strange question regarding transferring ovums. need hep!

[Anonymous]

Dear DC URBAN MOM Support and Discussion board,

After a still birth and two miscarraiges I was offered ovums (from my recepient/friends) I helped create years ago. They are in california. I was recommended to go to Shady Grove Fertility, where Dr. Woodruff advised me to take tests and then to transfer the ovums to DC.

I took the tests and for eight months tried to get responses from California and Shady Grove about what to do next. Only today did Shady Grove tell me that in fact, NO, they did not accept outside ovums.

I think I probably need to find a fertilty lawyer to help me. Here are my questions:
1. Could anyone recommend a fertility clinic that would receive the ovums or store them here?
2. Could anyone recommend a fertility lawywer in the DMV area?

I really would appreciate any help anyone can give. I am feeling rejected somehow and little like giving up.

Thank you!
Sincerely,
Sarah

[Anonymous]

Are they fertilized? If so, they're embryos. If they're not, then they're ova.

You do need a place that will accept outside embryos/ova. Or you could travel to the original facility in CA for treatment. It stinks that you got bad information from Shady Grove about whether they would accept your embryos/ova. I guess next time make sure you have the plan in writing so you don't waste time.

Where do you live? Someone may be able to refer you. I'm not sure why you need a lawyer. A lot of facilities don't accept embryos/ova from outside labs. It affects their success rate and they don't have control over the quality of the originating lab.

Call around and don't spend any more money until you have the plan in writing!

[Anonymous]

Oh you are right. They are embryos. I misspoke. I am in Washington DC.
Are there any fertility places you find exceptional? Sibley maybe has one?
I might need a lawyer just to transfer the ownership of the embryos.

[Anonymous]

I have heard good things about Dominion... it's good that they're embryos, it's easier to find a place that will accept embryos!

I'm a little confused by your story. Am I right in thinking that years ago you donated eggs, your friends made embryos with them, and now they're offering you their leftover frozen embryos? If so that's a wonderful thing and I'm happy for you! You want to look at a place that will accept donated frozen embryos. That's what you should ask for. It's actually not directly relevant that you were the donor for the embryos. They now belong to your friend, who is donating them to you.

When you establish a relationship with a practice, they should be able to handle the transfer/donation paperwork. This isn't a super unusual scenario (the unusual part is that you were the donor, but that's not relevant).

Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

You are going to have to fly out to CA then back to transport them. Could you do the transfer in CA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are going to have to fly out to CA then back to transport them. Could you do the transfer in CA?

Is that necessarily true, though? I had frozen sperm flown from MA to MD, no problem. They shipped directly to the lab. And clearly it's possible:

https://www.americansurrogacy.com/blog/how-are-embryos-shipped-from-clinic-to-clinic/

[Anonymous]

This story is not adding up. And there’s no Dr. Woodruff at any of the Shady Grove practices in the country.

[Anonymous]

IT was a doctor W something and it was Shady Grove K street. They really gave us the run around. Which is unfortunate because I want to work with Sibley, which is fairly close to me and I feel comfortable there.. I will talk to Dominion. I am fairly new to the area and had not heard of it.

[Anonymous]

Did you mean Dr. Widra at SGF?

[Anonymous]

NP - I can confirm SG doesn’t take embryos from outside clinics.

[Anonymous]

I would set up a consultation appointment with a few places. Explain your history. I know some people have done all the monitoring at Shady Grove but worked with a clinic elsewhere for the transfer because of this very thing. So you could do all the prep at SGF and then fly to CA for the transfer.

I would suggest doing some research for yourself on infertility and terms so you can ask for the right things. This board is great. Most clinics have stuff online too.

Dominion, Columbia, and CCRM Nova are other places to check out