Donors and Surrogacy
Patients requesting surrogacy, preferably should be seen
at our downtown office with our Director of Third Party Reproduction, Dr.
Helen Kim
Egg (Oocyte) Donors
The University of Chicago will be happy to supply you with a list of donor agencies that have signed an agreement with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) that states that they will abide by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Ethics Committee Guidelines governing the payment of egg donors.
Even if you have already chosen your own oocyte donor, all donors go through a rigorous initial screening process and fill out an in-depth questionnaire. Once a patient has chosen a donor, the donor has a complete physical and lab workup with one of the doctors at the University of Chicago. After a donor is approved by the doctor, then a donor egg cycle is scheduled. All egg donors are required to have a psychological evaluation and legal consultations.
Sperm Donors
The University of Chicago will be happy to supply you with a list of accredited sperm banks. These banks screen donors for communicable disease, or for specific disease states that are affiliated with certain nationalities. If you are planning to use a known sperm donor, it is recommended that the sperm be frozen and quarantined and that the sperm donor be tested for communicable diseases before and after the quarantine period. Known sperm donors will undergo a rigorous initial screening process, fill out an in-depth questionnaire, and may require a physical examination and blood work.
Gestational Carrier (Surrogacy)
Currently the University of Chicago does not find gestational carriers for patients, however there are several agencies available in the Chicago area that do. Patients may also find their own gestational carriers. The University of Chicago requires that the patient (and partner) receive psychological counseling along with a written statement from the counselor approving all parties involved. Additionally, a legal contract is required between all parties (i.e. male and female intended parent, gestational carrier and gestational carrier's husband.) The gestational carrier will also require a physical examination along with blood screening. It is highly recommended that the intended parents meet with Dr. Kim before scheduling an appointment for their gestational carrier.