Beverly Hills Egg Donation’s Robyn Perchik on the Evolution of LGBTQ+ Family Building
BY MARK ARIEL | PHOTO BY ALEXANDER SCHUELLER
Navigating the journey of third-party reproduction can feel daunting, but agencies like Beverly Hills Egg Donation (BHED) strive to provide a steady hand.
Robyn Perchik, who has owned and led BHED for the last 15 years, brings a unique background to the fertility space. Originally an underwriter of commercial casualty insurance for Fortune 500 companies with a law degree, Perchik heard that the previous owner was selling the agency and felt the timing was serendipitous.
Since taking the helm, the core tenets of BHED have remained anchored in transparency, compassion, and experience. “In an industry that is becoming increasingly crowded with new agencies that don’t subscribe to some—or even all—of these philosophies, I believe they are all the more important,” Perchik notes.
Maintaining high standards begins with a rigorous donor screening process. Prospective candidates must successfully pass FDA screening guidelines and evaluation of personal and family medical histories, reproductive health, academic achievements, hobbies, and personal motivations.
For intended parents entering the process, the emotional and logistical hurdles can initially feel overwhelming. Perchik explains that the team prioritizes making families feel seen, heard, and supported right from their first inquiry. “Choosing an egg donor is such a personal process, and feeling overwhelmed by it is so normal,” Perchik shares. To combat decision fatigue, the agency helps parents identify their primary priorities early—whether focusing on medical history, ethnicity, education, or physical traits—so they do not get lost scrolling through hundreds of profiles. The team also acknowledges the emotional weight of past fertility struggles and grief, providing a safe space and connecting families with additional support resources.
This inclusive approach extends deeply into supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, for whom third-party reproduction carries specific considerations. Gay and lesbian couples, trans and non-binary parents, and single parents are treated as a core part of everyday operations rather than exceptions. Perchik notes that the landscape has shifted over the past decade: more LGBTQ+ intended parents are entering the process with extensive prior research, while more donors are explicitly interested in supporting LGBTQ+ family building.
When coordinating complex pathways like egg donation and gestational surrogacy simultaneously—a common scenario for same-sex male couples—strategic timing is essential. Because many surrogacy agencies require established embryos before matching, Perchik advises that selecting an egg donor and completing the donor cycle is usually the first step. Furthermore, while heterosexual couples often seek donors who share physical resemblances, same-sex male parents often prioritize clean medical histories, academic achievement, and compatible backgrounds rather than physical matching.
Safeguarding ethical practices across the global expansion of third-party reproduction remains paramount. Perchik emphasizes that no participant should ever feel pressured or misled. BHED strictly follows recognized medical and legal guidelines, requires independent legal representation for both donors and intended parents, and uses independent escrow agencies to handle funds securely. BHED is also a proud member of the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS) and is fully HIPAA-compliant.
Ultimately, Perchik’s greatest piece of advice for intended parents just starting out is to define their priorities clearly before browsing profiles. “Be clear on what matters most to you before you start looking at donor profiles,” Perchik advises, noting that a clear filter prevents paralysis from hundreds of choices. Beyond checklists, Perchik encourages parents to trust their instincts when a particular donor profile simply feels right, knowing the BHED team will support them at every step.
For more info visit: www.bhed.com
