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The Psychology, Technology, Neuroscience and Spirituality of
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Infertility Screenings
What's on this Page
Why psycological screenings are conducted.
Psychological screenings for donor
Screenings for surrogates.
Consultations for Intended Parents.
Training for other psychologists.
Psychological screenings for donor
Screenings for surrogates.
Consultations for Intended Parents.
Training for other psychologists.
Gifts from technology and above.
I first became involved in the field of obstetrics and gynecology and prenatal psychology through his doctoral dissertation, looking at the phenomena of intrauterine learning. I have done research and development through County USC Women's Hospital, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and the California School of Professional Psychology. About nine years ago I was asked to do psychological screenings for the infertility world and began doing research and training to determine the most salient issues which should be examined and assessed to determine if candidates are suitable to engage in surrogacy and donation. Subsequently, I have developed a protocol for controlling screening procedures which results in a concise yet thorough report, addressing the wide variety of divergent internal, interpersonal and environmental issues facing a successful donation or surrogacy.
Screenings for donation candidates include an initial questionnaire and informed consent documents. They then complete the pencil and paper psychological personality inventory called the MMPI-II. Then an interview, which lasts an hour to an hour and a half is conducted. A report is generated from the data and sent to the agency or treating physician.
Surrogates receive a more thorough screening, given the nine month commitment and issues of relinquishing the newborn. In addition to the initial questionnaire and informed consent disclosures, they undergo a battery of psychological tests including the MMPI-II, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. They then undergo an hour to hour and a half interview along with a separate interview of their significant other, which typically last 15 to 30 minutes. This yields a report that is then sent to the agency or physician.
Consultations for Intended parents are also done to help these parents consider the many psychological ramifications on them and their child concerning such things as: 1) using donor sperm or eggs, 2) using eggs or sperm from family members, or 3) the impact on immediate and extended family members when a child is not biologically connected to the intended parents. These are just a few of the complicated situations that intended parents can find themselves in and may not be thinking about the long term psychological consequences to themselves, their family and most importantly, the child they are bringing into this world.
After years of study, training and experience, I have developed and have been teaching a 10 hour training program for licensed clinical psychologists. These psychologists then become part of the Infertility Psych Screening Group. They are provided with administrative and clinical support by the IPSG organization so that they can focus their skills on the clinical aspects of the screening. The IPSG organization acts as the interface between agencies, clinics, private practice physicians and the group's psychologists. The organization serves to facilitate the transmittal of documents between our psychologists and clients, handles billing, as well as provides quality assurance of our products. We are committed to providing our referral sources with timely, predictable and reliable products to minimize their efforts in completing psychological screenings.
