States such as California are making new strides in making some people’s dreams come true. They are offering surrogacy to HIV positive intended parents.

Participants in the HIV program go through the same process as other clients with the addition of an extensive health screening and preparation process for the sperm which virtually eliminates any risk of exposure to the surrogate or embryo. This process is called sperm washing. (Sperm washing rests on the premise that HIV-infected material is carried primarily in the seminal fluid rather than in the sperm itself. The technique involves separating sperm from seminal fluid. Many men with the disease show no material trace of the virus in their sperm. Therefore it is viable to use for implantation.

The program in California sponsored by Growing Generations is now available not only to citizens of the U.S. but to international clients as well due to the Obama administration’s lifting of the restriction on visas for HIV-positive foreigners. Over 10 babies have been born to HIV positive parents in California. Surrogacy Abroad Inc. has just created a program for HIV parents to receive a surrogate in India. So far eleven babies have been born to HIV positive parents under this program. The babies nor the surrogates were infected. Thailand is another country that has also recently opened its doors to positive intended parents for surrogacy.

Do you agree with the new direction surrogacy is taking to help those with HIV to become parents?

Recently, many intended parents have opted for expensive screening processes known as Preimplantation Genetics Diagnosis (PGD) or Preimplantation Genetics Screening (PGS).

These two methods are similar in that the retrieved eggs must be fertilized with sperm in a dish, and then the resulting embryos must be grown in culture. Once the embryos reach a particular stage of its development (around day three), a small hole is made in the outer membrane of each embryo and a bit of the interior is removed for a biopsy. After biopsy, the IVF laboratory will send the cells to a genetics lab for analysis for PGD or PGS.

PGD is a way to determine whether an embryo is carrying the genetic material associated with a specific genetic disease, such as breast cancer. PGS can tell how many of each chromosome are in the cells of an embryo. Patients with some type of chromosomal problem or ones who are interested in selecting the gender of the child are good candidates for PGS.

There is the potential that none of the embryos may be normal or that the results are inaccurate depending on when the embryos are biopsied. There is also a chance that the procedure itself may have an adverse effect on the embryos. These procedures are also costly and are often not covered by insurance. Biopsy and analysis can cost somewhere in between $5,000 to $6,000 on top of the cost of an IVF cycle.

These screenings could potentially give intended parents an idea of what possible medical issues their children could have. However, if the results aren’t always viable, do you think it is worth the costs?

For many same-sex and single parents, choosing a surrogate mother outside the country is a popular route. However, new regulations in India may cause them to seek elsewhere.

India’s Home Ministry circulated late last year to Indian missions abroad, and stipulated that gay couples, single men and women, unmarried couples and couples from countries where surrogacy is illegal be prohibited from hiring a commercial surrogate in India. The new rule states foreigners must be a man and woman that have been married for at least two years.

While the new rules are claimed to benefit India by keeping their citizens out of foreign government entanglements and limiting exploitation of young females, it also puts a damper on those who really want to start a family.

Surrogacy is less expensive in Indiawith the out of pocket costsrunning from $18,000 to $30,000 resulting in their $2.5 billion surrogacy industry. Each year, an estimated 25,000 foreign couples visit India for surrogacy services.

However, the distance and the length of time for traveling (at least twice) is a hassle, especially for intended parents from other continents. There are also potential language barriers and the possibility of international legal problems.

It is understandable to want to put children in stable homes. However, the family dynamic shouldn’t matter. Everyone knows that not every family is the same. No one should judge stability based off of someone’s opinion of “traditional” families. People, from single parents to married gay couples, or otherwise, should be allowed the freedoms to choose how they want to bring their child in this world. As long as it is loved and cared for, what else matters?

Texas is globally known to be one of the most surrogacy friendly regions for intended parents. Why you ask?

Texas enacted a surrogacy statute, which specifically allows gestational surrogacy agreements to be validated by the court. Texas law only requires either the intended parents or surrogate to be a resident of Texas; but not both.

Here at Shared Conceptions, we have clients from all over the United States and overseas. As long as they are matched with a Texas surrogate, the law applies.

Awesome right? This amazing act has provided a parents with a large amount of peace of mind when it comes to their new additions.

Dr. Al Rodriguez, a Plano fertility specialist, said these changes in legislature put Texas on the list of surrogacy-friendly states here at home and internationally.

“This enables the couple to have their name on the birth certificate –the intended parents, that is, and not the gestational mother who delivers the baby,” says Rodriguez (NBC)

Although the Texas surrogacy statute is a great stride in history, it does not protect “traditional” arrangements in which the gestational mother carries and relinquishes custody of her own biological child to the intended parents. It also does not apply to single intended parents or same sex parents.

Texas has come so far in advancing the outlook on surrogacy legally and from a familial standpoint. If the view on sharing the process of conception continues to grow, hopefully Texas will have no choice but to extend the law to protect single parents, homosexuals, and even HIV positive parents as seen in California.

The times are changing and hopefully we will evolve with it for the sake of surrogacy.

 

http://www.ssa-agency.com/default.aspx/MenuItemID/106/MenuGroup/Home+2.htm
http://texassurrogacyandlegalcenter.com/legal/

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/International-Surrogacy-Ripening-in-Texas-93688734.html

When parents determine they want to start or expand a family, they often seek certain methods to help expedite the conception process.

Acupuncture, relaxation therapies, and diet are touted as an alternative to costly medical treatments. But do they really work?

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice that involves placing tiny needles into areas of the body, has served to treat some causes of infertility for centuries. In 2006, a study published in the journalFertility and Sterilityshowed that 36 percent of women who had acupuncture before and after embryo transfer during IVF got pregnant, versus 22 percent of those who didn’t have the treatment.

It’s hard to believe deep breathing and meditating can help aid in fertility, but the research is promising. According to a recent study done by Dr. Alice Domar from The Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Waltham, Massachusetts, 52 percent of the women receiving IVF treatments and attending mind/body sessions involving breathing exercises and positive thinking were pregnant after two IVF cycles, versus just 20 percent of those who didn’t attend.

The phrase “you are what you eat” holds true even in fertility. Eating seafood before pregnancy is essential due to their rich omega-3 fatty acid content, which increase fertility. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that women trying to conceive can safely eat up to 12 ounces a week of low-mercury fish. Loading up on other vitamins such as iron and folic acid are a must. Of course, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables go along with readying the body for pregnancy. Even fathers-to-be should take a daily multivitamin that contains zinc and selenium for at least three months before conception. Limiting intake on alcohol and caffeine is advised for both parents for optimum results.

Would you consider trying one of these options?

http://www.babycenter.com/0_fertility-diet-the-nutrients-you-need-to-conceive_1460692.bc

 

A surge of single men, gay and straight, have recently opted for surrogacy to fulfill their paternal dreams.

The Williams Institute, a think-tank on same-sex issues at the University of California – Los Angeles, finds there were more than one million never-married men raising children in 2010. A great portion of that was due to adoption and surrogacy.

While in some states adoption by a single father is frowned upon and even outlawed if that father is homosexual, surrogacy provides a window of opportunity to thousands of potential fathers without a mate.

The process of becoming a single parent is not an easy one. Fathers have to first pick donor eggs to fertilize with their sperm. Many use a gestational carrier, who is different from the original donor, to carry and deliver the baby. This is said to decrease legal liability and further limit the personal connection between the surrogate and child for a smoother transition for the new parent.

Brian Tessier, a homosexual adoptive parent, recently started 411-4-DAD, a hotline for prospective single fathers. Here he counsels both gay and straight men on the stigmas of single male parenting from suspicion to sexism in the workplace.

Now is the time that men are redefining the idea of traditional family. While others may be in doubt, musical icons Ricky Martin and Clay Aiken are two out of thousands of happy single fathers thanks to the gift of surrogacy. Aiken told People Magazine in an 2008 year interview that “if [the child] is raised in a loving environment, that’s the most important thing.”

Do you agree with Clay Aiken?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/straight-single-men-wanting-kids-turn-surrogacy/story?id=16520916
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/19/154860588/single-dads-by-choice-more-men-going-it-alone

 

One of my previous blog posts had to do with my utter contempt of the phrase “rent-a-womb.” You can read the blog here. One surrogate mom, Rachel M. had this response:

“For some of us, myself included, we have to use terms like ‘rent-a-womb’ because it aids in relieving some of the emotional attachment that comes with carrying a baby. Women know, everyone else fails to realize that once a woman becomes pregnant a very heavy emotional bond develops, regardless of whether the child is our own or we are carrying that baby for someone else. For me that bond is lessened, albeit a little, by using such terms as rent-a-womb and a few others that I am sure the writer would take great offense to. Additionally I do not want to see or hold the baby once delivered. I made that mistake with the first that I carried and it was extremely difficult to get past it. It’s a choice that I have made and for me it works.”

Surrogate mothers will emotionally bond with the babies they carry. Some ways they can lessen that bond are as follows:

• Opt not to hold the baby after delivery
• Breastfeeding is a big no-no
• Never refer to the baby(ies) as their own; even to strangers
• Always remember that their being pregnant is a gift to a couple

In the end, all of our surrogates are thrilled to deliver happy healthy babies for the parents who went through such great lengths to facilitate their birth. Intended parents will never forget how these ladies’ kind and selfless act forever changed their lives and their families.

Parents who have struggled with infertility and find themselves with a surplus of embryos, struggle with what do with them.

When parents are going through the process, they usually want enough embryos in case it takes more than one try to get pregnant. They may also want extra embryos for a future sibling project. So when they’ve grown their family to a point they are happy with and find themselves with a surplus, what do they do?

The California mom who implanted all eight of her embryos and delivered all eight babies couldn’t fathom disposing or donating any of her embryos.

Parents have the option of keeping the embryos in storage, donating to an infertile couple or donating to research.

The latest research shows that many couples don’t know what to do and continue to pay storage fees year after year.

Donating to research can pose a problem due to current federal legislation. Also, some parents feel a sense of responsibility for their embryos. They still count them as their children—their offspring, so donating them to research seems cold to them.

Letting another infertile couple adopt their embryos would be a very sweet and unselfish act if the parents can live the knowledge that their biological children are out there in the world somewhere.

There is no easy answer to this question and parents will have to come to their own conclusion. In the meantime, storage facilities continue to host hundreds of thousands of embryos until parents make those difficult decisions.

Are you and your partner storing embryos?

As surrogacy continues to grow in popularity, surrogacy agencies will continue to pop up and that’s when you should heed the buyer beware philosophy.

Just this week, the owner of the surrogacy agency in Modesto, CA was sentenced to federal prison for creating a financial firm where she used the funds from intended parents for personal use and left many families in turmoil.

Then there’s the story of a surrogate mother, Joy Sutkus, who successfully carried a baby to term but has a growing pile of medical bills because the surrogacy agency has not paid the bills. Their response is they’re working on it.

Low cost surrogacy agencies need to be thoroughly investigated. Do your due diligence and ask for referrals and most importantly, trust your gut. If something doesn’t quite feel right, it’s probably not. If the staff seems too occupied to respond to your questions or are not as friendly—search for another agency.

Here are a few things surrogate mothers and intended parents should look for in a reputable surrogate agency:

• A reliable surrogacy agency will be able to refer you to reputable professionals such as lawyers, psychologists and insurance firms and hold your hand throughout the surrogacy process.
• Payment terms and fees are explained and in writing so you have a clear financial picture of what surrogacy truly costs.
• Excellent surrogacy agencies have a lower staff to client ratio that guarantees that clients and surrogates get a personalized service.

At Shared Conception we welcome your questions, have lots of referrals and would love to help you grow your family. We like to think of ourselves as Texas’ best surrogacy agency!

 

If you’re considering surrogacy you’ve probably run across a lot of acronyms. Some are easy to decipher, while others can leave you scratching your head.

So we’ve compiled a list of the most common acronyms you’ll come across during your surrogacy journey.

A

ACA: Anticardiolipin Antibodies
ACTH: Adrenal Corticotropic Hormone
AFP: Alpha-Fetoprotein Test
AI: Artificial Insemination
AP: Attachment Parenting
ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology
ATA: Antithyroid Antibody
AVA: Antiovarian Antibody

B

BB: Bulletin Board
BBT: Basal Body Temperature
BCP: Birth Control Pills
BFN: Big Fat Negative (Negative Pregnancy Test) (Also Bye For Now)
BFP: Big Fat Positive (Positive Pregnancy Test)
BT: Blood Test

C

CB: Cycle Buddy (Women on the Same Menstrual Cycle)
CBE: ClearBlueEasy
CCCT: Clomiphene Citrate Challenge (Clomid Challenge)
CD: Cycle Day (Day of Menstrual Cycle; The First Day of A Period Is Day 1)
CF: Cervical Fluid
CM: Cervical Mucus
CNM: Certified Nurse Midwife
CP: Cervical position
CVS: Chorionic Villus Sampling

D

D&C: Dilation and Curretage (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage)
D&E: Dilation and Evacuation (Surgical Procedure After Miscarriage)
DA: Daycare
DE: Donor Egg
DPO: Day Past Ovulation
DPR: Days Past Retrieval
DP3DT: Days Post 3-Day Transfer
DP5DT: Days Post 5-Day Transfer
DPT: Days Post Transfer

E

E2: Estradiol
ED: Egg Donor/Donation
EDD: Estimated Delivery/Due Date
EFR/FRER/FRE: First Response Early Results (Pregnancy Test)
EPT: Early Pregnancy Test
EWCM: Egg White Cervical Mucus

F

FAM: Family Awareness Method (For Pinpointing Ovulation)
FC: Fingers Crossed
FIF: Former Intended Father
FIM: Former Intended Mother
FIP: Former Intended Parent

G

GS: Gestational Surrogacy
GTC: Going to Conceive
GTT: Glucose Tolerance Test

H

H&H9: Happy and Healthy 9 Months/Pregnancy Congratulations
HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HGB: Hemoglobin
HPT: Home Pregnancy Test
HSC: Hysteroscopy
HSG: Hysterosalpingogram
Hx: History

I

ICI: Intra-cervical Insemination
ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
IF: Infertility/Intended Father
IM: Intended Mother
Insems: Artificial Insemination
IP: Intended Parent
ITI: Intratubal Insemination
ISA: Independent Surrogacy Arrangement
IUI: Intrauterine Insemination
IVF: In Vitro fertilization

L

LAP: Laparoscopy
L&D: Labor and Delivery
LMP: Last Menstrual Period
LOK: Lots of Kids
LP: Luteal Phase
LPD: Luteal Phase Defect

M

MAT LV: Maternity Leave
MC or M/C: Miscarriage
MFI: Male Factor Infertility
MO: Months old
MS: Morning Sickness
MW: Midwife

N

NFP: Natural Family planning
NP: Nurse Practitioner
NST: Non-Stress Test

O

O: Ovulation
O’ing: Ovulating
OB: Obstetrician
OB/GYN: Obstetrician/Gynecologist
OLV: Open Legs Vibe (To See Gender During Ultrasound)
OPK: Ovulation Predictor Kits
OPT: Ovulation Predictor Test
OTC: Over the Counter

P

PED: Pediatrician
PG: Pregnant
PI: Primary Infertility
PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIF: Potential Intended Father
PIM: Potential Intended Mother
PIP: Potential Intended Parent
PMS: Premenstrual Syndrome
POAS: Pee On A Stick (Use a Home Pregnancy Test)
PPD: Postpartum Depression
PROM: Premature Rupture of the Membranes
PTL: Preterm Labor

R

RBC: Red Blood Cell
RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist
RPL: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
RSA: Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
RUM?: Are You Married?
RUS?: Are You Single?

S

SAHD: Stay At Home Dad
SAHM: Stay At Home Mom
SAHP: Stay At Home Parent
SAHW: Stay At Home Wife
SD: Sperm Donor
SHOW: Soft High Open Wet (Condition of Cervix During Ovulation)
SI: Secondary Infertility
SO: Significant Other
STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease
SW: Social Worker

T

TOK: Tons of Kids
TS: Traditional Surrogacy
TTC: Trying to Conceive
Tx: Treatment

U

US: Ultrasound
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection

W

WAH: Work At Home
WAHD: Work At Home Dad
WAHM: Work At Home Mom
WAHP: Work At Home Parent
WBC: White Blood Cells
WD: Working Dad
WOHD: Working Out of Home Dad
WOHM: Working Out of Home Mom

X

X-AFP: Expanded Alpha-Protein Test

Source: http://www.therainbowbabies.com/MessageBoardAcronyms.html