Beverly Hills Egg Donation’s Robyn Perchik on the recruiting and screening process, determining the intended parents’ 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 retrieval procedure and pregnancy. The donors provide the oocyte (eggs), which make up half of the genetic material of the resulting child/ren. The intended parents choose the egg donor, who goes through a cycle of medication to increase the yield of eggs. The eggs are then extracted during a retrieval procedure and fertilized in the lab (in vitro fertilization). The resulting embryo are usually frozen, analyzed for normal chromosomes, and then transferred to either a surrogate or intended mother when the doctor determines that they are ready. Gender selection can also be done during this analysis process, which is known as preimplantation genetics.
CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT THE PROCESS?
The process is so personal; no two situations are alike. We approach every “match” from the standpoint that the intended parents have some donor characteristics in mind that they hope to find. I have many people who want a donor who looks like they would fit into their family, who perhaps reminds them of a sister or a cousin. I have intended parents who want a “smart” egg, meaning that they are looking for a donor who is what we call an academic achiever. And then I have recipients who want an “athletic” egg, or a “musical” egg, and so on.
My associates and I spend time with the intended parents as early and as often as we can in the process, to determine what their criteria are and to help them rank their criteria in terms of importance. We try to manage expectations about which will be the easiest and hardest criteria to find. We also discuss thoughts about future contact with the donor—i.e., under what circumstances and when that contact might occur, if it is desired.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT IS A “GOOD FIT”?
As part of the matching process, we will arrange Zoom calls or meetings between the intended parents and prospective donor when requested. Some of our clients want to be able to tell the child that they met the egg donor; others want to ask the donor if she is open to meeting the child when they are 18.
In the last decade, we have seen a shift towards meeting the donor and the desire to have future contact with the donor. Especially in the LGBTQ community, personally interacting with the donor before and/or after the donation process has become increasingly important. We work with a growing number of LGBTQ single parents and couples, locally and internationally, who want to keep communication channels open for a future relationship with the donor. Couples have met their donors across the country in meetings facilitated by our team. One intended father flew his donor to Europe, where he lived, after his child was born. We have also been seeing more donors hoping to feel a connection with their prospective recipient. Sometimes the donor requests a short note from the intended parents telling her a bit about themselves; this can help a donor feel even happier helping the recipient.
Ultimately, a good fit is a donor who has most—if not all—of the intended parents’ desired criteria and has the commitment and responsibility to complete the process.
HOW MUCH DOES THE ENTIRE PROCESS COST?
Costs excluding the donor’s medical expenses and travel (if applicable) are $22,000 and up, inclusive of donor fees which start at $10,000 and agency fees which start at $12,000. This does not include fees paid to the physician and pharmacy. This also excludes surrogate fees.
We are a stand-alone egg donor agency, which means that we are not affiliated with a particular doctor, clinic, or surrogacy agency. We work with whichever provider the intended parents choose for their cycle.
ARE THERE ANY “INSIDER TIPS” REGARDING EGG DONATION?
When looking at egg donor agencies I would suggest:
• Asking if the agency is using international donors. All of our donors reside in the US, and are either US citizens or are legally able to work here.
• Picking an agency that has a contractual refund policy; many do not.
• Asking the agency questions about their fee structure: do they take a percentage of the donor fee in addition to the agency fee? Do they “mark up” travel, or provide it at cost as part of their services? Do they collect donor receipts and reconcile the expenses? Are there surcharges for cycle coordination? What happens, financially, if you don’t have a successful pregnancy?
Your readers should understand that the lowest agency fee may not in fact be the lowest price, or the best value.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THIS FIELD?
My background is insurance, risk management, with a law degree thrown in. I was an underwriter of commercial casualty insurance for Fortune 500 companies. An underwriter is akin to the quarterback on a football field, having to work with a lot of different customer service and legal/financial personnel to achieve a goal.
As I was thinking of retiring from the company that I’d worked with right out of college for 30 years, I received an interesting phone call. The previous owner of BHED was selling the business, and a mutual friend in the assisted reproductive technology field helped facilitate my purchase of the company.
I have never regretted the career change and I love to play a role in the creation or completion of families.
WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY?
My connection to the LGBTQ community includes family and friends across in the US, and now, because of my work at BHED, LGBTQ families in 23 countries from New Zealand to Norway.
Keeping in touch with our LGBTQ families has been a very rewarding part of owning an egg donor agency. I love visiting with my international families in their home countries and watching the children grow up, both in person and from afar.
For more info call: (310) 279-5272 or visit: www.bhed.com.
