ED agency - Illinois

[coralville]

I'm new here - hello everyone. Does anyone have any experience with egg donor agencies in Illinois, specifically Alternative Reproductive Resources or ConceiveAbilities? I haven't contacted either one of them yet, I thought I would try to get some information here first.

I've been going over the old posts and have been really impressed by the show of support everyone seems to give each other. I'm tearing up just thinking about it

Thank you,
Coralville

[mom23Cs]

Coralville,
Sorry, I know nothing about Illinois or ED, but just wanted to say welcome. You have found a great place to hang out.
Sherry

[coralville]

Thanks Sherry

[flicka7]

I used Conceivabilities. There's another woman here who has used them too but I'll let her tell you.

I interviewed both ARR and Conc and chose Conc. I really don't want to slant you toward either one because I'm sure they're both fine. I didn't get a good feeling from the woman I talked to at ARR. That's the only reason I didn't use them. They didn't make a good first impression. You might click with them though.

Obviously, Conc did work for me. I guess I would just suggest that you keep an open mind as to timing. For me, it took a while to get to transfer having to go through a couple of donors. Just give yourself a couple of months to select a donor, do your paperwork, and sync your cycles.

Let me know if you have specific questions and I wish you the best of luck!

[deeja]

coralville-Hi! Wanted to let you know that I am using ARR (in Michigan though) and have been very pleased with my EDC here! She has been thorough, sensitive, professional and incredibly proud of ARR and the many years of successful pregnancies over their 11+ years of being around! I think it may come down to a "gut" feeling and whichever way you go will be right for you. Just wanted to give my 2 cents...GL!

[hildes]

Hi! I'm the other person that Flicka was referring to. I liked Conceiveabilities quite well, though like Flicka, I'm sure either agency would be fine. I didn't even look into any other agencies.

We (hopefully) go for a transfer on Monday, 6/13, if the embie makes it through the thaw.

My donor didn't produce many eggs at all (even less than me!!), but that's not the agency's fault - it's just mother nature....

Hilde

[coralville]

Thanks very much for the replies. I really appreciate it!

I called ARR today to ask a few preliminary questions. One of the questions I had was "how many donors do you have?" I was told there are no donors available right now. I tried again. . . "including the number of people who are not available now because they are in a cycle, approximately how many donors do you have?" I was told again there are no donors available right now. This round of questioning went around again a few times (with exactly the same reply) before I gave up. I don't know if it was miscommunication or someone was being obtuse or ??

Flicka and Hilde, I'm so glad to hear you had a good experience with ConceiveAbilities. I'm calling them tomorrow.

Deeja, I wish I could work with the same woman you did!

Hilde, I hope Monday goes really well for you and the embie both

Coralville

[flicka7]

Coralville,

With ARR, that's what I'm talking about! I think they have an "attitude" because they've been around the longest.

At Conceivabilities, I worked with Alicia who is wonderful. There are some frustrations, but I guess for me it was from questions that I didn't ask and they didn't offer the info. For example, with proven donors, they won't tell you how many eggs they've produced or if there were any pregnancies or births. They will only say if they were "successful". Which could mean that the donor did produce eggs, but there wasn't a pregnancy which technically isn't her "fault". Know what I mean?

Just be prepared with questions and give yourself some time to find a good match. Good Luck!

[deeja]

It sounds like ARR in IL isn't really meeting your needs! I do feel lucky to be working with the woman here in MI. She is a "one woman show" here in the Detroit area and this new branch of ARR is relatively new. My EDC has been through multiple IVF's (non DE) and has the compassion and is very discerning when it comes to ED's...she says she is the pickiest ever! GL with Conceivabilities.....

[kara6820]

Hey there. I am also new to this. I just got phone numbers from my RE this week for 3 or 4 donor egg agencies in the Chicagoland area. I am calling all of them tomorrow to get further information on each. I will share it when I get it.

Coralville - if you want me to email you directly with the info I receive, please send me an email at sallykaringada@yahoo.com