The Institute
Research, Standards and Family Building Guidance
Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute (EDSI) is a U.S. surrogacy and egg donation agency founded in 2001. The Institute brings together our published standards, evidence reviews, and practical guidance so intended parents can understand how screening, matching, fertility clinic decisions, costs, and independent safeguards work together.
Whether you are choosing an agency, already have embryos, or are just beginning to explore your options, we believe you deserve clear explanations before making important decisions.
Clear Information for Important Family Building Decisions
Every surrogacy and egg donation journey raises questions about eligibility, cost, timing, professional responsibilities, and what has been verified. Our resources are organized around the decisions families need to make, with a distinction between EDSI practices and independently determined medical or legal outcomes.
Our Standards
Understand what EDSI reviews before presenting a surrogate and what remains for the fertility clinic and other independent professionals to decide.
Research and Reports
Read carefully sourced reviews of surrogacy trends, professional guidance, and the questions shaping family building decisions.
Guides and Tools
Find practical resources for comparing agencies, planning costs, and moving from embryos or donor search to matching.
What Our Standards Mean in Practice
A description such as “screened” is only useful if intended parents know what has actually been completed. EDSI’s Ready for Matching process is designed to complete required agency qualification steps before a surrogate is presented for a potential match. The intended parents’ fertility clinic then conducts its own medical evaluation and retains final clearance authority.
Preparation Before Matching
EDSI collects and reviews pregnancy and delivery records, medical history, psychological evaluation, background screening, practical readiness, and preliminary insurance information.
Independent Medical Decisions
Fertility clinics evaluate candidates for treatment and determine final medical clearance. Agency qualification does not replace that review.
Separate Legal Representation
Independent reproductive attorneys represent intended parents and surrogates during the legal process.
Independent Financial Administration
Journey funds are administered by an independent, bonded third party escrow provider rather than held by EDSI.
Research and Evidence Reviews
The Institute draws on published professional guidance, publicly available research, and EDSI’s practical coordination experience. We identify the nature and limits of each source so readers can distinguish outside findings from our own observations.
2026 Surrogacy Trends and Transparency Report
An EDSI evidence review of U.S. surrogacy questions, costs, professional guidance, and transparency concerns. It is an evidence review, not an independent national population study. Research reviewed through July 24, 2026.
Working With a Fertility Clinic and Surrogacy Agency
Practical guidance on responsibilities when intended parents already have a fertility clinic or created embryos. This resource is not a comprehensive study of hundreds of clinics.
Guidance for the Decision in Front of You
Start with your question. Each guide explains the decisions and professionals involved, with clear next steps when you are ready for personal advice.
Choosing a Surrogacy Agency
What should an agency explain about screening, service scope, fees, and financial protection?
Finding a Qualified Surrogate
What is completed before matching, and what will your fertility clinic assess afterward?
Already Have Embryos
How do you organize surrogate matching and clinic coordination without repeating the fertility process?
Understanding Surrogacy Costs
How do compensation, professional fees, medical expenses, and independent escrow fit together?
Egg Donation and Donor Matching
Understand the donor search and professional steps involved in egg donation.
International Intended Parents
How can families abroad coordinate U.S. surrogate matching, fertility clinic care, independent legal steps, and birth planning?
Experience, Authorship and Accountability
EDSI was founded in 2001 by Parham Zar, who serves as Founder and Managing Director. His work in surrogacy and egg donation has centered on intended parent guidance, candidate preparation, matching, and coordination with independent fertility, legal, insurance, and escrow professionals.
The Institute reflects that operational perspective while distinguishing agency experience from medical guidance and independent research. Families can also explore EDSI’s published interviews, commentary, and outside coverage.
Parham Zar, Founder and Managing Director
Turn What You Have Learned Into a Plan
Knowing what to ask is an important first step. When you are ready, EDSI can discuss your circumstances, embryo status, donor or surrogate needs, and the stages our team can help coordinate. You can ask direct questions about our standards and what happens after a match.
How We Use Sources and Experience
The Institute is published by Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, an operating surrogacy and egg donation agency. Our educational materials may draw on outside research, professional recommendations, and EDSI experience. When we publish a report, we aim to explain its sources, scope, and limitations. Agency practices and reported experience are identified as EDSI’s own information. Medical decisions belong to licensed clinicians, legal advice to independent attorneys, and escrow administration to independent providers. This educational content is not individual medical or legal advice.
