The COVID-19 pandemic has affected so many different aspects in people’s lives. One of the more unique deals with surrogacy matters. The commercial surrogacy industry is experiencing a nationwide crisis due to the COVID-19 travel ban that has closed U.S. borders to a...
HENNEPIN COUNTY ADOPTION LAW BLOG
In vitro fertilization: Why do people do it?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an assisted reproduction technology method where sperm-to-egg fertilization occurs in a lab. Once the egg is fertilized, a professional transfers the egg to a uterus. Prospective parents may use this method for several reasons. In some...
Deciding whether surrogacy is an option for your family
There are no clear standards across the United States when it comes to using a surrogate mother to have a baby, and Minnesota is no exception. There are no laws prohibiting (or permitting or regulating) gestational or traditional surrogacy in the state.The Minnesota...
Surrogacy agreements now option for same-sex parents in Utah
Utah’s Supreme Court recently ruled that a Utah state statute is unconstitutional because it excluded same-sex couples from being able to enter into gestational surrogacy contracts.The issue came about when an unnamed same-sex couple wanted to enter into a...
How to boost fertility for men and women
There’s a huge misconception surrounding pregnancies; between films like Knocked Up and Juno, people believe it’s incredibly easy to reproduce. All you need to do is have unprotected sex.However, the reality surrounding pregnancy is quite different. Most...
New technology: Both moms play role in bringing child into the world
As technology, science, and medicine continue to evolve, so are the ways same-sex couples can grow and expand their families.In one reported case, two mothers got to both experience what it is like to play a role in carrying their child, a now happy 9-month-old. The...
Implications from egg destruction a legal wake-up call
A lawsuit that resulted from the inadvertent destruction of more than 4,000 frozen eggs and embryos is causing legal repercussions far beyond the immediate aftermath of the incident.Last March, a storage tank malfunctioned at the University Hospitals Fertility Center...
Can a doctor harvest sperm from a cadaver?
The answer is yes, a doctor can harvest sperm from a cadaver. The next question is whether the doctor should.Sperm can remain viable for between 24 and 48 hours after a man dies. Doctors will first look for physical damage to the testicles, then talk to survivors to...
Catching Up to Medical Science – New Jersey to Make Compensated Surrogacy Possible
By January 1, 2019 there will only be three states that have published statutes or case law that prohibit compensated surrogacy contracts - those states being Louisiana, Michigan and New York. With the State of Washington amending its Uniform Parentage Act to...
Who gets frozen embryos in a divorce?
There are still so many grey areas when it comes to the laws surrounding assisted reproduction. At the same time, more couples are using procedures like in vitro fertilization to have their own families. Because of this, the courts are hearing more and more cases...
