Intended Parents Consultation

In today’s world, families are created in numerous ways. For many, this means an inclusion of outsiders, actively assisting Intended Parents to achieve their dream. This might include traveling to Southern California, and trusting those from a different country and culture to assist them.

With some of us having personally experienced infertility, the mental health professionals at FCCI truly understand every step in this process, and the ultimate, priceless joy parents’ feel holding their child in their arms for the first time. Our goal is to make this journey as smooth as possible for all involved.

ASRM has specific guidelines for Intended Parents using third party assistance (sperm donor, egg donor, surrogate-gestational carrier and donated embryos). The guidelines include participating in a session with a qualified mental health professional, like those at FCCI, who have experience working with individuals and couples struggling with fertility and needing third party assisted reproduction procedures.

FCCI personnel approach their meetings with all participants with the premise that they are consenting adults and whatever the treatment and/or role in the process, it is ultimately each individual’s or couple’s decision to move forward.

Intended Parents travel to FCCI offices in Orange County, California, for a face-to-face psycho-educational meeting. If this is not possible, a videoconference is arranged. After signing appropriate consent forms, FCCI then provides the referring Agency and/or Physician with a written summary of the session and any recommendations.

General

A brief review of their specific infertility history
Brief histories of each individual and the relationship, if appropriate
Comfort with the recommended treatment
Coping and stress reduction strategies
Impact of the treatment on relationships
Disclosure considerations

On-going Counseling Support and Consultations

Caring for the emotional needs for all involved in this process is not a single, isolated, one-time occurrence.

FCCI is there for you from the initial meetings and interviews, through conception, pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum.

Support sessions related to infertility may include:

Relationship issues (including marriage counseling)
Individual counseling
Coping with families and friends during infertility
Stress management
Decision making
Grief counseling

Intended Parents Using A Gestational Carrier (Surrogate)

What factors have brought the Intended Parents to consider this treatment option
Their plans regarding disclosure to friends and family
Their expectations for the type of relationship they want with their gestational carrier
Any special concerns they might have regarding the pre-cycle procedures, the pregnancy, delivery, their extended family dynamics and support for what they are doing

Intended Parents Using A Non-Identified Or Identified Sperm or Egg Donor

What has factors have brought them to consider this treatment option
What traits do the Intended Parents prefer in a donor, and to what extent is it necessary or desirable to seek a ‘matching’ donor whose looks resemble those of the recipient couple
Any relevant factors dependent upon the donor being non-identified, identified or known
What impact might how-and-when someone discovers that they are donor-conceived have upon them and their family?
What are the challenges involved in raising donor-conceived children?
What are the specific challenges faced by non-traditional families, which involve same-sex couples and/or co-parenting arrangements, when it comes to donor conception?
What is the impact on such families of being less readily accommodated by established social conventions and institutions? And is this changing?

Intended Parents Using Known and/or Self recruited Donor and/or Surrogate

Intended Parents who arrange with friends or family members to assist them are asked to block out 2-3 hours of their time for their FCCI consultation. Sessions are scheduled with the known donor or carrier (and spouse/partner if applicable) independently, the Intended Parents independently and all of them together.

In addition to the topics for donor and carrier cycles, the focus is on:

Process involved in setting up the collaboration
Plans for the future in terms of family/friend dynamics
Certainty there was no coercion and undue pressure to participate
Clarity regarding boundaries and expectations