Fertility & Third-Party Reproduction

The Fertility & Third-Party Reproduction Assessment Service at CFIR provides individuals, couples and third-parties (i.e., donors or surrogates and their partners) with psychosocial assessments/counselling in preparation for all forms of assisted reproduction as required by a fertility clinic or lawyer.

What types of fertility and third-party reproduction assessments do we offer?

We offer assessments/counselling for fertility procedures involving your own gametes (i.e., intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, egg freezing) or for third-party reproduction (sperm/egg/embryo donation or gestational surrogacy). Through interviewing and discussions we help individuals and couples to prepare for assisted reproduction procedures and to consider the necessary emotional, physical, parenting, social and legal implications (e.g., managing medical procedures, attachment, disclosure). Assessments in this Service also include psychological testing when needed in order to provide psychological profiles to assess appropriateness for involvement in assisted reproductive procedures (e.g., surrogacy) and we provide psychological letters or comprehensive reports as required by your fertility clinic or lawyer.

How do I know if I need a fertility or third-party reproduction assessment?

Do any of these items apply to you?

  • Are you considering assisted productive procedures and are wondering if this would be a good form of family-building for you and/or your partner?
  • Has your fertility clinic requested that you, your partner and/or a potential third-party undergo an assessment to proceed with assisted reproduction procedures?
  • Has a lawyer recommended that you, your partner and/or a potential third-party undergo a comprehensive psychological assessment before proceeding with third-party reproduction?

Help Is Available

If you said yes to any of the above, you might consider meeting with one of the highly trained mental health professionals in the Fertility & Third-Party Reproduction Assessment Service at CFIR. Mental health professionals in this Service can provide you with comprehensive assessment/counselling to help prepare you, your partner and/or potential third-party for assisted reproduction.

Mental health professionals at CFIR can provide you with a comprehensive assessment and then support you to get the help you need.

How can I get a referral to your service? And who can refer to this service?

You can refer yourself, your partner and/or a potential third-party to our service.

Healthcare professionals at fertility clinics or lawyers can also refer individuals or couples for an assessment in preparation for assisted reproductive procedures that may involve third parties.

What’s involved in a fertility or third-party reproduction assessment? And how long will it take?

An assessment may consist of one interview session (typically one or two hours in length) for you and/or your partner. More comprehensive interviewing, preparatory counselling and psychological testing may be required for you, your partner and/or your third party and their spouse, depending on the type of assisted reproduction your are pursuing (e.g., egg/sperm donation, surrogacy). These assessments can be completed within one week or they may take up to three weeks if they include multiple parties and/or psychological testing.

What type of reports or recommendations might I expect?

Upon assessment and feedback, our mental health professionals will provide you with recommendations and support you to address any areas of concerns. We will provide you, your fertility clinic and/or your lawyer with a letter or comprehensive report outlining our assessment/counselling and recommendations.

Find A Therapist

We have many mental health therapists at each of our locations who offer this service. Please select a location below to see a list: