>> JEWEL THAIS-WILLIAMS <<
tracted during an egg retrieval, and fertilized in the lab (in vitro fertilization). The resulting embryo are then transferred to either the intended mother or surrogate five days later.
CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT THE PROCESS?
ROBYN PERCHIK
The process is so personal—no two situations are alike. I have many people who want a donor who looks like they would fit into their family, that reminds them of a sister or a cousin. I have intended parents who want a “smart” egg, meaning that they are looking for an academic achiever. And then I have recipients who want an “athletic” egg, or a “musical” egg, and so on. The only commonality in the matching process is that no two people are making their decisions the same way. My associates and I spend time with the intended parent (s) as early as we can in the process to determine what their criteria are, and to help them rank their criteria in terms of importance. We also try to manage expectations about which will be the easiest and hardest criteria to accomplish in the match process.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT IS A “GOOD FIT?”
THE
GOOD EGG
Beverly Hills Egg Donation’s Robyn Perchik on the recruiting and screening process, determining the intended parent(s) criteria and insider tips WHAT EXACTLY IS AN EGG DONOR AGENCY? An egg donor agency recruits and screens egg donors with the ultimate goal of having a successful egg donation procedure and a resulting pregnancy. The egg donors 2 8 T H E F IGH T | www.thefightmag.com
provide the oocyte (commonly known as the “egg”), which provides half of the genetic material of the child. The intended parent(s) choose the egg donor. The donor goes through a cycle of medication to increase the yield of eggs. The eggs are then ex-
As part of the matching process, we will arrange Skypes or meetings with the donor, if that is what the intended parent(s) want to do. Some of our clients want to be able to tell the child that they met the egg donor, others want to ask the donor to be open to meeting the child when they are 18. In the last 8 years, we have seen more of a movement towards meeting the donor and opening up the idea of future contact with the donor. Especially in the LGBTQ community, the requests to personally interact with the donor before and after the egg donation process has become increasingly important. We have consistently worked with a large number of LGBTQ single parents and couples, split locally and internationally, who are desirous of keeping communication channels open for future relationships. Couples have met their donors in LA, NY or SF, all facilitated by BHED associates. One IP flew their donor to Europe after the child was born. WE have also seen more of a reaching out by donors to feel a connection with the intended parent(s). They will request a short email telling the donor about themselves, their interests, which really ends up with the donor being more content with helping someone. Then continue with,” a good fit is someone who has most , if not all of the donor criteria, and can
