that each person who enters our clinic feels comfortable and heard. That's why each member of the Laurel Fertility Care team has earned a certification in LGBTQ+ inclusion.

What is Third Party Reproduction?

In some cases a third party, such as a donor and/or a gestational carrier is needed.

Why Laurel Fertility Care?

We offer a supportive, inclusive, and knowledgeable team to guide you when you’re ready to pursue your dream of a family. Our team is dedicated to providing you with personalized care that is full of hope!

You Treatment Options

Our team of specialists is here to create a personalized care plan for you. Learn more about our treatment options and what works best for you and your family.