Home > Recipient Parent Sessions (Donor Conception)

Egg, Sperm, and Embryo Donation Consultation for Intended Parents


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. Reports can be provided to your clinic upon request.

Following ASRM Guidelines | Proudly Supporting LGBTQ+ Families





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




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.

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



Listen to Three Makes Baby Podcast