Press

In its June issue, Redbook magazine tells the story of Circle surrogate Dawn Wallace and her husband Jeremy. The article focuses on the role that many men are playing in helping families grow, as husbands of gestational surrogates. These are “some of the most remarkable men you will ever meet,” says Circle Surrogacy’s John Weltman.

Having a committed support person who can provide emotional support, assist around the house, and even help with hormonal injections is crucial to a successful surrogacy journey. Surrogacy agencies need to make sure they have the consent and support of surrogates’ husbands, Weltman says, noting the importance of their involvement in the process.

And there is a difference between help and full support, Dawn says, noting that Jeremy was fully on board with everything. After meeting their intended parents, a gay couple from Israel, for the first time, he told his wife: “We have two people here who really want a baby, and we can give it to them. Let’s do it.”

The Wallaces’ story highlights the importance of open and honest relationships — the hallmarks of a successful gestational surrogacy journey. Gestational surrogates and their husbands need to be equally committed to the project of helping another family grow. “I’ve heard extraordinary stories of men who have literally saved the day,” Weltman says. “He has to be in it.”

“My wife was a surrogate” can be found in the June 2012 issue of Redbook, on magazine stands now. 

[En español abajo]

Spanish television features Circle in report on surrogacy

Spanish television newsmagazine “Comando Actualidad” was on hand at the Men Having Babies Europe event during the conference held last month by the Network of European LGBT Family Associations near Barcelona.

Their report, which can be seen here, includes interviews with Circle parents and Circle Journey Coordinator, Amanda Schepici-Portillo, who assists many of our Spanish-speaking intended parents through the gestational surrogacy process. The segment addresses questions such as the process of choosing surrogacy agencies, the costs of international surrogacy, and locating an egg donor and a surrogate mother. Circle was thrilled to be a part of the conference and to be featured by the television program.

Programa de televisión española destaca a Circle en reportaje sobre la maternidad subrogada

El equipo del programa español “Comanda Actualidad” estuvo presente al evento Men Having Babies Europe durante la conferencia organizada el mes pasado por NELFA (Network of European LGBT Family Associations) en las cercanías de Barcelona.

Su reportaje, que se puede ver aquí, incluye entrevistas con padres de Circle y Amanda Schepici-Portillo, coordinadora de Circle, quien ayuda a muchos de nuestros padres futuros hispanohablantes con el proceso de la maternidad subrogada. El reportaje trata las cuestiones del proceso de escoger una agencia de maternidad por sustitución, los costos para los padres internacionales, y los procesos de escoger una donante de óvulos y una madre subrogada. El equipo Circle nos encantó participar en la conferencia y ser parte del reportaje.

Circle Surrogacy one of the premiere surrogate and egg donor parenting agencies in the United States, announces an informational meeting, to be held on June 16, 2012 in Paris. The meeting will give prospective parents an opportunity to hear expert advice about surrogate parenting options, listen to personal stories from parents, and ask questions about the various aspects—medical, legal, financial—of surrogate and egg donor parenting.

“Many factors have reinforced the desirability of pursuing surrogacy in the United States for French prospective parents,” says John Weltman, Circle Surrogacy’s president and a widely recognized expert in reproductive law, noting the favorable moral, legal and medical climate for surrogacy in the United States. “We are very knowledgeable of the laws in each country and in some of the most frequent destinations such as Sweden, Italy, Israel, the UK, and here in France, we partner with local organizations and lawyers to provide a complete solution for our clients before and after the birth.”

While surrogate motherhood is not allowed in France, French couples and individuals can go through the surrogacy process in the United States and return to France after the birth of their children. In the United States, court decisions have reinforced the rights of intended parents who have pursued surrogacy and no US appeals court has ever ruled in favor of a woman seeking to retain custody of a child to whom she gave birth as a surrogate mother.

Weltman stated that Circle’s staff regularly meets with prospective clients for consultations in their own countries, although many still conduct them over the phone (Skype) or in Boston and New York. The agency leads all intended parents through the logistical, legal and administrative processes involved from day one until they arrive home and gain full custody of their newborns.

Advances in reproductive technology, favorable laws, growing media attention and societal acceptance have contributed to rapid growth of surrogacy in the United States as a parenting alternative for infertile couples, individuals, and the gay community. While many countries worldwide still outlaw or restrict the practice, most states in America permit compensated surrogacy.

“There is a fundamental need for reproduction alternatives like surrogacy and egg donation;” says Weltman, “these options allow a couple who remain childless try after try to be able to share their love with a child of their own. And we can make that happen.”

About Circle Surrogacy

Circle Surrogacy is the oldest American surrogate and egg donor parenting agency serving clients worldwide. Since 1995, Circle Surrogacy has facilitated the birth of more than 600 babies and boasts unequaled success rates in helping clients becoming parents through egg donation and gestational surrogacy. Circle Surrogacy provides a choice of specialized clinics at locations throughout the United States as well as a large selection of egg donors, timely matching with carefully screened surrogates and a variety of flexible programs and financial options.

About John Weltman

John Weltman, president and founder, is a recognized worldwide attorney and expert in the field of surrogacy and reproductive law, as well as gay parenting. John began his own surrogacy journey in 1991 and has two sons. He has written numerous articles in leading publications and has given lectures throughout the United States and Europe on various legal topics related to surrogacy. John holds degrees from Yale, Oxford and the University of Virginia, and is admitted to the bar in MA, CA and NY.

MEDIA CONTACT 
Jennifer Skarinka 
jskarinka(at)circlesurrogacy(dot)com 
+1.617.439.9900 
Fax: +1.617.439.9990

Related Links 

•     Circle Surrogacy home page: http://www.circlesurrogacy.com
•     Information on the Paris meetings: http://www.circlesurrogacy.com/events/5-consultation-meetings-in-paris-june-16-17-2012
•     John Weltman’s Memorandum on the Mennesson decision:http://www.circlesurrogacy.com/fr/component/k2/item/175-memo-mennesson-decision-fr

Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 09, 2012

Circle Surrogacy and Pacific Fertility Center -Los Angeles announced today that they have partnered to offer the Exclusive Unlimited IVF Program - an unlimited InVitro Fertilization (IVF) program at a fixed cost for couples and individuals looking to start a family through surrogacy.

The program is comprehensive in that it covers screenings for donors, carriers and intended parents as well as medications and monitoring at the clinic. The benefit for intended parents is that they have unlimited attempts to have a child without additional costs.

“We created this new IVF program to be a more financially viable option for couples and individuals who are exploring starting a family through surrogacy, “ said John Weltman, President of Circle Surrogacy. “With so many variables in the surrogacy process, we hope this program provides parents with a cap to their costs, something most parents are looking for.”

The cost for IVF cycles generally varies considerably depending on the clinic. An intended parent can expect to spend anywhere from $18,500 - $35,000 per ‘fresh’ cycle at clinics in the United States. The total cost for the Exclusive Unlimited IVF program is set at $33,750, which is much less than some clinics charge for a single transfer.

“The real advantage to this program, besides the cost, is that this plan removes the uncertainty of the doctor’s cost which can be very frustrating to patients,” said Dr. Vicken Sahakian, Medical Director for Pacific Fertility, “An additional advantage is collaborating with Circle Surrogacy, an agency known for the quality of the surrogates in their program and the follow up care they provide.”

About Circle Surrogacy

With more than 17 years of experience and well over 500 births, Circle Surrogacy is one of the oldest and largest surrogate parenting agencies in the world. Circle stands out among other agencies as a place that focuses on the long-term best interests of the child, the surrogate and the intended parent(s). We thoroughly screen our prospective parents, surrogates and egg donors to ensure that all parties share the same values and commitment. We firmly believe that an open and honest approach results in a more rewarding journey.

About Pacific Fertility Los Angeles

We pioneered one of the most revolutionary financial programs in the field of medicine by sharing financial risk with our patients, in the form of monetary refunds in case of failure to achieve a pregnancy with In Vitro Fertilization. We are also committed in helping patients both medically and financially by offering significant discounts in cases of financial hardship through our Access program.

Visit marks the agency’s return to Sweden and its first Norwegian visit amid growing interest in surrogacy for Scandinavian intended parents

Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) April 25, 2012

Circle Surrogacy, one of the premiere gestational surrogacy and egg donation agencies in the United States, announces a series of informational meetings and individual consultations to be held on May 19-20 in Stockholm, on May 22 in Gothenburg, and on May 24 in Oslo. The meetings will give prospective parents an opportunity to hear expert advice about surrogate parenting options, listen to personal stories from parents, and ask questions about the medical, legal, and financial aspects of surrogate parenting.

To view the full press release at PRWEB, click here.

Intended Parents who look to egg donation to build their families will soon have a new resource: The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation: A Compassionate and Comprehensive Guide for All Parents-to-Be. The book, which will be published May 8th and is available for pre-order on Amazon.com, features a chapter fom Elliott Kronenfeld, Circle's own Community Development Manager. The chapter is called Welcome to the Gayby Boom and it focuses on the unique challenges and changes for gay intended parents as they consider egg donation as a path forward to creating their families.  Kronenfeld discusses some of the medical, legal and practical items that intended parents should consider as they plan for the egg donation and/or surrogacy journey.