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Should I Wait Until the Pandemic Is Over?

Posted in General Fertility on February 15, 2021 by Donor Concierge
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Should we wait until the pandemic is over to build our family?

That’s a question we’ve received countless times over the past year. We talk to hundreds of hopeful parents and here’s what we know.

We know there’s no one size fits all answer -- we’re all living through the pandemic together, and we all have completely different fertility needs, experiences, and emotional bandwidth. Knowing whether you’re ready to pursue an egg donation or surrogacy journey is deeply personal. But for those who do know they’re ready, but are concerned about the obstacles COVID-19 presents, here are our 5 reasons why you can feel confident that now is a great time to start the egg donor process or find a gestational surrogate.

The Covid Vaccine is now available
We’ve been guided by our medical partners and are confident in recent guidance recently published. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) stated:

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have had questions about the impact of the virus on their health. Now, as the rollout of the COVID vaccines progresses, patients similarly have questions about whether the vaccine is right for their individual health needs.

“As experts in reproductive health, we continue to recommend that the vaccine be available to pregnant individuals. We also assure patients that there is no evidence that the vaccine can lead to loss of fertility. While fertility was not specifically studied in the clinical trials of the vaccine, no loss of fertility has been reported among trial participants or among the millions who have received the vaccines since their authorization, and no signs of infertility appeared in animal studies. Loss of fertility is scientifically unlikely.”

Fertility is Essential
Fertility treatments and family building are essential services, but we probably don’t need to tell you that. Everyone going through fertility struggles has felt the pressure of a ticking clock, and that doesn’t stop just because everything else did. Unfortunately, many hopeful parents feel like waiting is simply not an option. Fertility professionals know the kind of pressure hopeful parents can be under, which is why we’ve all remained tirelessly at work during the pandemic. We’re here to support you through this journey, no matter what else is going on in the world.If you’re ready, we’re here for you.

Fertility Clinics have adapted
Fertility clinics and other fertility professionals have taken drastic steps to safeguard patient safety and are working with state guidelines and industry recommendations. Many fertility clinics are requiring all parties to have recent, negative COVID tests and/or a two week quarantine for out of state patients prior to treatment. If you’re nervous about how COVID-19 could affect your family building plans, your clinic will be able to help. The emphasis on safety and strict enforcement of regulations may feel scary, but fertility clinics are truly doing their best to help patients achieve their goals while keeping everyone involved safe and healthy. Fertility professionals understand the stress their patients are under, and they are working to support parents and donors as they navigate their safest options.

You Know What You Want
Spending more time than ever at home and seeing our normal activities and patterns disappear has made many of us stop and reevaluate. In a time of stress and uncertainty, we’ve had to refocus on what matters most. For some of us, that means building a family.

Founder of Donor Concierge, Gail Sexton Anderson, says 2020 was challenging, but priorities shifted. “We had more calls from intended parents who needed our help. I think the pandemic made a lot of people stop and re-evaluate what’s important to them. Plus, the fact that many of us have been working successfully at home means that the juggling act of work/family seems less daunting.”

This has been a period of chaos. Losing jobs, changing employment, trying to safely connect with family and friends, protecting our health, finding new ways to occupy our time. A lot has changed over the past year. If your desire to build a family has not, and if in fact it’s grown stronger, then that is a sign that you should not ignore. There is never a “perfect time” to bring a child into the world, but the best time is when you know that you’re ready.

More options than ever
The pandemic has added stress to an already stressful situation. . But you actually have more family building options than ever before. Our team works to do the heavy lifting for you and will walk you through everything you need to know. If you’re looking for expert support, we’ve got you!

Having more ‘at home’ time may even give you time to process all of your options. Starting a donor or surrogacy journey may feel daunting because there’s so much uncertainty, but that’s where your Donor Concierge case manager comes in.

Gloria Li, Program Director for Donor Concierge says things are changing rapidly, but she and her team are keeping on top of the latest information.

“We talk to our agency partners and clinic coordinators every day. For every clinic, we’ve got a list of the protocols they are implementing due to Covid. “These are the logistics we think about when we are presenting a donor or surrogate candidate. We want to find out how long the clinic will require her to be there, and make sure that any egg donor or surrogate candidate is willing and comfortable to possibly extend her stay to accommodate covid quarantines.”

Gloria says the agencies, egg donors and surrogates have been incredibly accommodating. “Everyone is fearful and we know that intended parents are feeling the stress. I’ve noticed that all our partners are eager and willing to be flexible with many things including hold fees, testing and even delaying the cycle until everyone is ready to start. "

Whether you’re looking for a clinic, advice on choosing a donor, fertility therapy, or more, Donor Concierge has access to countless professionals providing remote support and guidance. And if you want to tackle the egg donor search on your own, companies like Tulip Fertility provide you a new and unique option that you can access from the comfort of your home.

Ready to start your journey or have more questions? Schedule a consultation with a Donor Concierge team member now.

Donor Concierge Blog

Welcome to Gail's Blog! Gail launched Donor Concierge in 2006 to provide intended parents with greater choice when searching for an egg donor or surrogate. Our Blog retains her voice, and our company retains her philosophy & ethics. We invite you to learn about finding an egg donor, finding a surrogate mother and the fascinating world of fertility.

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