The Egg Donor & Surrogacy Institute, also known as EDSI, is a for-profit surrogacy and egg donation agency based in Beverly Hills, California. It was founded in 2001 by Parham Zar, who serves as its founder and managing director, and it remains active under the same ownership.
EDSI works as a full-service agency, meaning it coordinates the pieces of a journey rather than providing medical care itself. According to the agency, it handles screening, matching and case management for intended parents, surrogates and egg donors, and works alongside independent fertility clinics, reproductive attorneys, insurance professionals and third-party bonded escrow providers. Because it runs both a surrogacy and an egg donation program, families who need a donor as well as a gestational carrier can arrange both through the same office. The agency's professional listings describe offices in Beverly Hills and New York City.
The agency serves intended parents in the United States and internationally, including LGBTQIA+ and single intended parents. Surrogates are expected to be U.S. citizens or Green Card holders, and the program does not work with surrogates living outside the country. Age, health, pregnancy history and lifestyle requirements for applying surrogates, along with published fee and compensation ranges, appear in the tables further down this page.
EDSI has a Better Business Bureau profile with an A+ rating. Its fee structure is published rather than quoted only on inquiry, which means prospective intended parents can review cost information before making contact.
AI summary of 46 reviews · can make mistakes
Most reviewers, many of them surrogates, describe a warm, caring team that is easy to reach and keeps the process smooth and organized. Reviewers often mention feeling treated like family and well matched with their surrogate or intended parents. A minority were unhappy, mainly with how payments and medical bills were handled and with limited support or follow-up when complications arose.
46 reviews match these filters.
I usually don’t leave reviews, but I asked the CEO if I could. I will say as an intended parent, I had TONS of options for an agency to go with & my intuition and heart had me pick EDSI, better said as Parham! Parham, works his tail off day and night and was always there for me, whether it was a late night question via phone call, text or email, or if I just needed a sounding board during this process, he would just listen with kindness. He took last minute calls, while he was juggling tons of other business needs and in between business flights. He is just a real down to earth, smart, kind and fair businessman and I’m truly thankful for everything he’s done during our journey and he feels like a true friend. I would definitely work with EDSI again in the near future!! Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts, for everything you have done & been there for us Parham & EDSI! From day one of me reaching out to your company for our first meet & greet call to your call to us on the day our son was born, you’ve been by our side, and we’ll never forget that. Always, Stacey & Dave
View on Google (opens in a new tab)When I started this journey, I knew I wanted to help a family have the opportunity to welcome a child. As a mom, I understand how much love, hope, and anticipation can surround a baby. Being trusted to carry that hope for someone else is something I never took lightly. This experience taught me a lot about compassion. Every appointment, every milestone, and every challenge carried a deeper purpose because I knew there was a family waiting on the other side of it. It reminded me that sometimes one of the most meaningful things we can do for another person is simply show up for them in a way that truly matters. Getting to witness the intended parents' journey alongside my own made this experience incredibly special. Watching their excitement grow throughout the pregnancy and knowing how much this child was already loved was something I'll always remember. The day their son was born was one of the most rewarding moments of my life. Not because the journey was over, but because I got to see a family finally meet the child they had been waiting for. Being present for that moment was a privilege. Surrogacy isn't always easy. It requires patience, trust, flexibility, and a lot of heart. But looking back, I feel grateful for every part of the experience. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the different paths people take to build their families and reminded me how powerful an act of kindness can be. I'm proud of what this journey represents—not just bringing a healthy baby into the world, but being able to help make a family's dream a reality. That's something I'll carry with me long after the pregnancy itself is over.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)I’m currently in the process of becoming a surrogate with EDSI, with my transfer date just a few days away, and I have truly loved my experience so far! Every step of the process has been quick, organized, and efficient, and I’ve felt supported along the way. Parham has been absolutely incredible. He is extremely responsive anytime I have a question, concern, or need help with something, and he has consistently made me feel like I’m in excellent hands. I genuinely feel like he has my back and is looking out for me throughout this entire journey. Anytime an issue has come up with the clinic or I’ve needed additional support, he has been incredibly attentive and has made sure I was taken care of. I’m also so grateful for the thought and care Parham put into matching me with my intended parents. I truly couldn’t imagine a better couple to be going through this experience with, and I’m so thankful he connected us. It feels like the perfect match, and that has made this experience even more special. I would absolutely recommend EDSI to anyone considering becoming a surrogate. I’m so excited for what’s ahead and incredibly grateful for all of the support I’ve received along the way!
View on Google (opens in a new tab)If you want any risk management for a surrogacy, this is not the agency for that. Zero medical background on staff, and the basic screening that one would expect just doesn't happen. Most pregnancies go fine on their own regardless of who's managing them. In an actual emergency, we got empty words with no substance, no help, and ended up handling it ourselves. Afterward, during the hardest stretch of our lives, we heard nothing from them for months as we all but lived in the hospital. We handed this agency the single most consequential responsibility of our lives, and it was treated like nothing. The 5-star reviews look nice, but there aren't enough to know how representative they are, if genuine to begin with. A smooth outcome isn't the same thing as good management. We learned that the hard way and wouldn't wish it on anyone else. Everyone connected to our pregnancy has been permanently and very significantly impacted, and the agency walked away with their fee without a second thought.
View on Google (opens in a new tab)Google reviews are shown as written and link to the original. Forum, Yelp and Trustpilot entries are our short summaries of what was posted, linked to the source. Reviewer type is inferred from what each reviewer wrote.
Base compensation
$80,000 – $125,000
Published by the agency. Benefits and allowances are usually on top of this.
Requirements change — confirm with the agency before applying.
See which agencies fit youEDSI accepts gestational surrogates between 21 and 40 years old.
EDSI requires surrogates to have a BMI of 32 or lower.
Yes. EDSI requires surrogates to have had at least 1 prior pregnancy.
No. EDSI does not require surrogates to be raising a child of their own.
No. EDSI requires surrogates to be non-smokers.
EDSI's citizenship or residency requirement for surrogates: U.S. citizen or Green Card holder.
