Ethical Family Building: Key Takeaways from SEEDS 2026

This week, May 14–15, members of the Foster + Bloom team are in Atlanta, Georgia, attending the annual Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS) Conference.

As we connect with leaders in reproductive medicine, psychology, and law, we remain focused on one core mission: helping families grow through ethical, transparent, and compassionate care.

What is SEEDS? Setting the Ethical “Gold Standard

The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy (SEEDS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ethical best practices in third-party reproduction.

 In a field where regulations can vary widely from state to state, SEEDS creates a shared framework for integrity by bringing together attorneys, agencies, physicians, and mental health professionals under a unified Code of Ethics.

SEEDS goes beyond legal compliance. Its purpose is to protect everyone involved in the journey—intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and most importantly, the children born through assisted reproduction.

Why SEEDS Matters to Your Family’s Journey

For many intended parents, the world of surrogacy and egg donation can feel overwhelming and uncertain. SEEDS helps establish a standard of accountability and care that families can trust.

Working with SEEDS-aligned professionals offers several important benefits:

• Transparency: Clear communication, honest guidance, and no hidden costs.
• Protection: Ethical safeguards designed to support and protect surrogates and donors throughout the process.
• Peace of Mind: Confidence that your journey is being guided by professionals who prioritize people—not transactions.

At Foster + Bloom, we believe ethical practices are not optional. They are the foundation of a healthy and successful family-building experience.

Ethical Leadership Matters Now More Than Ever

As reproductive technology evolves and surrogacy laws continue to shift across the country, intended parents are navigating a rapidly changing landscape. Advances in artificial intelligence, growing debates around embryo rights, and new state-level IVF legislation are reshaping how families pursue parenthood.

In moments like these, ethical standards become more than industry ideals—they become essential protections.

The conversations happening at SEEDS today will directly influence the safeguards families rely on tomorrow. That is why our team invests in ongoing education, advocacy, and leadership within the assisted reproductive technology community.

2026 Conference Highlights: Solving the Modern Challenges of Reproduction

This year’s conference addresses some of the most important and evolving issues in assisted reproduction. Our team is participating in conversations focused on:

• Collaborative advocacy efforts focused on legislation that could impact access to IVF, surrogacy, and reproductive care nationwide.
• How emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence in matching processes and advancements in gene editing—are reshaping reproductive medicine and raising new ethical questions.
• Critical legal issues such as embryo ownership disputes, evolving parentage laws, and the safeguards needed in international surrogacy arrangements.
• New strategies to address compassion fatigue and ensure the “ethics of care” remains central to the relationship between intended parents, surrogates, and donors.
• Lessons learned from agency failures and difficult legal cases to help strengthen protections and improve outcomes for families.

Questions Every Intended Parent Should Ask Their Surrogacy Professional

Choosing the right professionals for your surrogacy or egg donation journey is one of the most important decisions you will make.

Whether you are speaking with an agency, attorney, or clinic, asking the right questions can help ensure your path forward is ethical, transparent, and secure.

Consider asking:

• Does your team follow a formal code of ethics or professional standards?
• What protections are in place for surrogates, donors, and intended parents?
• How are financial expectations and fees communicated?
• What legal safeguards exist if complications or disputes arise?
• What mental health resources are available throughout the process?
• How do you stay informed about changing reproductive laws and regulations?

At Foster + Bloom, we believe informed families make empowered decisions—and ethical guidance should never be optional.

What Foster + Bloom’s SEEDS Membership Means for You

Our involvement with SEEDS reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of ethical and legal developments in assisted reproduction.

We Help Shape Industry Standards

Our attorneys are actively involved in conversations surrounding the proposed creation of lawyer standards in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) law, helping promote consistency and excellence across the field.

We Work Within a Trusted Network

SEEDS membership connects us to a nationwide network of respected agencies, physicians, and mental health professionals who share our commitment to ethical care.

We Turn Insight Into Protection

The conversations happening in Atlanta are not theoretical for us. We use these insights to strengthen the legal strategies, protections, and guidance we provide to every client we serve.

With more than 185 years of combined experience, Foster + Bloom understands that families are built on more than contracts and procedures—they are built on trust, integrity, and compassion.

Ready to Begin Your Journey?

Building your family is one of the most meaningful decisions you will ever make—and the professionals guiding that journey matter.

You deserve experienced advocates who understand the emotional, ethical, and legal complexities of modern family building and who are committed to protecting your future every step of the way.

Your path to parenthood deserves a foundation built on integrity. Let’s build it together.