The Eggsplanation

The Eggsplanation: ANOTHER SCANDAL in the Surrogacy World with Escrow

Once again we are faced with a scandal of huge proportions with another bad player absconding with Intended Parents and Surrogates funds.  Many lost their life savings and have no way to move forward with Family Building and many were in the middle of their journey with no more funds to compensate the woman carrying their long awaited child.  Out guest today, Micheal Snaric, of "Families Out Loud", will discuss this issue and the ethical ways the fertility professionals can be the change we all want to see in the industry.

How Old is too OLD to have a Baby? A chat with an OB!

For the last of our series on "How old is TOO OLD to have a child via IVF" we will be discussing the medical concerns that face older women during pregnancy and how those medical issues can be detrimental to the baby AND the mother.   My guest, Dr. Traci DeSplinter, has a long career as an OB/GYN and I was fortunate to work with her early in my career in fertility.  She has delivered in her practice not only older women carrying their own baby, but gestational carriers and "older" gestational carriers too and knows the pitfalls and emergencies that can happen in a "blink of an eye" to jeopardize both mother and baby.
You can learn more about Dr. Traci and her newest endeavor, at #refinedwomenshealth (on IG) and her approach to women's health and wellness during peri-menopause and beyond!

What are the Mental Health aspects of OLDER parenting via IVF, a discussion with Rachel Goldberg"

In our continuing series on "How OLD is too OLD to become a parent via IVF" I have a discussion with Rachel Goldberg, a Mental Health professional, who has tackled these complex and emotional issues in her practice.  Rachel brings a different perspective to the discussion from the legal and parenting views and you won't want to miss her insightful thoughts on this divisive issues amongst fertility care professionals.
Rachel Goldberg, LMFT, PMH-C, is the founder of Rachel Goldberg Therapy in California.  Her practice specializes in Infertility, postpartum issues, couples and third-party parenting and family building.

How Old is TOO Old to Parent, Part 2 with Attorney Stephanie Caballero

Welcome to the 2nd Episode in our series on "How OLD is too OLD to Parent via IVF" with our guest, Stephanie Caballero, JD.   Stephanie helps us take a deep dive into the nuances of older parenthood and what we can and can not provide for these late stage parents.  We dive into a bit of Reproductive Justice (again!) while also discussing what it means to be the child of older parents and the issues that will probably crop up as the child grows into adulthood.

"How old is TOO OLD to parent via IVF", 1st in a 4 part series

The idea of Reproductive Autonomy, which means YOU decide what to do with your body, is at the heart of parenting.  But is there a time when it's just too late, or that "ship has sailed"?  We will start our four part series on these very questions with a chat with Mira Seldner, a new parent of two, with an older partner.  We explore their journey to parenthood and the issues that having an older partner raises and the questions that older parenthood brings up.  

Making the Case for Designer Surrogacy in Family Building

By whatever name you call, "Planned Surrogacy", "Social Surrogacy", "Designer Surrogacy" or even "LifeStyle Surrogacy", everyone can agree its a controversial subject with both the morality and the ethics of the practice called into question.  Today we discuss with two experts the choices people make when pursuing surrogacy as well as the pros and cons of choosing Surrogacy By Choice. 
Dr. Angela Lawson and Dr. Debra Simmons will join me as we dig a bit deeper into this fascinating intersection of reproduction, autonomy and beneficence.
 

How do I know my GENES are good GENES?

Following up on our theme from the last episode, GENES and GENETIC screening and the BIOETHICS involved, this episode will by an in-depth look at Genetic Counseling and the good, the bad and the ugly of GENES.  Our guest from GENE-SCREEN, Emily Daugherty, will help us understand what genetic counseling does and doesn't do and does it support the BIOETHIC principles of Justice and Autonomy.

Everything you ever wanted to know about PGT with Gary Harton, Phd

So what's all the hype about PGT?  Can it tell which is the best embryo?  Will it pick out the smartest and tallest embryo?  Is it overused and just an add-on in IVF?  Join us as we explore the world of PGT with Dr. Gary Harton, Chief Scientific Officer of NoVA Genomics and Founder and Principal of GROW Consulting and why PGT is BENEFICENCE in action.

The BioEthics of Posthumous Reproduction

Join our host, Mary Fusillo, for a fascinating look at the ethics and issues behind posthumous reproduction.  With the very sad case of a brain-dead woman being forcibly kept alive via mechanical means for over 15 weeks due to abortion laws in her home state prominent in the news to the use of sperm from non consenting males, our guest, Dr. Lisa Campo-Engelstein, the Chair of the Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, will discuss what she sees as issues with Autonomy and Beneficence with posthumous reproduction.
AND....take a look at her newest book, "SEMINAL, on Sperm, Health and Politics at this LINK:  SEMINAL, on Sperm, Health and Politics
 
 
 
 
 

Donor's Experiences with Disclosure and Genetic Connections

On this episode of "The Eggsplanation" I welcome two veteran egg donors who will help me dig down into what disclosure in gamete donation means to them and what their thoughts are on the genetic connections they have to the children created with their help.