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Baby or Bust is back - better than ever.

After a little break, your podcast about all things fertility is back. Same host, Dr. Lora Shahine, same goals to educate and support the fertility community but new format and new production team. We’re moving away from seasons and delivering weekly content. We listened to your feedback and will continue interviews but adding episodes with in-depth education from Dr. Shahine on certain topics.

Send us topics you’d like to learn about and interview suggestions to hello@drlorashahine.com

In this episode, we answer the question: How does a sperm bank work with donors to meet the needs of patients? 

Host Dr. Lora Shahine interviews Angelo Allard, the General Supervisor at Seattle Sperm Bank (SSB) — one of the largest and most respected sperm banks in the country.  For almost 15 years, Angelo has been working with patients to find the right donors and build happy, healthy families. 

Angelo explains in-depth every step of the process, from how SSB vets and approves donors, through the regulation and oversight of sperm banks and how SSB supports recipients in choosing their donor, to how much gametes cost, and even how you can return unused vials. 

Angelo also answers listeners' questions, so if you still have unanswered questions after the episode, be sure to connect with Dr. Shahine or the Seattle Sperm Bank for answers!

In this episode you'll hear:

[0:00-03:28] Intro

[03:29-4:54] Angelo’s role at Seattle Sperm Bank

[04:55-11:54] Can anyone donate? Learn how donors are screened

[11:55-14:27] Are sperm counts really falling around the world? Angelo says "Yes."

[14:28-16:50] Are sperm banks regulated? Learn about lab and sperm bank oversight.

[16:51-26:18 ]How do recipients choose a donor? What do they learn about the donor? Photos?

[26:18-30:02] How do you know what type of sperm preparation to buy? Learn about the different labels and preparation.

[30:03-30:21] How much does donor sperm cost?

[30:22-32:55] How many vials of donor sperm should someone buy?

[32:56-33:22] Can you return donor sperm you don’t use?

[33:23-36:17] Can a donor truly be anonymous?

[36:18-39:01] How many children can a donor have from donation?

Questions from Instagram:

[39:02- 40:16] How do you appeal to different races and ethnicities to donate?

[40:17-42:03] Any impact on sperm banks or use of donor sperm after overturn of Roe v Wade?

[42:04-44:02] How do recipients learn about any new health information on donors in the future?

[44:03-48:16] Angelo’s memorable and inspirational patient story

[48:17-49:55] Outro

Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter

Follow @drlorashahine

Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books 

Baby or Bust is back - better than ever.

After a little break, your podcast about all things fertility is back. Same host, Dr. Lora Shahine, same goals to educate and support the fertility community but new format and new production team. We’re moving away from seasons and delivering weekly content. We listened to your feedback and will continue interviews but adding episodes with in-depth education from Dr. Shahine on certain topics.

Send us topics you’d like to learn about and interview suggestions to hello@drlorashahine.com

In this episode, we answer the question: How does a sperm bank work with donors to meet the needs of patients? 

Host Dr. Lora Shahine interviews Angelo Allard, the General Supervisor at Seattle Sperm Bank (SSB) — one of the largest and most respected sperm banks in the country.  For almost 15 years, Angelo has been working with patients to find the right donors and build happy, healthy families. 

Angelo explains in-depth every step of the process, from how SSB vets and approves donors, through the regulation and oversight of sperm banks and how SSB supports recipients in choosing their donor, to how much gametes cost, and even how you can return unused vials. 

Angelo also answers listeners' questions, so if you still have unanswered questions after the episode, be sure to connect with Dr. Shahine or the Seattle Sperm Bank for answers!

In this episode you'll hear:

[0:00-03:28] Intro

[03:29-4:54] Angelo’s role at Seattle Sperm Bank

[04:55-11:54] Can anyone donate? Learn how donors are screened

[11:55-14:27] Are sperm counts really falling around the world? Angelo says "Yes."

[14:28-16:50] Are sperm banks regulated? Learn about lab and sperm bank oversight.

[16:51-26:18 ]How do recipients choose a donor? What do they learn about the donor? Photos?

[26:18-30:02] How do you know what type of sperm preparation to buy? Learn about the different labels and preparation.

[30:03-30:21] How much does donor sperm cost?

[30:22-32:55] How many vials of donor sperm should someone buy?

[32:56-33:22] Can you return donor sperm you don’t use?

[33:23-36:17] Can a donor truly be anonymous?

[36:18-39:01] How many children can a donor have from donation?

Questions from Instagram:

[39:02- 40:16] How do you appeal to different races and ethnicities to donate?

[40:17-42:03] Any impact on sperm banks or use of donor sperm after overturn of Roe v Wade?

[42:04-44:02] How do recipients learn about any new health information on donors in the future?

[44:03-48:16] Angelo’s memorable and inspirational patient story

[48:17-49:55] Outro

Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter

Follow @drlorashahine

Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books 

This episode is very personal and special for Arden. She is joined by Gail Sexton Anderson and Gloria Li from Donor Concierge, and together, they explore the invaluable services offered to women aspiring to become mothers. Donor Concierge has played a pivotal role in bringing countless families into existence by serving as dedicated advocates. They collaborate with many agencies involved in sperm and egg donation and surrogacy. This intricate and sensitive process is a remarkable journey of creation. Anyone interested in parenthood or donation will find this episode enlightening and informative.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [01:18] Gail explains why she founded Donor Concierge, and Gloria shares how she became involved

• [03:36] Arden explains her personal story and asks what are the challenges in finding egg or sperm donors

• [07:36] What are the realistic expectations of a concierge business in this field

• [11:59] How Donor Concierge serves the affluent family and answers questions they may have

• [17:57] Do donors do this for the money and an explanation of the process involved for intended parents

• [26:09] Are some want-to-be parents excluded from the process

• [29:29] Discussion of clients who are recognizable by the public or extremely wealthy families, where the field is going in the future, and being open about how your family was created 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Finding a surrogate, a sperm donor, and an egg donor is not as easy as it may sound. It is a crucial decision, and hiring experts to guide you is best.

• Affluent parents have the option of a direct search program where they create a landing page to share with potential donors who they are. 

• Surrogacy allows you to give joy to a mother who otherwise would not have a child.

RESOURCES:

Beyond the Balance Sheet Website

Donor Concierge - Website

BIOGRAPHIES: 

CEO & Founder

Gail has dedicated her career to helping intended parents from all walks of life build families. She founded Donor Concierge as a compassionate approach to helping intended parents sort through the gauntlet of egg donor and surrogacy options. Gail is a Harvard-trained counselor with 25 years of experience helping intended parents have the baby they always dreamed of.

After graduate school, Gail joined a research group in the Psychology Department at Yale University. Later, she joined a group of researchers in pediatric neurology at Yale New Haven Hospital doing developmental testing with children born prematurely of very low birth weight. Gail is also a graduate of Alice Domar’s Mind Body Fertility Program through Boston IVF and has served on a Radcliffe panel with other fertility experts. In her career in the fertility industry, Gail has been the Executive Director of one of the leading surrogacy agencies and helped start two different egg donor agencies. Gail is an empathic listener who brings a calming influence to what can often be an emotionally stressful process.

A frequent speaker at fertility conferences, Gail consults with organizations creating fertility service programs. She is a former board member of SEEDS, The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, and the Co-Founder of TULIP, a new online platform for third-party fertility. Married since 1984 with two wonderful children, Gail says having the privilege of being a mother has ignited her passion for helping others experience the joy of parenting.

Gloria Li, BA, PMP

Executive Director

Gloria is responsible for managing the Donor Concierge, overseeing all aspects of the company. Gloria has worked in fertility since 2013 and is an expert on egg donation, gestational surrogacy, and fertility care management. Her vision, passion for the mission, and attention to detail have set a high mark in our commitment to excellence, and her leadership has helped Donor Concierge become the premier resource for intended parents worldwide.

Julia and Christina Bailey engage in a heartfelt conversation about the challenges and triumphs of healing from divorce, falling in love, fertility and creating a family in a same-sex relationship. We discuss her first fertility journey using reciprocal IVF with her ex wife - she used her eggs and her ex carried. We discuss Christina’s heartbreak over her divorce and her experience parenting through the pain and how she slowly re-emerged and started dating again. In a brand new relationship, she communicated to her girlfriend,  “I am expanding my family, are you on board?”.  A conversation which resulted in a set of twins. 

 Drawing strength from Glennon Doyle's words, "You Can Do the Hard Things," Christina's openness highlights her resilience and the transformative power of her experiences.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Julia introduces Christina Bailey and discusses her journey with infertility 

• [03:51] Christina shares why she decided to share her fertility journey publicly and the difficulty in creating a family in a same-sex relationship

• [12:04] Christian reflects on how she thought her life would unfold as a young adult and the shock she felt when served with divorce papers 

• [16:55] How divorce affects your mental state and the resources you can lean on

• [22:25] Christina discusses starting to date after a ten-year marriage and what she has learned about herself in that process

• [33:21] Christian talks about her new partner and being authentic about wanting to have more children

• [40:20] The ups and downs of getting pregnant and the path Christian took to have twins

• [50:26] What happens to embryos post-divorce, and what advice Christina has regarding that process

• [56:34] Christian explains her definition of family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• A lawyer should be involved when you venture into embryo retrieval and dispensing those embryos in case of divorce. 

• Dating after a divorce may clarify who you are and what you want in a partner.

• It is critical to have the support of family and friends when going through a divorce and an infertility journey.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd - YouTube 

Christina Bailey - Instagram

In this week’s episode, we are joined by journalist and podcast host, Louise McLoughlin.. Louise tells us the story of finding out she was donor-conceived, how she found her biological father and sister, and the feelings she experienced throughout the process. We also talk about what it was like for her family to accept that she wanted to search for her biological father. Louise discusses her work on her podcast, You Look Like Me, where she interviews  donor-conceived people and has become a leader giving voice to the donor-conceived community. We explore the trends and themes of donor conception, including the potential to have a large number of biological siblings, discovering your bio family, medical risks to having limited access to your medical history, and other experiences in the donor conceived community.  Louise advocates for listening to the donor-conceived people’s stories,  being honest with donor-conceived children and helping walk them through uncovering the qualities that came from their bio-parent. Tune in today to hear the impacts and story of a donor-conceived person. 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [3:00] Louise introduces herself and tells her story. 
• [5:41] Louise shares with us the moment she learned she was donor conceived. 
• [12:10] What was it like for Louise to find out her father wasn’t her biological father? 
• [15:53] If Louise could write the laws, what would she want to put into place?
• [19:25] What is the story about Louise finding a sister and her biological father? 
• [29:45] How has the relationship changed with Louise’s dad since finding her bio-dad?
• [36:20] What does “enough” mean to Louise regarding finding her bio-sister? 
• [37:06] What themes does Louise hear through her work? 
• [39:20] How does it feel to be going on the journey of uncovering who you are as a donor-conceived child? 
• [43:50] Relationships & Honesty are two things Louise is an advocate for. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• Knowing the information about genetic medical issues is so important that people can be aware of any genetic illnesses early—knowledge of power from so many perspectives. 
• Wanting to know where these things come from - a sense of humor, nose, personality traits, etc. It doesn’t have to be wanting to replace a non-bio parent, but it can just be wanting to learn more about who you are. 
• Donor conceived children and the story are really just a part of what a modern family looks like now. There shouldn’t be shame carried with going on this journey of donor conceived children.  

RESOURCE LINKS

You Look Like Me Instagram

You Look Like Me Podcast

Stork'd Facebook Page

Stork'd on Instagram

Stork'd YouTube Channel

About Louise McLoughlin:

Louise McLoughlin is host of ‘You Look Like Me’, a podcast which explores the secrets and discoveries of donor conceived people, to explore issues around identity, honesty, and why knowing the truth about yourself matters. The podcast reached number 1 in the Irish documentary charts, 10 in the UK, and 69 in the U.S, and was a Guardian podcast of the week in 2021

In this week’s episode, we are joined by Lauren Isley, a genetic counselor at California Cryobank. Have you ever wondered how a sperm bank selects and evaluates its donors? Lauren walks us through what genetics counseling is and how it supports clients in their fertility needs. She shares with us the process of selecting sperm donors, supporting clients in selecting the right donor or in making major decisions based on genetics.She lifts the veil of what goes on behind the scenes and helps reveal the mystery that goes on to create a successful program. Lauren also gives excellent advice for those getting started choosing a donor. Tune in today to get a great understanding of how cryobanks work!

IN THIS EPISODE: 

• [3:35] Welcome, Lauren Isley! Learning about Lauren’s work. 
• [7:39] Under what circumstances might someone need genetic counseling?
• [10:15] What occurs behind the scenes to ensure sperm meets guidelines?
• [13:50] What conditions make someone eligible to be an egg or sperm donor? 
• [16:14] How does California Cryobank look at the risk a potential donor might have vs. the number of donors needed?
• [22:55] What percentage of egg or sperm donors are eligible, and what might make donors unqualified? 
• [25:38] How does California Cryobank keep up with new genetic information? If there is a new genetic mutation, do they go back and remove those donors?
• [28:28] What happens when new medical information is received after a child is born or the donor uncovers information?
• [36:37] How has technology like 23&Me shifted the number of donors? 
• [43:48] What filters and mechanisms does California Cryobank use regarding the number of families who can use a particular donor?

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• When starting your search, start with 2 or 3 items that are your primary criteria. Do you want ethnicity? Height, Education? Whatever it is, start small and narrow down. 
• The cryobank goes through a lot behind the scenes to screen donors. They have a lot of guidelines for donors, including genetics. Some genetic testing will be discussed to see if a recipient will want to move forward with the donor, while others will need testing from the recipient to see if they also care about the genetic mutation. 
• Donors are providing people with the gift of life! The process is long for them, so they deserve much love and appreciation for making the gift a reality. 

RESOURCE LINKS

California Cryobank

California Cryobank Instagram

Stork'd Facebook Page

Stork'd on Instagram

Stork'd YouTube Channel

About Lauren:

Lauren is a genetic counselor by training and after graduating with a Master’s of Science in Genetic Counseling degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, she began her career in the field of assisted reproductive technology, where she has practiced for the past decade. Her various roles include preimplantation genetic testing, gamete donor screening, and reproductive genetic testing. Across these multiple roles, Lauren has focused on educating both patients and healthcare providers about reproductive genetics. Lauren has published several papers and abstracts related to genetic testing and gamete donors and spoken at multiple national conferences on these topics. Lauren previously served as Chair for the Genetic Counseling Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Co-Chair of the Assisted Reproductive Technology and Infertility Special Interest Group of the National Society of Genetic Counselors. She is currently a Medical Science Liaison at Generate Life Sciences, the parent company for California Cryobank, Donor Egg Bank USA, and Cord Blood Registry

Is it just me, or does that baby look just like his doctor?

In this episode, I speak with Saundra and Susan who have built a community which they lovingly call their village family. Filled with friends, family and neighbors, the village family was composed to create a diverse and rich environment for their daughter to grow and thrive in. We talk about community as family and how to build your community. We also explore a fertility journey including considering adoption and using a known sperm donor. This episode highlights the joys and value in having a community to reach out to in order to navigate the highs and lows of parenthood.

In This Episode: 

• [ 2:18 ] Saundra’s introduction.
• [ 3:30 ] Susan’s introduction.
• [ 5:11 ] The Village Community. 
• [ 7:20 ] Diversity in community.
• [ 13:34 ] How their community looks now.
• [ 15:47 ] Is it harder to build community now?
• [ 20:27 ] How to curate a community?
• [ 22:11 ] Family building for Susan and Saundra.
• [ 29:59 ] Their relationship with the sperm donor.
• [ 32:47 ] Legalities of sperm donors.
• [ 34:48 ] Complexities of same-sex family building in the 90s.
• [ 36:21 ] Values of community and parenting.
• [ 42:38 ] Pursuing family building and knowing when to stop.
• [ 47:44 ] How Saundra and Susan define family.

Takeaways: 

• Saundra and Susan have been together for around 28 years and have one daughter who is now in her early 20s.
• Creating a community now is not any more difficult than it was in the 90s when Susan and Saundra were building their “village,” but it takes intentionality, love and commitment. 
• Building a community usually takes one person who is willing to make it happen.
• Susan and Saundra’s parenting has shifted since their daughter has become a young adult. This means giving one hundred percent support, even if you don't understand or agree with some of the decisions. It also means not to tell them to do things differently, but simply ask the questions and try to understand the decision. 
• Age or careers don’t matter so much when choosing your community – it’s more important to find people with the same values as you. 
• There were certain legalities that Saundra and Susan had to navigate in the 90s during their family building process – like Saundra having to adopt their daughter in order for her parental rights to be recognized officially.
• The process of family building – whether through adoption, pregnancy, or sperm donation – is extremely personal and can also be painful. 
• It’s not about the quantity of relationships in your life. It’s about the quality. 

Disclaimer:

The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The stories and experiences contained within reflect the experiences and opinions of the guest and may contain content found to be triggering by listeners. Listeners should take care to avoid program content which may not be suited to them.

The contents of any podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice, do not reflect the opinions of the podcast or its host and do not create any type of  professional relationship between the audience and presenters.  No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. Stork'd Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site.

In this episode, host we speak with Gina Davis, a multi-state licensed board-certified genetic counselor, and founder of Advocate Genetics. We dive into how the anonymity of donors has changed over the years and how providers can help families integrate this decision into their lives. The discussion covers the impact of at-home genetic testing and how it has opened the door to relative-finding, leading to a new way of seeing genetic identity and identity narratives. The conversation also delves into how genetic counselors approach counseling recipients about the impact of genetics in their decision-making and recommendations for disclosing a child's genetic origins. Listen in to gain a deeper understanding of the changing landscape of donor anonymity and the importance of genetic identity. 

EMPOWER website: https://empowerdonation.com

Advocate Genetics: https://www.advocategenetics.com/

More information on these topics is at www.asrm.org

Tell us your thoughts on the show by e-mailing asrm@asrm.org

Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple podcasts ,Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

ASRM Today Series Podcasts are supported in part by the ASRM Corporate Member Council

Parham has helped thousands of intended parents bring their dream of parenthood to fruition over his 20 years in the industry, and carries a vast amount of knowledge surrounding infertility, reproductive challenges, reproductive law and rights, and third-party reproductive options for LGBTQ couples. Learn more in this episode about surrogacy and egg donors.

Egg Donor & Surrogacy website: https://eggdonorandsurrogacy.com

Egg Donor & Surrogacy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eggdonorandsurrogacy

Connect with Elizabeth on her website: https://miraculousmamas.com

Miraculous Mamas Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miraculousmamas

Get 10% off your first month at https://www.betterhelp.com/mamas

Go to https://www.genexa.com/mamas for 20% off your first purchase!

More podcasts at WAVE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/artist/wave-podcast-network/1437831426

This week we welcome 41-year-old Natalie to the show who shares her extraordinary journey on her quest to become a mother.

After her long-term relationship broke down when Natalie was 35, she decided to go it alone and embark on becoming a mother using a sperm donor. A year into her journey, Natalie became sick with a neurological illness that left her unable to walk, and her quest for a child was put on hold as she refocused her efforts on learning to walk again. 

Follow Natalie's journey to the present day and find out where she's at now, as we discuss how she chose her sperm donor to dealing with the traumatic experience of recent missed miscarriage. 

Follow Jamie and Ellie and The Jellie Diary on Instagram and Facebook, and if you have a story you'd like to share, contact us jelliediary@gmail.com. 

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