Introduction:
We know the path to becoming a parent can be a winding and complicated one. Whether it’s deciphering ovulation charts, injecting yourself with hormone medications, using a donor or surrogate, or planning for adoption – the reality is there isn’t one path to motherhood, and that’s okay. This past month we dived into the different routes people have taken to become parents or preserve their ability to do so. Hosted by our leading physician, Meredith Brower, we were joined by ABC’s The Rookie actress Camille Guaty-Kaye.
If you couldn’t make the event, this article contains a link to the recording and – below that – a quick recap of the takeaways you need to know!
The panel:
Dr. Meredith Brower
Dr. Meredith is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. After graduating at the top of her class from USC medical school, she went on to complete her Ob/Gyn residency and REI fellowship at UCLA. Recently recognized as one of LA’s Top Doctors by LA Magazine, Dr. Meredith’s areas of expertise include infertility, in vitro fertilization, fertility preservation, recurrent pregnancy loss, and PCOS. She is one of our leading physicians at the Kindbody Los Angeles locations.
Camille Guaty-Kaye
You may have seen actress Camille Guaty-Kaye on shows like Prison Break or Good Doctor. Similar to our community, Camille has faced her fair share of challenges when it came to conceiving naturally. She ultimately used an egg donor with her husband and gave birth to her baby boy in 2019. Through her experience, she’s become an advocate for women and men who are navigating fertility treatments like IVF and/or third-party services like an egg/sperm donor.
Judith Kotick
Judith Kottick is a licensed therapist and Kindbody virtual provider. Judith, on her postgraduate training in psychodynamic psychotherapy and complicated grief from the Mind/Body Institute at Harvard Medical School to provide a personalized approach to helping people cope with life’s challenges. Although she has a specialty in grief, loss, and infertility, she sees individuals, couples, and young adults with a wide range of issues, from depression and loss to parenting difficulties, anger management, and relationship stress. She guides patients through stress reduction, job, career transition, postpartum depression, and other life changes.
Gail Sexton Anderson (Donor Concierge)
Gail is the CEO and founder of Donor Concierge; she also is a virtual provider for our Kindbody Community. Gail launched Donor Concierge in 2006 to provide intended parents with greater choice when searching for an egg donor or surrogate. The services they offer are for people looking to find a donor or surrogate to accomplish their family-building goals.
Watch the full event:
—————-
What does a fertility assessment entail? How does it work for men?
A fertility assessment can be performed on any woman in her reproductive years (i.e., has had her first menses and is not yet in menopause). The assessment consists of a blood test (AMH) and a specialized sonogram (AFC). The blood test is called AMH (Anti-mullerian hormone) and is a measurement of a hormone that is secreted by the follicles (which contain the premature eggs) in the ovaries each month. The sonogram is performed to assess the AFC (antral follicle count). The AFC is actually counting the number of follicles seen in the ovaries in a given month.
Two things to understand about assessing your fertility. One, the fertility assessment cannot assess the quality of eggs. Egg quality declines with age and cannot be further assessed until pregnancy or if one were to choose to undergo embryo freezing. Second, but even more importantly, a fertility assessment cannot predict the future.
For men who’d like to understand where they are at or how to promote the quality of their sperm we recommend coming in for a sperm test. During the test our doctors will assess your sperm count , how quickly your sperm move, the size, shape, and quality of your sperm, and the amount of seminal fluid.
What are the basic building blocks to conceive?
To make a baby you need sperm, an egg, and a uterus. If one or more of these variables is missing from the equation, as is often the case for same-sex couples or those struggling with infertility, assistance from a third party may be necessary.
What does third party and assisted reproductive technology really mean?
The phrase “third-party reproduction” refers to the use of eggs, sperm, or embryos that have been donated by a third person (donor) to create a pregnancy/baby. Assisted reproductive technology refers to any technology employed to conceive a child by means other than sexual intercourse. To learn more about our third party offerings and services click here.
