Home > Recipient Parent Sessions (Donor Conception)

Egg, Sperm, and Embryo Donation Consultation for Intended Parents

Following ASRM Guidelines | Proudly Supporting LGBTQ+ Families

Deciding to build your family through egg, sperm, or embryo donation is a deeply personal journey, often filled with complex emotions and important decisions. Whether you are an individual, couple, or part of the LGBTQ+ community, this process can bring up feelings of loss, uncertainty, excitement, and hope all at once.

As an experienced reproductive counselor, I provide a safe and supportive space to help you navigate:

Fertility grief and loss – processing emotions around genetic connections
Genetic considerations – addressing concerns about biology and identity
Your relationship with your future child – understanding emotional bonding and attachment
Communicating with family and friends – deciding what, when, and how to share
Child-focused counseling – learning about the long-term impact on donor-conceived children

Counseling for Intended Parents (IPs) is not a test, but rather a resource to help you feel informed, empowered, and prepared. Each session lasts approximately one hour, and reports can be provided to your clinic upon request.

Key Topics Covered in Egg & Sperm Donation

These topics follow American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines and help you make well-informed decisions about donor conception:

Navigating Emotions & Identity

✔️ Grief and loss – Processing feelings about using donor gametes to build a family
✔️ Will I feel like my child isn’t really mine? – Understanding bonding and parental identity
✔️ I’m upset about not having a biological child. Is that okay? – Validating emotions and coping strategies

Talking to Your Child & Family

✔️ Should we tell our child about their donor conception? – Best practices for openness
✔️ How do we deal with questions from others? – Strategies for responding to friends and family
✔️ Should we tell our family members? – Considering family dynamics and disclosure

Deciding the Donor’s Role

✔️ What role will the donor have in our lives, if any? – Exploring future contact and boundaries
✔️ Challenges of anonymity – How DNA testing and social media impact donor relationships
✔️ Future implications of donor-conceived sibling connections – Considering the child's perspective

Long-Term Considerations & Planning

✔️ Understanding the needs of donor-conceived persons – Research and insights into their experiences
✔️ Limitations of donor screening – Knowing what donor screening can and cannot predict
✔️ Receiving new medical information about the donor – How to handle unexpected updates
✔️ What if this treatment doesn’t work? – Coping with treatment failure and exploring alternatives
✔️ Financial planning for donor conception – Finding the best options for your family

Book Your Intended Parent Consultation

Request Your Intended Parent Session

Need a session for your donor? Learn More About Egg and Sperm Donor Evaluations

Using a known donor? Learn More About the Process

A Note from Jana About Third-Party Reproduction Counseling

*"Third-party reproduction counseling is a vital step in this journey, and many fertility doctors nationwide refer their patients to me. While your doctor prepares you for the medical side, I help you navigate the psychological, emotional, and social aspects that last a lifetime.

Donor conception is a decision that impacts not just today but your child’s future. In a medical setting, you may only scratch the surface of these important discussions. That’s why I wrote Three Makes Baby—a guide to emotionally prepare intended parents for this journey. The second half of the book is dedicated to helping parents talk to their child about donor conception at every stage of development."*

– Jana Rupnow, LPC, Author of Three Makes Baby

To get the most out of your intended parent appointment with Jana, you can do some prep work.

Read Three Makes Baby
Audio Book available on Google Play, Apple Books, Walmart/Kobo, Chirp
Work through the companion Three Makes Baby Workbook with your spouse (if applicable).
Listen to Three Make Baby Podcast episodes.
Take the Fertiqol test online.
Take the Enneagram test online.
Sign up for parent workshops coming soon.

Request an appointment online
After you request an appointment, you will receive an email with instructions to secure your day and time. You must complete the steps in the email to secure your appointment time. For video consultations, consent paperwork and payment must be received in advance.

Listen to Three Makes Baby Podcast


Intended Parents Session + Report Fee: $245.00

Intended parents are encouraged by their doctor and the ASRM to attend counseling prior to an egg or sperm donation procedure or before using a gestational carrier. Counseling for IPs includes the exploration of complex social issues and feelings that may be hard to voice. This counseling session is not intended to be a test you must pass prior to treatment but rather a place to discuss your concerns. IP counseling is approx 1 hour and covers the topics recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, (ASRM). A brief report for your physician or clinic is included in the fee. A narrative report will be an additional fee. ASRM Topics for Intended Parent Egg Donation Counseling What are our best options considering our finances? How do we choose a donor? Should we tell our child about his/her donor conception? Will I feel like my child isn't really mine? Will my child be upset with me for choosing to conceive this way? How can I cope with the grief of not having a biological child? Should we tell our family members about using a donor? How do we deal with questions from others? How do we navigate known donation? What if this treatment doesn't work? What role will the donor have in our lives, if any? ASRM Topics for Intended Parent Gestational Carriers (click for more) Request an appointment or email [email protected].