Why Do Surrogacy Clinics Require Mental Health Screenings?
If your clinic requires you to meet with a mental health professional before moving forward with using an egg donor or sperm donor, you may feel angry and defensive. This reaction is common and normal as the assumption by most intended parents are that they are going to be “assessed” or “evaluated” to determine if they are fit to be parents.
This is NOT the reason for the required meeting. Unfortunately that is not typically explained by the clinic’s staff simply because they may not have the time or information to accurately explain the purpose and intent of the required meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to help you, educate you, and advocate for your unborn child. The intent is to prevent psychological harm or distress to your current and future family.
To better understand all aspects of using an egg donor to build and grow your family, visit our website at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com
Using A Gestational Surrogate in Kansas City: Why is it so expensive?
Anyone that has looked into using a gestational surrogate, also referred to as a gestational carrier, knows that the associated expenses are very high. If you are just starting to investigate this option, you are probably taken back by what the total cost can be. Using a gestational carrier to build and grow your family involves several teams of professionals and trained personnel. These professionals offer risk management to assure that building and growing your family through surrogacy is a positive and successful experience.
One variable that greatly influences the total cost is the use of a family member or close friend as your gestational surrogate that is willing to carry for you without compensation. Since the typical range for compensation for gestational surrogates is between $54,000-$70,000+, it saves intended parents a lot of money!
Here is a breakdown of potential costs if you decide to work with a surrogacy agency. The ranges are wide because there are many variables that are specific to each family that will influence the total cost.
Agency Fees – Some agencies charge a flat fee that includes many services while others break out additional costs for services that are not included in their agency fee. Clarification of pricing structure is important!
Typical Range – $12,000-$18,000
Medical Related Fees – Vary based on geographic location of clinic and insurance coverage, as well as types of procedures to be done.
Typical Range – $12,000-$25,000
Legal Fees- Typical Range – $3,500-$10,000
Gestational Surrogate Compensation Package: Typical Range-$20,000-$35,000
Medical Insurance For Pregnancy/Delivery: Varies greatly depending on the gestational surrogate’s plan and deductibles if she does have coverage. Multiples increases these costs.
Typical Range – $2,000-$40,000
Miscellaneous Expenses – This category will include travel related expenses among other things.
Typical Range – $3,000-$8,000
Is Using An Egg Donor in Kansas City Right for You?
If you are trying to decide if using an egg donor to build and grow your family is the right decision for you, it may be that you are struggling with making the decision. You may feel ambivalent about the option of using an egg donor. Or you might think sometimes that it is definitely the path you wish to go, but then soon thereafter are sure it is not. The rollercoaster ride can be exhausting, scary, and overwhelming. But does it mean that you should abandon the idea of using an egg donor to build and grow your family? Probably not.
Most likely, you are just not ready to move forward yet. The best thing to do is give yourself some time, maybe a month or two, and try not to think about it all the time. That is easier to say than to do of course. But if you are able, you will find that after a month or so, when you do revisit the idea, you will feel differently about it than you did before. Whatever you feel and think will give you an indication of whether using an egg donor to build and grow your family is the right choice for you. Talking with a counselor who has knowledge and experience with the topic of egg donation can be very helpful too!
For more information about using an egg donor to build and grow your family, contact us today at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.
Family Building in Kansas City: Using an Agency Egg Donor
Once the decision has been made to use an egg donor to attempt conception, many women and couples wonder where to start in the process. Some have the option of working with their clinic’s egg donor program and select a donor that has been recruited and screened by the clinic. It is important to understand that if your clinic does have their own egg donor program, they may not have a donor in their database that is the right choice for you. Then what? You can either wait until they have more options and hope that you find the right fit for you, or look elsewhere, such as with an agency. Even if there may be a egg donor or two in their database you like, and are seriously considering, it is beneficial to look at other options to be sure.
Some clinics will tell you that you have the option to select a donor from an egg donor agency, some will not. But it is important for you to know that you have that option, even if they do not tell you about it. Selecting an egg donor is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. You need to feel confident you select an egg donor that is the right fit for you, not for the clinic, or anyone else for that matter! If you find an egg donor through an agency, your clinic will work with that donor too. It does not matter where the egg donor is selected from as long as you are working with a reputable agency. For more information about our Egg Donor Program, visit our website at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.