Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/01/pfizer-recalls-1-million-birth-control-pills/#ixzz1l9boG5kq

There are many things that could cancel an egg donation cycle and one of them is a surprise pregnancy.

Do You Need Genetic Counseling? By Amy Vance, MS, CGC

Amy Vance, MS, CGC

Family history risk assessment enables couples who intend to use donated eggs to make informed decisions about potential genetic risks prior to donor selection and pregnancy. Donor agencies can provide genetic counseling services so that the IVF doctor and the intended parents fully understand the implications of the genetic information they have.

What is genetic counseling? Genetic tests do not yield easy-to-understand results. Genetic counseling helps you understand and use the results of genetic testing to make informed decisions. Genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. This process integrates:

• Interpretation of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence;
• Education about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research; and
• Counseling to promote informed choices and adaptation to the risk or condition.

The purpose of the genetics consult for ovum donors – Unfortunately, genetic screening is limited and genetic counseling services are rare for ovum donors. Ovum donors are typically screened through the use of a family history questionnaire as part of their profile, usually focusing only on first degree relatives and grandparents. The majority of questionnaires omit half-siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Most ovum donor programs do not utilize genetic counseling services for family history risk assessment (hereafter called genetic risk assessment, or GRA) and do not obtain a three generation pedigree (family history).

If a potential donor has a positive genetic test result, many donor agencies do not refer her for genetic counseling. Therefore the implications of the genetic test results are not adequately addressed with the donor and her family.

The benefits to intended parents – Having a thorough review and interpretation of the family medical history helps ensure that intended parents have not only complete information, but also interpretation of potential risks to their offspring.

A copy of the family tree, or “pedigree,” is provided to the intended parents for their records. For a couple using an anonymous gamete donor, this may be the most detailed information they receive about the medical history of their offspring’s family.

Sometimes there is new information that comes up during the genetics consult that was not elicited by the profile, or there is a genetic test result on the donor which is positive. These are difficult circumstances that on occasion lead to the intended parent deciding not to go forward with the donor. Knowing this information prior to a pregnancy and having the opportunity to make decisions accordingly is important.

Risk assessment includes

• Donor’s pregnancy history
• Donor’s health history
• Family history of mental retardation or birth defects
• Personal or family history of stillbirth/miscarriage/neonatal death

Why is ethnicity important? – In almost every population or ethnic group, certain genetic conditions occur more frequently than in the general population. Once a genetic mutation occurs in an individual or population, it is conserved from generation to generation over many years as people mate and marry with partners from the same geographic region or racial background as themselves. Specific conditions occur more commonly in different ethnic groups. All are inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, meaning that both parents have to be carriers for the same condition in order to have an affected child. The only way to know if someone is a carrier for a recessive disorder is to have carrier screening.

Why don’t all ovum donors have a genetic risk assessment? – There are currently no regulations requiring a genetics consultation/family history risk assessment for ovum donors. Awareness of GRA is still fairly limited, and GRA is not yet widely used for reasons such as:

• Limited or no awareness of what the GRA is and how it is useful to donor programs, intended parents and IVF physicians.
• Perception that genetic testing is the same as the GRA.
• Donor agencies may perceive that the GRA will complicate the donation process or will confuse or scare the intended parents away from certain donors.
• There are no requirements for GRA by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine at this time.

Intended parents can empower themselves by asking their donor agency/IVF center whether a GRA has been performed, and whether they can obtain a copy for their records. If a GRA has not been performed, intended parents can request that this occur. If more intended parents see the value in the GRA and request that it be done, it may become standard practice in the future.

Amy Vance, MS, CGC is a board certified genetic counselor and founder of Bay Area Genetic Counseling, a consulting practice specializing in genetic risk assessment for gamete donors and fertility patients. She has provided genetic counseling since 1991, with clinical experience and significant expertise in prenatal, pediatric, adult, and cancer genetics. She has served on the board of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s Genetic Counseling Special Interest Group since 2002 and has Chaired the National Society of Genetic Counseling ART Group.

• Old SAT of 1300 or better
• New SAT of 1900 or better
• ACT of 30 or better
• Caucasian, Brunette
• 5’4″ or taller
• Able to travel for donation
• A minimum of a four year university degree, though an advanced degree is preferable

Premium compensation is available to the right candidates.

In addition, we are actively recruiting egg donors from all ethnic backgrounds; African American, Asian, East Indian, Multi-Racial, and Jewish Egg Donors are in high demand!

To be considered for our program, please refer to the Donor section of our website to review our program requirements and complete our pre-screening application.

You may contact us at 775-354-0577 or 866-223-0003 for more information.

In addition, we are actively recruiting for a couple who is willing to pay the right donor a higher than standard fee if they possess the following criteria:

• Caucasian of Northern European heritage
• Age preference 27-33 years of age
• Successful repeat donor
• High academic achievement: a minimum of a four year university degree, though an advanced degree is preferable
• Indication of academic success/intelligence
• Brown hair
• Blue or blue grey eyes
• Slender build
• 5’4″ or taller
• Athletic
• Fair to medium complexion
• Genetically sound, no known hereditary issues
• Extremely robust health history
• Healthy, balanced life style, nutritious diet, regular exercise

To be considered for our program, please refer to the Donor section of our website to review our program requirements and complete our pre-screening application.

You may contact us at 775-354-0577 or 866-223-0003 for more information.

Original post via Tiny Budda

Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus by Tiago J.G. Fernandes, on Flickr

Editor’s Note: This is a contribution by Andrea Johnson:

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” ~Charles R. Swindoll

Ever noticed a chrysalis hidden within its cocoon? The final few moments before it emerges as a butterfly compose what science terms as metamorphosis, a transformation.

If you have been lucky enough to observe this process, which I highly recommend watching, you’d notice it has to struggle quite a bit before it gets all the attention for being the magnificent creature it is.

It’s long and painful. However watching it, you may be tempted to clip off the outer covering of the chrysalis with a pair of scissors. And you might do it, thinking you’re doing it a favor. But when it finally emerges, you’d be sorely disappointed.

The chrysalis’ covering holds within its shell vital fluids that are important to its wing formation. But your act of kindness, of clipping that outer shell deprives it of that, and as a result, the butterfly that emerges is crippled, deformed, and nothing like the butterfly it was supposed to be.

On the other hand, if you can muster up the patience to watch this metamorphosis take place, without any intervention from your side, you’ll see one of the most beautiful miracles of nature, and one of life’s best lessons.

Our lives are journeys to this same type of metamorphosis, to find a sense of purpose in life. We cannot achieve this without the difficult situations or the pain that life often brings in generous doses.

Each one of us has had to let go of a dream, compromise, and experience pain and the entire gamut of emotions that an undesirable change can bring. But by no means did it ever spell the end of all dreams.

I graduated from law school with big dreams to help the world, to fight for justice, and to make a difference with my education, because I considered myself fortunate to have had an academic training— unlike the millions of other kids who haven’t had a chance to study at all.

I joined the non-profit sector with high hopes and zero expectations of financial rewards, because all I wanted was to make a difference. But life had other plans, as it always does.

Eight months down the line, I quit my job over the lack of work ethics. I couldn’t stand to compromise my principles, or to allow myself to be manipulated for what I held to be good and true. That was the end of a long cherished dream. It was a difficult decision because it certainly didn’t look good on a resume!

My family was disappointed with me, and when you don’t have the support of your loved ones at times like this, it hurts. I knew I had broken their dreams in the process, too, but I had to stand up for what I believed in. The weight of their expectations—and my own—was too much to carry. I had barely started my career when it ended. (Or so I thought at the time.)

And yet, in those eight months, I learned everything I possibly could about the field I had chosen because I was passionate about it (and the learning continues). All was not lost. I could still try for another job or back up and try something else.

I always had a flair for writing and editing. I loved the English language and all the nuances associated with it, so I was entrusted two manuscripts for editing that I’d religiously try to complete in my free time.

In the time after I quit my job, I took my editing work on the manuscripts a lot more seriously. And quite suddenly I had a realization about what I was supposed to do—I felt liberated me from all the anxiety and stress I was feeling regarding my future career plans.

I quickly drew up a plan of the options I could explore. Self-employment was beginning to look like an attractive option, and I was excited by the possibility of making the best use of my creativity, talents, and varied interests.

Today my heart is at peace because I am doing something I enjoy and staying true to my heart’s calling. I didn’t realize it before, but this is the metamorphosis I was headed to all along—I just needed to allow myself time to emerge.

The seemingly “impossible situation” of quitting a career that barely took off might have plunged me into the deep abyss of hopelessness; but looking back now, I remember the chrysalis going through the struggle to emerge as the beautiful creature its meant to be.

If you stay true to your conscience and live your life the way you believe it should be, you can be rest assured of this:

Every bad experience, painful relationship, and compromise you’ve ever made in good conscience will somehow transform into a beautiful inner reservoir of spiritual gifts and blessings.

Life wants you to take notice of three things when you’re going through a difficult time that may seem eternal:

Trust life. There’s a higher purpose behind every seemingly impossible and difficult phase. You’ve just got to hang in there and know that it’s for the best.

Change. If you find yourself feeling bad a lot more often than not, take time out to reflect on whether or not you’re happy deep down with what you’re doing.

Believe. Believe in yourself, even if the world around you doesn’t. If you don’t, who will?

Hold onto what you believe in. You’re meant to emerge as a beautiful butterfly from your chrysalis. Always remember that, with a smile, and give yourself a chance to delight and revel in the mysterious workings of the universe.

Photo by Tiago J. G. Fernandez

Andrea Johnson, Author

Andrea Johnson is an inspiration evangelist, freelance editor, social media consultant, artist and philanthropist. She founded Creative Elixir to share her passions for social media, arts, photography, non-profit strategies, motivational writing, and social good and to help individuals and organizations explore their potential in a fun, creative way. Connect with Andrea on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Andrew Vorzimer, The Spin Doctor

As mentioned in my previous post, without coming out and saying it, I pretty much wanted to sweep the news of last weeks outing of the Baby-selling ring under the carpet. Not because it is not interesting, heck it’s sadly interesting, but because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to speak intelligently about it and I’d be too emotionally charged. Don’t get me wrong, I have my feelings, they’re strong feelings but I am not a legal professional and do not pretend to know all the facts. Thankfully Andrew Vorzimer, The Spin Doctor and Reproductive Law Attorney has first hand knowledge of the case and can speak to all points. I commend him, Steven Snyder, and the other unnamed attorneys and the FBI for unearthing the scheme of these perpetrators. Andrew’s blog, The Spin Doctor, this past week has been extremely informative and I strongly recommend you refer to it to learn the facts and to understand the legal implications without making false judgements. Be sure to read all the way back to last Tuesday, August 8, 2011 (when news broke). Continue to follow the story through Andrew’s eyes and profession; I know I will.