Adrienne Bailon and husband Israel Houghton have welcomed their first child via gestational carrier: "He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle... everything." Adrienne Bailon Houghton announced August 16th that she has welcomed her son via surrogacy. The announcement came as a surprise to all but her closest friends and family, as the actress and host decided to keep her pregnancy and surrogacy journey private. She told People that “everyone was shocked” to learn the news. "Even my sister, who watched The Real throughout the whole last season, literally said to me, 'Adrienne, I am impressed.' She's like, 'I am so proud of you. You are really holding this.'” “He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, every miscarriage. Everything. All we feel is joy and overwhelming love & gratitude.” The announcement came after a long fertility struggle for Adrienne Bailon Houghton and her husband, Israel Houghton. She has been open about her fertility journey and shared her experiences on her talk show The Real in 2018. When her co-host asked about her family-building journey, Bailon got candid about her struggles, saying, “It isn’t what I thought it would be.” “I think so many people are very insensitive to that, in the sense I know you guys are like, ‘Is she pregnant?’ Her face is fuller,’” Bailon said. “I think that as an audience we should be sensitive to the fact that everybody doesn’t get pregnant right away.” Bailon continued, sharing that she had originally expected a completely different journey to family. “I thought that if my husband looked at me, I’d get pregnant. I really believed that and it just hasn’t been that way… I’ve had to come to peace with that it’ll happen when it’s God’s timing and I believe in that, and I have faith in all of that,” she said. “But it can be really discouraging and it can be really frustrating.” Now, years after opening up about her family-building struggles with millions of viewers, the actress shared about the new path she took to pregnancy. Over the years of their fertility journey, Bailon and Houghton experienced eight failed in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and a miscarriage. Bailon and Houghton ended up exploring surrogacy with the encouragement of their doctor and ultimately chose to keep their surrogate pregnancy private. I got to be honest, even the process of surrogacy can be quite nerve-wracking," Bailon told People . "Somebody else has your child with them.” In this time of uncertainty, Adrienne explained that keeping the news private helped her stay calm and hopeful. “I feel like having people ask me, 'How's everything going?' That was going to make me that much more anxious, so I just wanted to have peace and have a little joy that I could hold for myself every day and something to look forward to. To announce the birth of her son, Adrienne shared an emotional post detailing her fertility experiences and surrogacy journey - as well as the complicated emotions the process brought her. “Our baby boy is here & we are so in love! If you have followed our love story… you know that our journey to baby has been very challenging - But God is true to His word and His promises. We have quietly prayed while sitting on this most magnificent secret for the last 9 months.” “He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, every miscarriage. Everything. All we feel is joy and overwhelming love & gratitude,” Bailon continued. “Grateful to God, to our angel surrogate and to all of our friends and family who have stood with us for over 5 years on this journey. He’s here and we have never been happier to lose sleep!” We are so happy for Adrienne Bailon Houghton and Israel Houghton for their successful surrogate pregnancy. At Donor Concierge, we always appreciate public figures who open up about their unique paths to family and shine a light on third-party fertility. If you are considering starting your surrogacy journey or would like to learn about family-building options, our team is here to help. Interested in building your family with Donor Concierge? Schedule your free consultation today .

We partnered with Pregnantish to share diverse stories of conception, pregnancy, and parenthood - including single motherhood via sperm donation We are proud to partner with the Pregnantish podcast this week to support diverse stories of conception and parenthood. Donor Concierge has worked with clients from all walks of life pursuing egg donation, sperm donation , and surrogacy to start their families. We greatly appreciate platforms like Pregnantish who are normalizing conversations about third-party fertility and celebrating the stories of so many modern families. This week’s episode was part of Pregnantish’s National Infertility Awareness Week series, “The Reality of Infertility.” This podcast series is diving deep into the fertility stories of beloved reality stars, including Caroline Lunny and Kendall Long from the Bachelor franchise and Golnesa Gharachedaghi from Shahs of Sunset. On this week’s episode, host Andrea Syrtash spoke with Golnesa Gharachedaghi about her journey to single motherhood through sperm donation. Golnesa's journey began years ago, and Golnesa remembers the desire she felt to have children starting at a young age. However, she says she is glad she did not start a family sooner, when she wasn't ready and was struggling to "take care of myself." When she went through IVF for the first time, however, she experienced a devastating, life-threatening miscarriage that led to the removal of her fallopian tubes. At the time, she said she tried to find the logic in the experience, thinking maybe she had pushed her body too far when she was young and was now feeling the effects. But her doctors disagreed, stating that there was a less than 1% chance of this occurring with IVF. Golnesa describes the reasoning her doctors shared, saying, "Possibly because I have an inflammatory disease, which is rhemutaoid arthritis... my fallopian tubes might have had contractions from inflammation... I was so shocked. I remember feeling this pain." She continues, "I remember being nervous. They said you may have spotting, cramps, whatever... I called my doctor and said I have this pain, and I'm in fetal position trying to drive on the freeway." Her doctor recommended she go to the emergency room. Once there, Golnesa was immediately prepped for surgery. "Not only had my embryo gone into my fallopian tubes, becoming ectopic, but it had ruptured." She describes having to sign papers "that I'm aware that I'm sterilizing myself." She recalls asking her doctors before the surgery, "Are you sure I can still get pregnant after this surgery?" The experience was hard for her to process. She says, "I look down every now and then and see the three incisions," but continues, "I try to find the light in it." After recovering from surgery, Golnesa called her doctor and said she wanted to try again. Golnesa was determined to start a family as a single mother. Golnesa says, "When you're younger, you're like, 'if I don't have a kid by this age, I'm going to do it on my own.' It's easy to say that. It's very easy to say that." She continues, "About 7 years ago I transitioned my life in a significant way into being a person with intention in everything that's happening. I realized - I'm not good in intimate relationships. I thought about the intention of having a child and I felt like I was whole enough to have a child. I didn't need another partner in the picture, it didn't matter to me. Should I get married so society won't judge me? F*** society." I became more aware of what the intention was for me to have a child. The intention was to do something right an serve a better purpose... I felt like I was whole enough to offer that to a child. When have I ever cared about society? Let me go call the nearest sperm bank. Andrea agrees, saying, "That is a growing trend. You are not alone. single men call us at Pregnantish wanting to starting a family. And they say, 'If love comes, it comes. But this is my greatest goal.' And there is no higher-stakes goal for so many people than having a baby and being a parent." Golnesa describes the support she experienced from her family when pursuing single motherhood. She says, "to them it was like, 'we know you're not good in relationships. We know that. We know you love children and you have your life together. We support it.'" She brought up her autoimmune disease and the chemotherapy she was going through, and her parents gave her full support. However, Golnesa also describes some who criticized her decision. She says, "Some of my friends said, 'how could you do that to your child?' And I said, 'Excuse me? What do you mean?'" She spoke with the friend about his own experiences with his parents' divorce. She adds, "I said, 'I don't want that possibility. I don't want to risk that fraction.' Could there have been an amazing father? Yes. But that wasn't the goal. The goal was to create life and give love." Ultimately, she has no regrets. I look down at my son now, and think, everything must have happened for a reason. I'm so appreciative of him. I'm so appreciative of my process. It had to be this way. We work with parents of all kinds pursuing third-party fertility to start their families, and we have worked with many single mothers by choice to help them find the best sperm donor candidates possible. If you are looking to start your family through sperm donation , our team of experts is here to help. Interested in learning more? Schedule your free consultation today .

Donor Concierge is here to get you started on your fertility journey, by matching with the best donors and surrogates through the best surrogacy and donor agencies. We’re also here to provide resources and are excited to share Gail’s Reading List for 2023. Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception by Lisa Schuman, LCSW and Mark Leondires, MD We have to admit, we’ve been waiting for this one all year! Kudos to our amazing professional colleagues Lisa Schuman and Dr. Leondires who have collaborated on this wonderful book that takes a deep dive into both the medical and emotional aspects of becoming a parent through donor conception. The authors weave together the medical emotional and genetic aspects of donor conception and address common ethical dilemmas such as disclosure, talking with children about donor conception and strategies to cope with the challenges of fertility treatment. Schuman, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, Leondires, a board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, have decades of experience working closely with patients who have chosen to use donated eggs and sperm, as well as their own personal stories of fertility treatment and non-genetic parenthood. Love Comes First:Creating LGBTQ Families by Bradford Kolb, MD and Melanie Maerker Is it a book? A movement or a non profit? It’s all of those things and more. Dr. Bradford Kolb, of HRC Pasadena has been at the forefront of reproductive medicine since the 1990s and a passionate advocate for family building for the LGBTQ community. Love Comes First brings together a site that tells the real stories of LGBTQ families, practical resources for those exploring family building, and gives a tour of reproductive biology and the latest in reproductive medicine from an LGBTQ perspective. Dr. Kolb has been a Preferred Provider to Donor Concierge intended parents for almost two decades. You can visit the website Love Comes First to see videos, resources and hear uplifting stories of families created through love, and science. The Search for the Magical Egg by Becky Morrison This one is for the kids. This sweet story written by Becky Morrison tells the story of Sheldon, a turtle who lives in the deep blue sea who wonders where baby turtles come from. Sheldon’s parents tell them of their underwater search for the perfect egg. Morrison, who is an RN, created this book to read to her son about the magic and medicine of IVF. While it’s aimed at kids age 5-7, the story can help all children (and parents!) who are struggling with explaining where babies come from. IVF Daddies by Richard Westoby and Julio Gaggia We cheated a little bit on this one as IVF Daddies is a podcast but it’s also a chance to hear Richard Westoby , author of Our Journey: One Couple’s Guide to US Surrogacy , retell his story of becoming a dad (to twins!) through surrogacy. This new podcast will discuss all things IVF and surrogacy, aimed at hopeful dads and their supporters to ‘provide optimism during their road to parenthood.’ We’re hooked and can’t wait for the next episode! Our Families: Real Stories from Donor Concierge We may be biased but this is one we’re really proud of! We’ve been collecting stories from our clients since 2006 and we’re finally publishing them in our ebook. We take a look at our clients’ journeys from start to finish, and offer practical advice to those just starting on the journey to become parents. These are all stories from real people and we are so grateful for them for sharing these with us. Do you have books or podcasts we should add to the list? Let us know! Book some time to chat with us today !

Surrogacy is about a mutual match - the surrogate chooses the intended parents as much as the IP's choose the surrogate. One of the first things we do with our surrogate search clients is to help them write a Dear Surrogate letter. The purpose of the 'Dear Surrogate' letter is to provide prospective surrogate candidates with information about the Intended Parent (s) who are interested in possibly matching with them. Just as Intended Parents want to review profiles of surrogates to learn about them (who they are, their health and pregnancy history, how many children they have, why they want to be a surrogate, etc.); surrogates want the opportunity to learn as much as they can about the Intended Parents who are looking to match with them. There are four main parts to a Dear Surrogate letter: 1. Introducing Yourself When introducing yourselves (or yourself if you are single), take this opportunity to share how you met if you’re a couple, what you currently do (work or stay-at-home parent), any hobbies you have – anything that provides a sense of who you are. If you’re single, the same applies except the piece about how you met. 2. Sharing Your Story The next step is to share your story, to share what has led to your need or desire to use a surrogate. It’s important to be very authentic and speak from your heart. If you’ve had fertility struggles, share them. If other events have led to your seeking a surrogate, share those. The more you share, the better because personal stories tug at the heart strings of surrogates who are women with hearts to help other people complete their families. 3. Expressing Gratitude The last part of the letter needs to focus on expressing your immense gratitude to your prospective surrogate for helping you realize your dreams of having this child and completing your family. Things to consider including are thanking your prospective surrogate for her willingness to carry your child, for the sacrifice she is making, for her generosity (anything that will help convince your prospective surrogate that you realize what a critical role she is taking on for you and how very thankful and appreciative you are). 4. Sharing Photos Lastly, it’s important to include a few candid pictures of yourself/yourselves. These pictures can be anything; the more casual and candid, the better, so the surrogate can get a sense of who you are through personal photos. Pictures that show personality are great. Now, please relax, breathe and speak from your heart, this always works best and always results in a heart-warming, fantastic letter. Contact the Donor Concierge team today for advice on how to write your Dear Surrogate letter, or to book our surrogate search services!

Last year, the coronavirus brought fertility clinics to a halt and drastically changed procedures for fertility treatments, birth, and more. Now as the Delta variant prompts new preparations and conversations about safety, more hopeful parents and surrogates alike have COVID vaccine questions. When it comes to third-party fertility, intended parents are getting a helping hand in having a child. This can get tricky when complicated subjects like vaccination come up, and there are multiple opinions at play. How do you navigate COVID vaccination during surrogacy? Should surrogates get the COVID vaccine? Is the COVID vaccine safe for pregnancy? We’re answering your questions. Some surrogates are concerned about vaccination Surrogates are providing a huge gift to intended parents by carrying their child, and none of them take the responsibility lightly. Surrogacy requires in-depth health information, strict screenings, frequent doctor’s visits, and legal contracts. Every woman who moves forward as a surrogate is committed to the process. We’ve encountered several surrogates who do not want the COVID vaccine. Some of them are concerned that it may affect their health. Many are concerned that it could affect the health of the baby they are carrying. Carrying someone else’s baby is a big responsibility, and we understand why surrogates may be cautious of anything that could affect that process. Meanwhile, many intended parents prefer a vaccinated woman to carry their child, because they don’t want their surrogate to fall seriously ill. COVID-19 risks and pregnancy According to the CDC , COVID-19 infection presents a danger to pregnant women. “Pregnant and recently pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women,” says the report. “Additionally, pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk for preterm birth and might have an increased risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes.” These risks are the reason why many intended parents hope to find a vaccinated surrogate – for her safety and the safety of the child. Luckily, these dangers are preventable, thanks to the COVID vaccine. The COVID vaccine and reproduction But does the vaccine have an effect on pregnancy or reproductive health? According to experts , there is “no plausible reason — no medical or scientific mechanism — for this vaccine to interact with a woman’s reproductive organs or have any interaction with an egg that’s been released or fertilized.” The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), “remains steadfast” and committed to vaccination , stating that “COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for women who are contemplating pregnancy or who are pregnant to minimize risks to themselves and their pregnancy. ASRM also released a recent study confirming that there is no indication that the Covid-19 vaccine could cause female sterility. Here at Donor Concierge, we continue to encounter surrogates and intended parents who are concerned about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. So where did this worry come from? According to experts at Johns Hopkins , misinformation spread that confused the COVID spike protein and a protein involved in placenta growth. This “false report said that getting the COVID-19 vaccine would cause a woman’s body to fight this different spike protein and affect her fertility.” However, the experts explained that the Coronavirus spike protein and the spike protein involved in placenta development during pregnancy "are completely different, and getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not affect the fertility of women who are seeking to become pregnant, including through in vitro fertilization methods.” The COVID vaccine and pregnancy Information on vaccine safety for pregnant women has been harder to find than for the general population. According to the CDC , the way the vaccines work in the body means they “are unlikely to pose a risk for people who are pregnant.” The CDC also noted “limited data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant people.” This limited data was due to the fact that pregnant women were excluded from initial clinical trials of the COVID vaccine. Since then, though, more data has become available around COVID vaccines and pregnant women. Over 130,000 women in the U.S. who received the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding have joined the V-safe registry . Initial findings from that registry show no safety concerns from the vaccine. How to talk about vaccination The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating, and we understand why there is fear and tension around the subject. When it comes to tricky topics like this, communication is key. Your surrogate’s agency and your Donor Concierge case manager will act as a liaison for this discussion, so that both sides can voice their opinions. “We are seeing a lot of surrogate candidates who do not want to get vaccinated,” says Gloria Li, Program Director. Meanwhile, many intended parents are requesting that they match with a gestational carrier who HAS had the vaccine. "Our goal is to make sure everyone is on the same page," Gloria continued, "which means that it may take a little longer to find a good fit." Intended parents can’t make a surrogate get vaccinated, obviously – it is a personal decision that each individual must make. The COVID vaccine and surrogacy contracts Lila Seif, attorney at New Family Fertility Law , weighed in on the legal decisions involved in surrogacy and COVID vaccines. “If a Gestational Carrier does not wish to receive the vaccine, she cannot be forced to do so,” Lila said. “However, Intended Parents can absolutely require that they only match with a vaccinated Gestational Carrier, and this is a critical factor to consider when matching the parties. If a Gestational Carrier agreed in the contract to receive the vaccine and later refused, this again could not be forced upon her. However, to the extent that her breach of that term caused damage, she theoretically would be responsible. For this reason, it's recommended that if vaccination is important to a particular Intended Parent, they should be matched with a Gestational Carrier who is in fact already vaccinated.” As for the contracts? While both parties are reviewing contracts, Lila recommends “to be very clear with the matching agency on their position regarding Covid lifestyle issues, including vaccination status, social distancing considerations, and other relevant factors.” She walks her clients through concerns, and asks them to “discuss the medical risks with their trusted physician so they can better explain their position and concerns with a matching agency.” With her gestational carrier clients, she also “reviews the contract in detail about these issues to be sure they are comfortable.” Remember it’s a team effort In the surrogacy process, the pregnancy becomes a team effort. So intended parents and surrogates need to be on the same team! Both of you are bringing this child into the world, and everyone’s opinion matters. Knowing where you stand on key issues like vaccination will help you decide whether a candidate would be the right surrogate for you. Lila agrees with this, explaining that the goal with surrogacy contracts is to “come to a fair agreement that makes all parties comfortable.” We hope this helped as you navigate through surrogacy during the time of COVID-19. Remember to listen openly, communicate clearly, and keep in mind that your surrogacy journey needs to be a team effort. Good luck!

The holiday season is a time for family. And for those who needed extra help to become a family, telling their children about their family story can seem daunting. Experts recommend telling your children about their unique conception as early as possible and finding a book to explain it is a good way to start. Whether you're looking for a gift that celebrates a loved one's family, or a way to talk with your child about your own, we've got you covered. Read on for our list of some of our favorite books  about unique families! Spectacular You: An IVF Love Story by Kate PacheSpectacular You: An IVF Love Story is a wonderfully crafted book that lovingly explains in vitro fertilization (IVF) to children through the eyes of the parents. It explains to children the magic of their unconventional conception and the overall desire the parents had to bring that child into their lives. Beautifully illustrated and tenderly written, this story is a must for any child who was conceived through IVF. Happy Together: An Egg Donation Story by Julie Marie (Author), Ashley Lucas (Illustrator)Happy Together, an egg donation story, is a heartwarming book to help introduce the concept of egg donation to a young child. A story told through clear language and cheerful illustrations, readers will join Mommy and Daddy bear on the journey to fulfill their greatest wish of becoming parents. With help from a doctor, an egg from a special lady called a donor and Daddy’s seed, a baby grew in Mommy’s tummy and was welcomed with great joy. The Pea that was Me: An Egg-Donation Story  (Volume 1) by Kimberly Kluger-Bell (Author)Struggling with how to tell your child about their egg donor? This acclaimed children's picture book (3-5 years old) makes it incredibly easy to start talking with your child about the special way they came into the world. Your child will want to hear about "the very kind egg donor" over and over again! Join parents worldwide who use The Pea That Was Me as a way to begin the on-going conversation about donors--reading and re-reading its extremely positive message about how much they were wanted by their parents and how lucky they were to find such a wonderful "helper." A Tiny Itsy Bitsy Gift of Life, An Egg Donor Story by Carmen Martinez Jover (Author), Rosemary Martinez (Illustrator)A touching children s egg donor story about a happy couple of rabbits, Pally and Comet who have everything in life except a baby bunny, you accompany them in their longing for this child, the waiting and the moment the mother is informed she has no eggs to conceive. One day a good lady rabbit brings her a tiny itsy-bitsy gift of life, which is the egg, the half, she needs to conceive. The rabbit s tummy then begins to grow and finally her baby bunny is born and the happiness of how this family is formed is shared. The book is very colorful and ideal for children even before they can read, because the pictures are so full of details it easily captures the child’s attention. Miracle by Jason Pinter (Author), Cheryl Crouthamel (Illustrator)An inspiring, funny, and heartwarming story for everyone who has dreamed of having their own Miracle child. When rabbits Merle and Pearl meet on one beautiful day, they know that they have found true joy. Yet while they couldn’t be happier with each other, there’s one teeny, tiny thing missing...a child of their own. Merle and Pearl dream of expanding their nest by bringing a baby bunny into the world, but they face unforeseen challenges along the way. Determined to make their dreams come true, Merle and Pearl will do whatever it takes to find their Miracle—even if it means going deep under the sea, trekking across vast desert sands, or rocketing far out into the stars. Because sometimes finding your dreams takes a Miracle. Untraditional You: An IVF Story by Mallory BelvilleOne couple dreams of becoming a Mommy and Daddy, but when things do not go as planned, they will stop at nothing to make their wish of having a baby come true. With the help of science and in vitro fertilization, they will finally receive the miracle they’ve always wanted. Through simple poetry and beautiful watercolor illustrations, this heart-warming story answers the age-old question “where do babies come from?” even if they arrive in an Untraditional way. Phoebe's Family: A Story About Egg Donation by Linda Stamm and Joan Clipp | Nov 1, 2010Phoebe's mom tells her the wonderful and unique story of how she came into being through egg donation. Along the way, Phoebe hears about the challenges her mom and dad faced in trying to have a baby, as well as the ultimate good news of her birth into a warm and loving family. The Family Book by Todd ParrThe Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way. Parr's message about the importance of embracing our differences is delivered in a playful way. With his trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes, this book will encourage children to ask questions about their own families. Perfect for young children just beginning to read, The Family Book is designed to encourage early literacy, enhance emotional development, celebrate multiculturalism, promote character growth, and strengthen family relationships Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union (Author), Ashley Evans (Illustrator)Praised by fan-favorites including Hoda Kotb, Kim & Khloe Kardashian, and Jimmy Fallon!Inspired by the eagerly awaited birth of her daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning actress Gabrielle Union pens a festive and universal love letter from parents to little ones, perfect for welcoming a baby to the party of life! How We Became a Family: Egg Donor by Bernard Villegas MD (Author), Teresa Villegas (Author)To build a family, first of all you need love. But how do you talk with your child about their in vitro origins? How do you tell your children they were conceived with the help of a donor?• Adding children to a family -making a baby- takes all the same parts needed to make any baby animal.• Knowledge of science and our bodies is a smart and beautiful thing.• This complex story is explained in an easy and positive way that children can accept and be proud of.This book is for couples who understand that their children's well-being comes from knowing how much they are wanted, who they are, and how they came into this world and into their family. Celebrating the story of your child(ren)'s donor origins through the simple act of reading can reinforce your family's journey of deep bonding and open communication. The Very Kind Koala: A Surrogacy Story for Children by Kimberly Kluger-BellThe Very Kind Koala is a charming picture book for young children which provides an introduction to surrogacy through the simple story of a koala bear and her husband who needed the help of a very kind koala to carry their baby in her pouch. Parents can begin reading this story to children as young as 3 years of age to begin the dialog about their own helpful surrogate. Love Makes A Family by Sophie BeerA fun and inclusive board book that features families of all kinds! Without putting the focus on same-sex parents, the book demonstrates that families come in all shapes and sizes, but what's most important in each family is that there is love. Each page starts with "Love is..." and illustrates a variety of ways that parents show love to their children, such as waking up bright and early with them, baking a cake for them, or finding the biggest puddles to splash in with them! Each and every one of our stories is different. And so are the conversations we have with our children! These books are a great starting point, but you can choose to have this conversation any way you want. And if you are curious about finding an egg donor and building your family this season, our team is always here to help.

With Thanksgiving behind us, we are deep into the season of love, celebration, and family. And as joyful as the holidays are supposed to be, they can be uncomfortable, awkward and painful for those navigating infertility. Reminders of family building are splashed across every billboard and advertisement this season, not to mention the conversations that are sprung on us by well-meaning family members after a glass of champagne. In the words of Samantha Franklin , a licensed clinical social worker in San Francisco, "So many people associate children with the holidays. Once you’ve opened up the door that kids are what you want and then you have to face the holidays, it’s so much harder." The holidays can be a minefield if you're still working through your fertility journey, so how do we navigate these tricky situations? We're sharing tips and resources below. "No" isn't a bad word We think of the holidays as time to celebrate family, so it can feel impossible to say no to family gatherings and events - especially if your family members loudly protest your absence! But remember, your attendance is up to you and no one else, and one RSVP does not determine your love for your family members. If you are grieving or simply struggling with fertility and know a large gathering will make you feel worse, don't feel bad clicking "No" on that e-vite. This season is a time to celebrate joy, and your family's joy shouldn't come at the expense of yours . Recruit back-up If you decide to attend a gathering but know Aunt Sue is going to ask you all about babies, you may want to recruit some backup. Whether that's your partner, a relative, or a close friend, it can help to have someone else teaming up with you for the difficult conversations. They can help act as a buffer during awkward conversations or subtly pull you off to the side when unwanted topics come up. Consider an elevator speech Once you've made your decision and recruited any needed backup, it can help to prepare responses to the questions you're expecting. Whether that's a breezy, "Don’t worry, we’re trying!” or a more serious, “It's been tough, so we'd rather not get into it right now,” having some responses in your back pocket can help you maintain healthy boundaries. And if you're comfortable sharing more but don't want to nose dive into all the details, a quick pre-planned elevator speech can help you feel prepared for anything. Plan your exit strategy Just as there's nothing wrong with saying "No," there's also nothing wrong with telling relatives you'll be leaving early (or arriving late!). Family events can be taxing, and talk of babies while you're coping with infertility doesn't help. Talk with your partner about a strategy that might let you participate in important events while still feeling comfortable. For example, you can swing by your sister's house and leave before your niece's holiday recital, or you can come for family dinner but leave before the post-dinner baby talk. Remember to celebrate YOU Coping with infertility is hard, and the family spirit of the holidays can be like putting your family-building stress into a pressure cooker. On the other hand, many find the presence of family comforting and find joy leaning into holiday traditions. Whatever your feelings this season, just know that you deserve to celebrate yourself in whichever way fits your needs. If you're struggling with grief, trauma or painful feelings this season, we strongly recommend seeking specialized support and counseling. You can find resources here and RESOLVE's tips for handling the holidays here . We're wishing you the best of luck this season, and sending all our joy and love your way.

We're celebrating World Embryologist Day with Vanessa Julaton, PhD, of San Diego Fertility Center! World Embryologist Day is celebrated annually on July 25th, the day that Louise Brown became the first baby ever born through IVF (in vitro fertilization). Embryologists are a key part of family building through IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy and more. We are incredibly grateful for the work of embryologists, and we were so excited to speak to Vanessa Julaton, PhD, about her role as an IVF Lab Supervisor at San Diego Fertility Center. Read on for Vanessa's perspective on changes in embryology, her best advice for hopeful parents, and more! Why did you become an embryologist? Vanessa Julaton: I became an embryologist because I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. I wanted to help people grow their families, and I hoped that I could do that by using the technical skills and the knowledge that I had gained in graduate school. Where did you study and for how many years? Vanessa: I studied at UCSD for 4 years, where I got my Bachelor's of Science in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience and a Minor in Psychology. I then went on to get my PhD in Biomedical Sciences at UCSF and Stanford University. I have been an embryologist for 12 years, have been part of the SDFC family for 8 years, and am one of the IVF lab supervisors at SDFC. What does a typical day look like for you? Vanessa: A typical day in the IVF lab at San Diego Fertility Center starts at around 7am. We do performance checks on all of the equipment to ensure that everything is working appropriately. We then begin to do the procedures that have been ordered for the day, which can be anything from egg retrievals, to embryo biopsy, embryo warming and vitrification, embryo transfers, oocyte retrievals, ICSI, etc. Once the team completes all the ordered procedures, we clean up the lab and begin to prepare for the next day's procedures. What is your favorite part of your job? Vanessa: My favorite part of my job is when patients bring their babies in for a visit or send us updates with photos and videos. We just love sharing in our patients' joy and success. To this day, I'm still in awe knowing that we played a small role in helping to create those precious miracles! What is the role of an embryologist in parents' egg donor journey? Vanessa: At the time of insemination, the embryologist and a 2nd witness match the donor tissue with the appropriate sperm source. Once the embryo(s) are created, the embryos are cultured in the lab, biopsied (if indicated) and frozen, then transferred to the intended parent (or a gestational carrier) in a FET (frozen embryo transfer) cycle. What questions should parents ask their embryologist and/or find out about the lab technology? Vanessa: There have been many advances in ART in recent years, and it's important that the IVF lab that you partner with is staying current with the advancing technology. Some questions that are important to ask are "Will my embryos be cultured to the blastocyst stage?", "Will I have a Day 3 or Day 5 embryo transfer?", "If I choose to, will I have the option to have PGT performed on my embryos?" What are some of the biggest changes to the world of IVF in your career? Vanessa: When I first started doing IVF, most labs were doing Day 3 embryo biopsies, and we had to take 1/8th of the genetic material of the embryo to send away for testing. Now, we as a field are exploring the possibility of non-invasive PGT (niPGT-a) where we won't have to biopsy the embryo at all, but instead, we can tell the genetics of each embryo from sampling the culture media that the embryo grows in. This scientific advancement is incredible to me, and the idea that we won't have to biopsy the embryo at all is so exciting! SDFC's lab is considered one of the best in the world - can you explain why? Vanessa: We take great pride in everything that we do. We love our patients and we truly believe that we have the greatest job on the planet! On top of that, our physicians have recognized that it's important to invest in cutting-edge technology in the IVF laboratory, so we have state-of-the art microscopes, air-handling system, workstations and cryopreservation storage technology. In the end, our patients are the ones who really benefit from SDFC's dedication to providing high-quality patient care. How does the lab team at SDFC work together (this question is really to get a sense of the atmosphere at the lab). Vanessa: The lab team at SDFC is a very close-knit group. We all get along really well, communicate well with each other and I respect them all immensely. They are all bright, hard-working and kind individuals who each bring valuable strengths to the team. Together, we have a strong family dynamic which helps us work efficiently and effectively. This team is one of the strongest assets of SDFC (but I may be biased, of course!) Thank you to Vanessa and the team at San Diego Fertility Center for taking the time to speak with us! You can learn more about their services for intended parents and innovative work on their website . We are grateful to work with amazing fertility partners who provide best-in-class support for hopeful parents. Interested in building your family with Donor Concierge? Schedule your free consultation today .

What is embryo donation? The founders of EM•POWER with Moxi answer our questions Many people who have gone through IVF have embryos remaining after completing their IVF journey. And on the other side, many others go through IVF without ever having any viable embryos. EM•POWER with Moxi was founded by Maya, Gina and Jen – three women who are personally and professionally connected to embryo donation. They each experienced their own unique family-building journeys and understand the emotional complexity of making decisions regarding embryo donation. They started EM•POWER to provide education, support and community to others considering these complex decisions. Thank you to Maya, Gina and Jen for speaking with us and answering the most frequently asked questions about embryo donation. Can you tell us about EM•POWER with Moxi? EM•POWER with Moxi is the premier hub of education and support for the embryo donation community . It is important to have a community in what can be an isolating experience. EM•POWER helps people make informed decisions about their embryos and their family-building for both themselves and their future family by providing free resources through virtual events, genetic counseling studies, research projects, and more. We are also working to help potential embryo donors and potential embryo recipients connect and match, so that the overall process can be more seamless and accessible. What is embryo donation? Embryo donation is both a disposition option for remaining embryos, and a family-building choice. On the IVF journey, people often want to create as many embryos as possible. Then, many people have embryos remaining after they have completed their IVF journey. Studies show people are often paralyzed by having to make a decision for their remaining embryos and end up storing embryos for 5+ years before really considering a decision. One of EM•POWER’s goals is to help people understand ALL their choices for their embryos and support those interested in learning more about donating embryos to another person or couple for family building. Embryo donation is also a family-building option. People come to embryo donation for several reasons, perhaps they have tried other fertility procedures without success, perhaps they are single people who need both egg and sperm, perhaps they are a couple looking for genetic equity between partners…there are various reasons why people consider embryo donation. We want to provide the education and support needed for people to make the best decisions for themselves, as a potential donor or recipient. Why do we call this embryo donation and not embryo adoption? While the terms embryo donation and embryo adoption are often used interchangeably, embryo donation is different from adoption. The process of adopting children has very different logistical and legal requirements than receiving a donated embryo. There are concerns around issues of personhood of an embryo when using adoption language. The preferred terminology is embryo donation. Can you donate embryos if you conceived via egg donation or sperm donation? All genetic contributors to an embryo must consent to re-donation. If you are working with an egg or sperm donor and think you may have remaining embryos, you can discuss making sure re-donation is an option with your legal team. If you already have embryos created with the help of a donor that you are considering donating, you will need to look at your legal contracts to make sure they have consented. If you wish to donate and don’t have that consent, it may be possible to get your donor’s permission after the fact by working with your attorney and communicating with your sperm bank or donor agency to get releases. It is often a possibility, but the specifics of your agreement and your donor’s choice will determine if you are able to donate. Is there a time limit for embryo donation? Can you donate embryos that are several years old? Internationally, some countries have year limits for embryo storage, but the U.S. does not. So far, in the United States there is not a time limit on embryo donation. Older embryos have been successfully used to conceive. However, technology has changed, and different embryo freezing technology and thaw rate will impact success of embryo use and pregnancy. As time goes on, more and more parents will be making decisions about their embryos, so this may come up more. Over 1 million embryos are stored, and fertility preservation is increasing that number, so we expect this topic to evolve in the future. What do people look for in matching with an embryo recipient or donor? Embryo donation is different from egg donation or sperm donation in the sense that full genetic siblings will be raised in different homes with different parents, and that often, both donors and recipients are looking for open relationships to give the children an opportunity to connect. In the open matching process, people are, perhaps, less focused on specific physical traits , but are understanding that the embryo is already created and the “match” may be more important. The focus is more on the fit of the families. Shared values and ability to have open conversations are important. At EM•POWER we focus a lot on long-term family functioning and the specific needs of children impacted by embryo donation (both the children of donors and the donor conceived), because we know this is a very unique and fairly new family form that requires a good amount of education and support. Thank you again to Maya, Gina and Jen for speaking with us about all things embryo donation. We hope this helps people better understand all of their options. If you have any questions about embryo donation, check out EM•POWER with Moxi , and if you have any questions about third-party fertility options, you can speak with a Donor Concierge case manager today. Interested in building your family with Donor Concierge? Schedule your free consultation today .

“One thing that we've learned is that there are just so many options and so many different paths you can go down, and there isn't one right path." Jesse and Maddy, a female couple, talked to us about their journey and finding a sperm donor. When did you decide you wanted to have a family? Jesse and I met back in 2018. We were doing yoga teacher training together and we became good friends. I moved out to LA to be with Jesse and we've been together since then. We got married in April, but we knew before we got married that we wanted to get this process going. We decided very early on that we wanted to have a family. Being a same sex couple, it's one of those things where it can come up even earlier in dating because, okay, do we wanna go through this process together or not? We've talked about having as many as four children which is exciting. Then the decisions came down to, how are we going to make that family? How are we going to find a sperm donor? How did you find Donor Concierge? We started looking at some sperm banks ourselves but quickly became frustrated. It was incredibly frustrating that you’d see someone who looked great but weren’t available, or if they were available, you have to buy immediately. We thought there has to be another way to have an exclusive sperm donor or someone who can help you through this process. Then we found Donor Concierge and we realized this was exactly what we were looking for. And how was your experience? Our experience was phenomenal from the start. Donor Concierge is a company that just is really consistent with their word. Anything that you all told us, for example, you're going to get an email by Friday at this time. We got an email on Friday at that time. From the beginning when we were connected with our case manager Cynthia, it felt way less daunting. Cynthia talked us through what all the stages would look like. We both always felt this care and compassion from Donor Concierge. There's so many emotions that go into this process and not just seeing us as like a number, felt really great. Even when candidates were coming in, Cynthia or someone else on the team would email us and give us synopsis and say, this looks like a great candidate. That was really helpful, because we thought they're actually paying attention and they really care. Why did you choose the donor that you did choose? We had a lot of great candidates. There was a point where we were like, how are we going to pick all of these guys who are so great? And then our donor came through. We were like, oh my gosh, he's gorgeous, but is he going to think he's too cool for school? The level of detail in the profile and all the questions that Donor Concierge asked, it was really clear from the beginning that he was such a kind and caring person as well. Of course the physical aspects were important, but we agreed, if there was a gorgeous person who didn't seem like a nice guy, we wouldn't go with that donor. He had some personal experience with members of the LGBTQ+ community within his family. It was really heartwarming to hear that he was interested in specifically helping us because he resonated with our story as well. When we talk about our sperm donor to our future kids, I think we're both extremely proud that we picked him. He has this thoughtfulness, compassion, insight and understanding of the world that would be amazing to pass on to anyone. If we had gone to sperm banks, the amount of information given would be his picture seemed okay and he didn't have health issues. It makes us just feel really good about the decision we made because it was such an informed decision. I wish we just knew about Donor Concierge sooner. There were a few months when we were really frustrated as we were looking at sperm banks and thinking about our options and didn't really know what the path forward would look like. It was important that we went through that because then we were so grateful to Donor Concierge and then how we ended up going through the process. Do you have any adivce for others going through this process? One thing that we've learned is that there are just so many options and so many different paths you can go down and there isn't one right path. Someone gave us the advice, “There isn't a perfect way to do this, but you just have to jump on a train and you're staying on that train and commit to it”. When you're in a same sex relationship people almost feel like they're privy to all this information. And so people often will ask us, “What are you going to do for a sperm donor?” Being able to navigate those questions in a way that feels good to you and not oversharing just because you feel like other people need to know because frankly, everyone has their opinion. We had to be proactive and had to learn a lot about this just because we are a same sex couple, but I wish, and I hope that there's a culture where everybody is proactive about their fertility. What are you most excited about as you look toward the future? We are looking forward to our family and having children running around. I am very interested to see some of the characteristics that are passed down from the sperm donor. I don't want to say the hard part is over, and we don't know what our journey will bring as we try to get pregnant, but I'm really happy that we have this part behind us and we don't have to worry about the sperm aspect, and now we can just navigate, what our path will look like.

Jennifer Vesbit is a Nationally Certified Counselor who rode the IVF roller coaster twice. Her first IVF cycle ended in a heartbreaking miscarriage and no remaining embryos. Her second cycle gave her twins, and one remaining embryo. Jen and her husband agonized over what to do with that one embryo and decided to donate to a single mom by choice. That embryo is now a healthy and happy little boy. Throughout her journey, Jen found a lack of education and support for people considering embryo donation, so she and her partners founded EM•POWER with Moxi. Rachael, Outreach Manager with Donor Concierge, had an opportunity to learn more about embryo donation during our IG live with Jen. The interview below has been edited for clarity. Rachael Hi there. We are welcoming Jen, who is one of the co-founders of EM•POWER with Moxi. Can you give us a brief overview of what you do and the services you provide? Jen Oh, absolutely. I love talking about embryo donation, which is what we do. EM•POWER with Moxi was formed back in 2019, so we have been around for a little while. The first three and a half years of our organization, we really focused on education and support around embryo donation. For embryo donors who were considering donation and or had donated, as well as people with cryopreserved embryos who didn't know what to do, were paying their storage bill could not find an answer to make a decision as well as people that were considering it as a family building option and education for clinics as well as mental health professionals and legal professionals in the field. That is how we started. In August of last year, we launched a matching platform called Moxi Matching, where we match embryo donors and recipients and then do all the journey management throughout the process to make it as seamless as possible for our clients and clinics as well. So, that is what we do. Rachael That’s great. And would you call yourself an agency? Jen We don't necessarily call ourselves an agency. I don't know what exactly we are other than we are three women who came together as embryo donors. Two of us are embryo donors. I'm an embryo donor, as is my partner, Gina Davis. She's also a genetic counselor in the field. Our third partner, Maya, is a parent via embryo donation. So, we are three women that came together with a mission to try to change the landscape of embryo donation. People either do not know much about it often, or they have this preconceived notion that there is a lot of Christian religious back tone, pro-life. To receive an embryo, you need to be a heterosexual couple that has been married for X number of years, all of that. We really came around to educate that embryo donation can be all sorts of things. It could be that all sorts of families can build their family this way as well as to educate people with frozen embryos that it is a hard decision when it comes to what to do with your embryos. We are pro embryo donation, which is what we do, but we're also pro-education and pro-decision making. My partner Maya likes to say we are three mamas on a mission to help navigate directed embryo donation. "In August of last year, we launched a matching platform called Moxi Matching, where we match embryo donors and recipients and then do all the journey management throughout the process to make it as seamless as possible for our clients and clinics as well." Rachael I was looking at your website, and you have a lot of amazing information in your blogs. You do provide a complimentary consultation for people if they are just starting to explore this as an option, is that right? Jen Yes, absolutely. There are two places to start. Yes, we do have a blog on our website, but we also have an educational platform. It is online and it is completely free. It is for both potential donors, potential recipients, and again, anybody in the field. And we have five recorded webinars. We have a guidebook on embryo donation. We have a workbook on embryo donation where you can work through what this might mean for you on either side. We have podcasts recorded, we have written articles, so that is a great place to start. It can be a little bit overwhelming because some people come to us, and they don't really know where to start. If you just want to start with a phone call, you can also just schedule a 15-minute phone call and then I can also provide you with some educational pieces that would be best for you. Rachael That's great. This would be beneficial for Donor Concierge clients. Normally they are not thinking about embryo donation at this stage in the process. Many of them are anxious to start building their family and not thinking about further down the line. When you are dealing with third-party, is there any added complexity to this? Jen Yes, well, let me start by saying, although I did not use third party reproduction, a lot of people that are going through IVF are not thinking about what to do if they have leftover embryos. They just desperately want to become a parent. So, I completely relate to that in terms of whether it complicates things. The more people involved, the more stakeholders, it is going to complicate it slightly. One of the things that we must ensure when people come to us, and they have used either donor egg or donor sperm, is some sort of legal authorization for donation that is often back in the original contract. Some people are on top of that, and they know from the get-go, and some people are like, oh my gosh, I do not know where my contract is. Let me look it up and find that. So, it can be a little bit complicated, but we try to help support and walk you through that as well as having great legal advisors that are around if the contract cannot be found. And of course, if you use donor egg or donor sperm, that is just even more people that are around in the world that these children may be interested in knowing about one day. So of course, if some people have a relationship, an open relationship with their egg or sperm donor, others. How it works with Moxi Matching is you build an initial profile and then we welcome you and onboard you onto the platform and we are going to start talking about all these things from the get-go, all the factors. When we help you do your journey management, we obtain all the necessary documents, do mental health consultations, and do legal and all of that. Rachael It sounds like you are helping people who have reached that stage where they have already built their families and they are not sure what to do with their remaining embryos. I noticed something on your website that was in a blog, and it said, “When do you know is the right time to explore embryo donation as an option?” And that would be a good question for our clients because they are not thinking about embryo donation at the beginning of their fertility journey. What are your thoughts about that? Jen I have so much difficulty answering that question. The answer is when you feel your family is complete, right? I mean, that is the answer, but that could mean so many different things. That could mean you have teenagers, are pregnant with twins and are done. Although ASRM guidelines say to wait until after you have given birth, it may be best to wait 6 months or a year. But I really struggle with that. How do you know? When do you know your family is complete? Some people are more certain than others, and some people feel more connected to their embryos than others, and that can be a factor. I think the one thing that is unique about embryo donation is that embryo donors often have their own children. Some people donate before they have their own children. But no matter what, you are really donating your children's full genetic siblings, if you want to use that word, and that can weigh heavily on people. We talk a lot about conceptualization of embryos and how that weighs into the decision on the part of the donating person or couple. If you are in a relationship with the fellow embryo donor, people do not always agree. So that can be challenging as well. One person in the partnership may feel strongly about donating and the other does not. We try to help normalize and talk about these things because again, we have all been there in our own unique way. I donated one embryo; my partner Gina donated several and she is in the process of donating more. So, we both land on two different sides of the spectrum in terms of what that was like for us. We try to tell our stories and help normalize the process for people. Rachael I know all three of you, as you said, have personal experience, and so that is extremely helpful to anyone that is coming to you and looking for more information. What are the most common concerns that you find? Jen When it comes to donors, I just spoke to a few of them in terms of making that final decision. Also, I think for donors, a lot of times they wonder how I will feel? It is impossible to know until you go through it. Sometimes that is hard for people to let sink in that this is a journey, and you will not know how you feel until you go through it. So, we do a lot of normalization around feelings. I also think another thing for donors is, “Will people want my embryos?” That is becoming more complicated now with all the technology and all the testing that can be done on embryos. When I donated back in 2016, I had one single untested embryo and I had a lot of interest, and we found a recipient and he is now a 7-year-old boy living in the world. That said, if I were to try to donate now in 2024, it would be challenging to donate because recipients would prefer somebody that had multiple tested embryos. A lot of donors that come to us are spurred by their storage bill. People continue to pay for their storage because they want to put off the decision making. And so sometimes when they come, they are like, ready yesterday. People that come to us that want to build their family through embryo donation have often been through a lot already. Sometimes people come to us, and they had been considering traditional adoption, but got a little disheartened by the system and how that works. They also want to know the timeline. The way we work on our platform is we do not have a waiting list to view donors. If they find a good match, they could technically build a profile, get on our platform tonight, request a match, have a match meeting next week, and start the journey management process, which is, I will say three to six months. So, it can happen very quickly. But again, there are a lot of things that need to happen for that match to take place. A combination of the scientific side, which again is going to be the number of embryos, the grading of the embryos, all of that. And then the connection side, because all our donations are known. We do at least require a match meeting. People do not have to use their full name. If they are on the end of the spectrum of not wanting much contact, we can help them navigate that. And that is one thing we ask in their profile building, because some people want a lot of contact on both sides. And then some people are in the middle and say, "I don't really know." Let us see how this is going to go. To me, those are the people that often work the best when they do not know. But yes, we do only known directed donation, but again, we can help you if you do not want to exchange personal information and you just want to have contact for children down the road. "We are pro-embryo donation, which is what we do, but we're also pro-education and pro-decision making." Rachael Would you say that most of the people on your platform are leaning towards having contact, or do you see the full range? Jen We see a range. We have had a few matches that have not wanted a lot of contact. I would say most fall in the middle, we donors are really like, I would like to leave it up to the recipient family. I cannot imagine what that might be like. Let us let them make the decisions. But we also have some people that match and text every day. And I think so far, we have five pregnancies, and hopefully a few more on the way. So again, some of those people are, they have met in person. We have had several donors and recipients that have already met in person. Some people are in frequent contact. So, it is really the spectrum, and we try to honor that spectrum for people. Rachael Historically embryo donation would have taken place mostly through clinics, is that right? Jen Yes, mostly. There are some agencies that have been around for a while, but yes, a lot of clinics still have their own programs. A lot of them still do non-directed, anonymous programs. So, that is why many people come to us if they feel that it is not for them. Rachael I feel like embryo donation is an important service because we are dealing with people in the beginning of their journey, or they have been through years of heartache, but they are just eager to build their family and not really thinking about further down the line. What would you recommend for our intended parents if they want to keep that as an option in the future? Is it just the legal contract in the beginning? Jen Yes, definitely. Educate yourself about what it is and what it can be and the variety of, like we were just talking about relationship options and things like that. I know it is extremely hard for people to start thinking about that on the front end, but at the same time, it is important. It is never too early to reach out to us. We have had people reach out to us and I have done consultations with people that are just beginning their own journey to build embryos and to go through IVF, and so we are always around to help. There are more people talking about embryo donation now, and that know somebody with frozen embryos, or knows somebody that has built a family via embryo donation. It is becoming increasingly common. Also, there is a lot more support now than when I went through it. When I went through it, I would Google search embryo donation support. I could not come up with much. Now it is talked about on social media. If you are on social media, obviously Instagram. So, there are ways to get that support, and that is why we are doing it because Maya, Gina and I went through it, and we did not know what we were doing. Really the whole reason we built EM•POWER with Moxi is to offer support and the guidance and logistical help that we wish we had had when we went through it. Rachael That's amazing. So, when somebody comes to you, you provide recommendations for everyone that needs to be involved – lawyers, mental health professionals, etc. Jen We have mental health professionals and lawyers in every state. We have a wonderful legal advisor, Amanda Troxler , who is in the state of California. So, yes, we can either help you ourselves or connect you with somebody who can be of service. Rachael That’s great. What is the best way for somebody to contact you? Jen We have a 15-minute consultation with me. You can find that through the support tab on our website. If you want to learn more about embryo donation in general, we have the educational tab on our website. If you want to explore embryo donation to build a family or have been sitting on frozen embryos for years. That is when the Moxi Matching part comes in. We have a tab on our website Moxi Matching. The best way to start gaining information is to review our FAQs for donors and recipients where we try hard to spell out the process. And then there is another area where you can just jump onto our platform and start building your profile again. Once you get your profile built and submit it, we also reach out and have one-on-one conversations with you. So, we try to do a lot of, I do not know if the words handholding, we are incredibly involved. It is still just the three of us. We are growing and expanding and all of that, but we are all so passionate about it that you will hear a lot from us if you join the platform. Rachael If we had a client that was interested in exploring embryo donation as an option, do you offer them guidance when creating their profiles? Jen We will review everything that they have to make sure there are no deal breakers. We will also start talking about gathering documents that we need. If they did use a sperm or egg donor, we like to gather the profiles, the legal clearance as I mentioned earlier. So, yes, we help people build and refine their profiles on both sides. Rachael That is interesting. So, when it comes to third party, the donor family is creating a profile of the biological parents, so would it be the same profile that was used for the egg donor or sperm donor? Jen We try to make it clear because the actual donors may not be the egg or sperm contributors, so we collect medical and genetic information from whomever is the biological source for the embryos. It can get a little confusing sometimes. We have had some people that come to us, a same-sex female couple, for example, and embryos were created using both their eggs. But we will help you work through all of that and make sure that it is clear in your profile. Rachael Well, thank you so much for taking the time to explain Moxi matching and tell us more about EM•POWER with Moxi. Jen If you have questions, you can just reach out to us, we are either on Instagram in with Moxi or through our email, which is hello@empowerwithmoxi.com . Go to our website and book a consultation, a phone call. Rachael Thank you so much for joining us today. It was nice talking with you. And we will be in touch with you further and if any of our clients are interested in learning more, we will have them reach out. Jen Yes, absolutely. Thank you. And we love Donor Concierge and everything that you do, so thank you so much for having us, having me.