Embryo Preservation and Adoption
Infancy through University Photographs
865-970-1757
310-367-9636PsychologicalUnderstanding and comfort with the donor, adoption and surrogacy process is vital to a successful relationship between all involved in this amazing opportunity. We ask that each person speak with someone on our psychological staff to gain insight into their part in bringing a child into the world. It is also important for donor and recipient to meet together with psychologist to discuss any issues of importance. Please contact our advisors to ask any questions you may have.
Open adoption and known sperm and egg donor arrangements have recently become a common and widely accepted method of helping the children and families maintain a healthy and emotionally balanced relationship. Enabling contact between the children, siblings and biological parents while being brought up by the adoptive parents has proven to be good for the child and the parents. We are open to discuss the relationship that is of interest to you.
Services Provided The guidelines set forth by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommend psychological screening.
IQ Testing
The purpose of the test is to obtain global estimates of donor’s intellectual ability. This test requires two sessions. During the first session the test will be administered and answers will be scored. In the second session the results will be discussed and their interpretation will be provided in written format.
MMPI
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2; MMPI-A) is a written psychological assessment, or test, used to diagnose mental disorders. It is used to screen for personality and psychosocial disorders. This test requires two sessions. During the first session the test will be administered and answers sent away to be scored. In the second session the results will be discussed and their interpretation will be provided in written format.
Psychosocial Assessment
Appropriate psychological evaluation is necessary for three major reasons: (1) to be certain that egg donation is a suitable elective process for the potential egg donor; (2) to ascertain that the donor has no psychological contraindications for egg donation; and (3), that once started, the potential egg donor will fulfill her responsibilities for the cycle. Psychological assessment will include a psychosocial history focusing on the potential donor’s family history, educational background, assessment of stability, motivation to donate, current life stressors and coping skills, difficult or traumatic reproductive history, interpersonal relationships, sexual history, history of major psychiatric and personality disorders, substance abuse in donor or first-degree relatives, legal history, and history of abuse or neglect. Potential egg donors may be excluded from donating when there is a history of any of the following: heritable psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, two or more first-degree relatives with substance abuse, current use of psychoactive medications, sexual or physical abuse with no professional treatment, excessive stress, marital instability, impaired cognitive functioning, mental incompetence, or high-risk sexual practices.
The assessment requires 1 – 2 hour phone/in person consultation. Upon interview completion, a comprehensive report will be produced.
Psychotherapy
Counseling services will be provided to donors and/or recipients. The unit of treatment will either be individual or couple.
