Positive & Negative Tests

I now have 5 clients who all started at similar times and are at different points in the process. I previously posted about a client who had their surrogate test positive for twins. Great news is that the pregnancy is still going along with twins. She couldn't have expressed her happiness and gratitude more if she tried. It was so sweet how excited she was.

I also have three clients with negative tests the first time round. It is heartbreaking! I can hear the disappointment in their emails/phone calls etc. I try to say positive things to make them feel better, but I can only imagine how they feel. It is such a roller coaster.

Then we go to the next level of client in which their first test was negative, but now their second is positive. I love helping these people and answering all their questions. I hope that for all my clients it turns out to be the best and am keeping my spirits high as I know they are.

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Adopting From India: Babies Without Borders

Many gay men are having biological children for less money and less hassle by seeking surrogacy in India.

While same-sex couples having children is nothing new, there are now more options than ever for those who long to increase the size of their family but are unable to conceive by traditional methods. While lesbians have long utilized artificial insemination to have biological children, gay men have had three options when it comes to raising kids: coparenting with women, adoption, or surrogacy. Fed up with legal headaches and adoption discrimination, many gay and bisexual men have begun thinking outside the box—and out of the country—to fulfill their dreams of becoming parents.

Based in Hyderabad, India, the Kiran Infertility Center has been a leading presence in international surrogacy and infertility for four years, assisting people from 21 countries around the globe. The center offers an all-inclusive surrogacy package for international clients, regardless of nationality or sexual orientation, that handles medical procedures, counseling, lodging, and post-birth legal guidance. As a bonus, there's some local travel and sightseeing, says Samit Sekhar, MD, the clinic's chief embryologist: "The only things intended parents need to do is to inform us of their schedule and arrive in Hyderabad. We take care of the rest."

Sekhar says that unlike at many American clinics, there's no waiting period at Kiran. Once the client signs on, the clinic begins the process by preparing the surrogate and allowing the parents-to-be access to its database of egg donors.

Kiran employs case managers in various cities across the U.S. and Canada (it recently announced its latest addition in Seattle) to assist with medical and other issues and keep clients in the loop with weekly updates. That stateside access offers peace of mind to many would-be dads. And once the baby is born, the clinic provides the legal assistance that helps the new parents obtain a passport and exit visa for their bundle of joy.

The total bill typically comes to $25,000-$40,000, depending on whether the egg donor is a local woman from India or a woman flown in from North America or Europe. It's a far cry from the more typical $80,000 bill for a surrogacy handled in the United States. A U.S. surrogate's fee alone can be up to $25,000, with medical costs, legal fees, additional fees for multiple births, and miscellaneous extras on top of that.

And couples who have previously run into legal or religious barriers while trying to adopt a baby from India needn't fear. Sekhar points out that adoption and surrogacy are two separate legal matters in that country.

"To date, we have not faced any issues regarding surrogacy for same-sex couples from any religious group or from the government," he says. And the proposed Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill 2010, awaiting approval, will codify that surrogacy is available to all couples as long as their relationship is recognized in their own country.

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2nd Embryo Transfers = Positive Tests

I rec'd word that two sets of clients who had initially had negative tests the first time around had surrogates who tested positive for a pregnancy. It is still early, but the initial sign is good. One couple had used all of their embryos from the first donor, so opted for a different donor the second time around. The other couple still had embryos remaining from the initial donor, which has resulted in an initial positive test.

The initial test is testing the Beta HCG Values, which I had to research as a client asked me and I wasn't even sure. According to Babymed.com the definition of Beta HCG Level in early pregnancy means the following:

"HCG stands for "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin", the pregnancy hormone which is produced by the placenta and enters the blood soon after implantation and is detected with pregnancy tests. HCG is being produced by the placenta and enters the blood stream as soon as implantation happens, about one week after fertilization and ovulation, when the embryo implants and the placenta attaches to the uterine lining.

:: hCG under 5 mIU/ml: Negative. Not pregnant

:: hCG between 5-25 mIU/ml: "Equivocal". Maybe pregnant maybe not. Repeat test in a couple of days

:: hCG over 25 mIU/ml:You are pregnant! "

Overall I am going to keep sending positive thoughts to my clients and hopes that the next test which is done in 3 days is still positive. I am anxious just thinking about it, so I can only imagine how they feel.

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The latest form of altruism

Semen donation is the latest form of altruism that has proven a boon for childless couples. Heralded as a milestone in the field of medicine, this charitable act, now taken up by millions of people across the globe has fast caught up in the City. Although many consider it unorthodox and unna­tural, social awareness and the reliability of this method has helped many couples realise their dreams of parenthood.

Vishweshar Rao is a 33- year-old who is into the food and nutrition business. He is happily married and has two children. He says, "I was motivated by my friends in Bangalore to contribute to their sperm bank. The first time I did, I was offered `1,200 as compensation. However, I felt it was morally wrong to accept money for a charitable act such as this and it made it seem like a business endeavour. Ever since then I have been helping childless couples and single parents (hetero and homosexual, who later approach surrogate mothers) by donating the sperm."

The internet is flush with advertisements from semen donors who wish to donate or sell their sperm. Doctors, scientists, musicians, engineers all figure in the list of people who proactively wish to cater to the needs of the childless. Students too, who want to make a fast buck, are a part of this.

However, not everybody can donate their sperms. Dr Samit at Kiran IVF clinic says, "A sperm donor has to be healthy with no history of diseases. Childless parents want all the prime qualities of intelligence, good looks and great physique in their child so the standards set are pretty high."

"When a sperm donor ap­p­r­oaches a bank, he is che­cked for infections, congenital diseases, HIV etc. Edu­cation, family background, habits and their genes are scrutinised for a period of six months. His sperm count is checked and samples of these are frozen in the bank. After six months, the donor is ready to donate his semen and there are umpteen regulations that monitor this too," says Dr Samit. A donor cannot have sex three days before donating his sperm. All donations are done under conditions of anonymity.

While the idea has certainly not appealed to the conservative and orthodox, some are apprehensive about the procedure as they claim it is "unnatural". Shamina Ali, a mother of two says, "It is unnatural for a woman to accept semen from strangers. It will only lead to a breakdown of the moral fabric of the family." Furthermore, the demand for exceptional qualities in sperm donors has caused a huge demand-supply gap in the City.

With Bollywood's latest movie Vicky Donor based on sperm donation, there seems to be a growing awareness. However, it remains to be seen what impact the practice will have on the millions of childless couples who wish for a progeny.

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Couples who have children can now go to India for surrogacy

In Brazil, the Constitution, a woman cannot receive money to gestate the child of another. What is allowed is the loan of the belly.

The monument is over 400 years. Around it is a crowd. In India, second only to China in population, there are about 1.2 billion people.

Hyderabad, southern India, has always had a nickname: city of pearls. The trade of which is traditional. Done for centuries. But the city could well win a new title: City of babies.

Babies who go out of clinics that offer the service of surrogacy.

Indian women become pregnant in exchange for money: receive an embryo and generate the baby for couples or singles who cannot conceive. Mathew and James came from the U.S. for it. They lived together for eight years. They wanted to be more than a couple, wanted a family. Soon, their child will be born.

"Are you ready for this?" Asks Matthew.

"Yes," replied James.

The couple does not know the woman giving birth to their son. They just know where she spent the last nine months. In one clinic, the owners of surrogate living in a dormitory or a hostel complex.

Altogether there are about 60 women scattered on the top floor of a clinic, all of them are already pregnant and the majority for the first time as surrogates. All come from very poor villages in India; and here they receive care and nutrition that they would not be able to have in their homes.

"They are with us and have a strict regimen of diet, personal hygiene, dietary supplements, are accompanied at all times," explains Dr Samit Sekhar.

Each woman receives a payment of about $ 9000 USD, about 16,000 Brazilian Real per pregnancy.

This is a fortune in India. In poor villages, people live on only $ 3 per day. A 24 year old will use the payment to pay off debts and open a cosmetics shop. We wonder what she thinks of being a surrogate mother.

"I am very happy to participate in the program and to help other people," she says.

The surrogacy service was started by the Kiran Infertility Clinic four years ago. "In total, 212 women have had children with us, through this whole process," says the Dr Pratima Grover.

The couples spend about $ 25,000, R $ 45 thousand for the Surrogacy Package. Much less than in the United States, where the price reaches eight times.

The cost of surrogacy in India is precisely what attracts people around the world. Including Brazil, where it is prohibited. We found a couple of Rio de Janeiro in India found that the solution to a dream that seemed impossible.

In Brazil, the constitution, a woman cannot receive money to gestate the child for another. What is allowed is the loan of the belly. That is: to offer the uterus without receiving anything for it.

But the Federal Medical Council imposes a condition: who gives the belly should be a second degree relative of the woman who will stay with the child.

In some cases, may even be a friend, provided that the board authorizes.

"Our concern is with affection, not to generate lawsuit up front," says Joseph Gallo Hiran Silva, director of the Federal Council of Medicine.

Lene and Richard, who live in Rio de Janeiro, or consider asking friends and relatives. "It's emotionally difficult to get a pregnant sister for you," says Richard. The Canadian and Brazilian have been together for 12 years.

Lene has two daughters from another marriage, Richard was never a father. The couple tried to have a child. Lene did a treatment in Brazil to become pregnant, in vitro fertilization, in which a sperm fertilizes an egg in the laboratory.

"There were four unsuccessful attempts," says Lene.

"There are people who try seven, eight times. It was impossible for us emotionally, "says Richard.

It was possible when Lene and Richard discovered the surrogacy, in the same Indian clinic (Surrogacy at Kiran Infertility Centre) as Mathew and James.

"We started with emails, their site and everything. So then we went up there to see if it really was what we were seeing in social networks, "says Lene.

Attempts to impregnate a surrogate mother in India have started there. The couple will follow the pregnancy in Brazil, more than 14,000 kilometers away.

"I'll feel pregnant" jokes Lene.

In Brazil, the child will be considered the child of Lene and Richard.

"When a child is born, we will leave the hospital with a birth certificate with my name and his," says Lene.

For Justice, who is the real mother in such cases? "One who seeks treatment," says Ana Scalquette, biotechnology advisor to the commission of OAB.

"I can get the egg of a woman and the womb of another mother and be considered" complete.

"It's a tough decision, because it is the dream of every parent to give a kiss on the belly. The surrogate will deliver the child, but I'll have children, "says his father moved.

They have already have a room for the babies in the house. Now the parents expect the time to meet the baby. To Mathew and James, the time has come.

"Two boys," says Matthew, to discover the sex of their child.

The meeting finally happens. James is so excited that only silence can express. It was he who donated sperm for fertilization. He is the biological father.

Mathew has called the children by name: Foster and Fox. After ten days they can take the babies home. They'll start a new life, along with two brand new little lives.

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Sperm donation: Queries coming in thick and fast in Hyderabad

Post Shoojit Sircar's humourous take on sperm donation in India, fertility and IVF centers say they have many donors

Shoojit Sircar's morality tale wrapped up as a fun bon bon, "Vicky Donor", might have floated 10 different ways to define the word sperm. But those in the business say they are busy celebrating the difference it has brought to the act of sperm donation.

By Mohd Salman Khan & Rupam Jain

THE WORD'S SPREAD

The film has definitely created a lot of buzz in Hyderabad about sperm donation, which was earlier considered taboo, points out Dr Samit Sekhar, chief embryologist, of an infertility center in the city. "Before this film, we would have to organize seminars and conferences in colleges and ask people to donate sperm. Now people are willingly coming forward to donate. We now get about five calls everyday from those wanting to donate," he says.

And it is not just Hyderabad. Dr Sweta Gupta, consultant with a prominent IVF clinic in Delhi, says, "From barely two or three calls a day, we now receive 10-15 calls."

MONEY HAI TOH…

Interestingly, while the number of sperm donors has risen, IVF specialists say the reasons are not altogether altruistic. Money, according to them, is a big driving force.

"I would say that's the biggest drawback of the film as it shows that one can earn a lot through sperm donation. This is misleading. In fact, earlier when we got people to donate via seminars and conferences, money was never even discussed. People just voluntarily gave their sperm to help those in need. But now, the queries that we get are about the money. It's not a quick process. After a person has donated his sperm, we freeze it for six months. Only after that can we know whether that person's semen can actually be used or not. Even if he is eligible, the money depends on a lot of factors, like parents' requirements, qualification of the donor, blood group, etc. A graduate is usually paid between 2,000 to 3,000, an engineer (if he fulfills all the other requirements) will be paid 5,000. But broadly, the money ranges from 1,000 to 5,000," explains Dr Sekhar.

Dr Gupta in Delhi says, "After the film there is an assumption that one can earn one's living with sperm donation. In fact, we offer only 500 per donation. That means a person will be paid 5,000 for 10 donations. And a regular donor is allowed to donate that many times in six months."

However, Ayushmann 'Vicky' Khurrana, who plays the lead in the film, puts that exaggeration down to artistic liberty. He says, "If we didn't show some exaggerated stuff, the viewers would not have been entertained at all. We are not making a documentary here!"

90 % BACK OUT

Interestingly, after a willing donor is explained about the entire process of donation, 90 per cent of them back out, because they do not want to undergo various tests.

Dr A Rajyalashmi, senior embryologist says, "Earlier, we would have a donor only once in a blue moon, but now, we get at least a few mails everyday. However, when we do write back to them explaining the process and asking for their details, family history, diseases if any, there are few responses."

HYDERABAD FACT FILE

Frequent donors: Aged between 20-30,mainly college students

Frequency: As many times as the donor wants to, but it is usually restricted to five because of ethical reasons,say doctors.

It's not that easy: Calls for a lengthy protocol

Written Test: Donors have to answer 50 questions relating to their knowledge about sperm donation, reason why they want to donate.

Checking family history — whether the donor is disease-free, any untimely deaths in the family,etc.

Blood test to check if the donor is free of sexually transmitted diseases.

Chromosomal testing, to ensure nothing affects the offspring.

Explaining to donors that they have no right over babies.

Common demands: 1.Matching blood group because most couple do not reveal to their family that they have taken the help of a donor. Same religion,caste. Same color. Good height. WHAT A MAN CAN EARN FROM ONE SAMPLE SESSION (APPROXIMATELY) HYDERABAD: 1,000 BANGALORE: 250-300 CHENNAI: 500 DELHI: 500 MUMBAI: 500 KOLKATA: 200

Advanced Hysteroscopic surgery

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City joins surrogacy race

Hyderabad is emerging a favourite destination for those looking for surrogate mothers. Presence of world-class medical facilities, fertility clinics and inexpensive cost of wombs are quoted as reasons

Hyderabad, which was slow to catch up with other major metros of India in surrogacy, has of late seen a change.

Today, many fertility clinics in the City are reporting increasing requisitions and readiness of women to lend a womb. If medical circles are to be believed, Hyderabad is giving other metros a run for their money in this aspect.

With its list of premier fertility clinics and leading hospitals, Hyderabad is becoming an important station for surrogacy. Reports say couples from neighbouring states, Gulf countries and USA are now choosing Hyderabad for the main reasons of the availability of ideal candidates and lesser cost.

"Five years ago, we barely undertook one surrogacy case in a month. Today we deal with at least ten cases every month and that's a big number for sure. We get cases not only from the City but sometimes from other states too. Some couples bring their friends or known people to rent the womb and many a times we also provide women whose wombs can be hired," adds Dr Samit Sekhar, chief embryologist, Kiran Fertility Center.

"Surrogacy is in demand because of the success rates. These days couples mainly opt for it because of the quality equipment, favourable pricing and hassle-free procedure. However, the couple needs to undergo various procedures before opting for surrogacy. Women who can't conceive are only given a chance to opt for surrogacy," said Dr Samit.

"Yes," replied James.

Candidature for surrogacy is not easy as it sounds. "We make our decision only after talking to the expectant parents and to the women going to deliver the baby. We observe their behaviour, whether they would be able to take care of their baby or not.

If we feel that they won't, we refuse them. The woman renting the womb doesn't need to stay in the hospital for nine months, she needs to visit the hospital only for the checkups and other medical procedures. A team of eight doctors takes care of the process till the baby is delivered," adds Dr. Samit.

Dr Nusrat, senior gynaecologist says, "Since the time commercial surrogacy is legalised in India in 2002 there has been lot of demand for surrogate mother. Affordable prices, latest technologies, trained doctors and the success rates in the recent years had made Hyderabad a destination surrogacy. In comparison to other metros, the cost of renting a womb here is less. India is the only country apart from US where surrogacy is legal."

"In the recent years, surrogacy cases are on the rise in the City of Pearls and the main reason is the jam packed fertility centres in Mumbai and Delhi which are unable to meet the growing demand. The numbers of couples seeking surrogate have doubled. Earlier any clinic in city use to get only 15 to 20 cases a year and now on an average any fertility centre in Hyderabad must be getting 60 to 80 cases a year," adds Dr Nusrat.

Cost factor works in favour of India and Hyderabad, medical circles point out.

The cost of surrogacy in the U.S. is about $80,000 whereas in Hyderabad it's only Rs.3-Rs.5 lakh, in addition to the medical fare and travel or food expenses of the surrogate mother.

Hyderabad has now become a hot-spot for many couples from other countries too because of the low-cost and world-class medical presence. In other metros it costs around Rs.8-Rs.9 lakh per womb.

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