How To Choose An Egg Or Sperm Donor

Lisa Schuman, a reproductive therapist with over 25 years of experience, discusses the five-step process of choosing a donor, emphasizing the importance of understanding stress in fertility treatment. She highlights the significant impact of stress on patient engagement and treatment outcomes, noting that distress is the primary reason for dropout. Lisa advocates for thorough psychological screening of donors to prevent issues like schizophrenia. She also stresses the importance of considering genetic risks, undesirable traits, and openness in donor relationships.

Learn more about Lisa Schuman, LCSW
Lisa Schuman, LCSW, is a published author, licensed therapist, and award-winning researcher. She is the only therapist chosen to testify before the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee on legalizing compensated surrogacy. Lisa is the host of the Building Your Family podcast and author of Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception.

For more than two decades, she has worked in-house at several world-renowned fertility clinics and most recently served as the Director of Mental Health Services for Illume Fertility and Gay Parents to Be. She is currently the Director of The Center for Family Building, where she provides counseling, guidance, and screening services for individuals and families navigating their path to parenthood.

Lisa has received awards from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS) for her research contributions. She is also the founder of the Building Your Family community platform, the only expert-led resource providing evidence-based education and support for individuals and families at every stage of the family-building journey.