Controversial commercial surrogacy conference canceled in Ireland

A commercial surrogacy conference geared towards gay men and set to be held in Dublin, Ireland, was canceled this month following backlash.

Key Takeaways:

• A commercial surrogacy event was canceled earlier this month in Ireland following controversy.

• Commercial surrogacy is illegal in Ireland.

• The company running the event, Hatch, is based out of Los Angeles, California, and promotes its egg donors as beautiful and as "the gold standard." Hatch promises donors and surrogates more money with each donation or pregnancy, perks like maternity clothes, money for childcare, and money for house cleaners.

The Details:

The event, titled "Babies and Bites Dublin: The Path to Parenthood for Gay Men," was scheduled for May 6 in Dublin, but was ultimately canceled — allegedly due to "security concerns."

It had been organized by Hatch Egg Donation & Surrogate Agency, a Los Angeles-based commercial surrogacy and egg donation business that boasts "access to the largest fresh egg donor database in the nation," as well as claiming to work with "the top 5% of egg donors."

It also claims to partner with Pacific Fertility Center, but that business is also run by Hatch CEO Kristie Dolan and President Greg Wiles.

The company says it charges intended parents from $30,000 to more than $50,000 for access to "The Gold Standard of Donors." However, Surrogacy Network estimates the costs through Hatch to actually be $148,750 to $159,750.

As the event was canceled, the company explained, "We are sorry to inform that we have had to make the decision to cancel the Babies & Bites event in Dublin because of some security concerns. ... We were of course very excited to meet you all in person, and will be reaching out with suggested channels to connect so that you can learn more about this wonderful and special journey to parenthood."

Sarah Holmes of the advocacy group Genspect said the conference was canceled after she and other women brought attention to it and a formal complaint was submitted to Tusla, a child and family advocacy group, as well as the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

"Selling babies is illegal in Ireland," Holmes said. "We need tighter regulation going forward rather than it being left to women like me to sound the alarm." She added:

"Ireland does not currently have a comprehensive legislative framework governing surrogacy, and commercial surrogacy arrangements are not permitted within the State. This raises questions about the appropriateness of hosting events that promote or faciitate entry into such arrangements, even where they ultimately take place in other jurisdictions."

The Natural Women's Council also spoke out against the conference. After it was canceled, it said, "We don't condone any threats and are sorry about whatever security concerns arose. We are however pleased that this isn't happening on Irish soil where commercial surrogacy is illegal."

Zoom In:

A 2024 review of Hatch stated:

Stay far far away from this company. They are only after your money. They are disorganized and wasted 9 months of our lives. They were downright mean and verbally abusive. They gave us scares with false medical diagnoses. If I could give negative stars I would. I could not believe the incompetence and hostility from Alex Maron and Greg Wiles. They are also scammers as they own Pacific Fertility as well and charge their own companies for services so they can pass that cost onto the customer even though they are essentially in the same office space.

Another said:

"Terrible experience. They rush you to sign with them because the matching process takes so long, and then use that commitment against you when you have questions or need more information. By then, you’ve already invested so much time, and they prey on the emotional weight of your journey not even beginning yet.

They told me they have physicians on staff checking egg donors and surrogates to ensure everyone is fully cleared before anything starts. But that wasn’t true. After my failed retrieval, they didn’t even have the decency to call or check in. We were left hanging for a week until I finally reached out, and all they could say was, 'You can pick another donor' — no discount on fees, no empathy. We ended up going with a different agency."

No businesses receive truly "donated" eggs, and Hatch's compensation packages and perks are examples of the eugenic mindset that exists with buying and producing children as though they are consumer products. Hatch pays first-time egg donors $10,000 or more per cycle, with pay increasing for repeat egg donors who have higher educational qualifications, athletic skills, or specific characteristics that deem them "super donors."

As their website reads, "And by passing through our rigorous screening process, you’ll be cherished beyond financial compensation with tailored perks and emotional rewards along your journey. We greatly appreciate your dedication, effort, and time throughout the egg donation process."

In addition, Hatch pays first time surrogates $65,000 ($70,000 for California residents), and then each surrogate is paid $10,000 more for each additional successful surrogacy. Surrogates can also get money to have their house cleaned, receive donations to their children's education, and money for childcare and maternity clothing.

The company advertises that it is "Representing the Best, Most Beautiful and Accomplished Egg Donors and Surrogates in the Country."

But based on reviews, there may not really be much of a screening process at all.

When promoting its egg donors and surrogates, Hatch may mean it to sound like its appealing to intended parents, but it actually sounds like a method of attracting egg donors and surrogates, who receive praise and free gifts, and get paid more and more money with each "donation" or successful pregnancy.

The Bottom Line:

Hatch makes it sound like a gig only for the 'exclusive' and the "beautiful." If Hatch chooses your eggs or your uterus, you are elite. Or at least you feel that way when you sign the contract.

In reality, egg donation and surrogacy typically involve the rich purchasing the eggs and bodies of the underprivileged. And, as the documentary Eggsploitation shows, it is physically devastating to be an egg donor, and there are serious health risks involved with both egg donation and surrogacy. Those truths, unfortunately, are often kept from women.