Surrogates

Finding a Surrogate FAQ

How Do I Find a Surrogate?

Clinic Programs

Very few clinics have their own surrogacy programs. If your chosen clinic does have a program, however, the surrogate candidates are probably very promising, and have most likely already been medically cleared for surrogacy. But because most clinics do not have full-time staff dedicated to finding and screening candidates, you may need to wait longer for the right match.

Surrogacy Agencies

Agency surrogacy programs focus on finding women who are interested in being surrogates. At these agencies, the screening processes typically begins with a phone interview between the surrogate candidate and an agency staff member. If the candidate is deemed a good potential surrogate, a personal interview may be conducted in the candidate’s home. From there, a psychological evaluation will take place. Because they are not medical facilities, agencies cannot medically screen surrogate candidates. Actual screening is only done once a surrogate is matched with an intended parent.

The surrogacy cycle is long and complex, so you’ll want to be sure you’re working with an agency that will be helpful and supportive throughout the entire process. Do your research, get recommendations, and ask lots of questions. Most agencies have waiting lists; this is because they have more hopeful parents looking for help growing their families than they do surrogates ready to be matched.

Don’t be discouraged if an agency tells you the waiting time for a surrogate is three to six months. There are surrogates out there waiting to be matched, if you know where and how to search for them. Donor Concierge has working relationships with more than 55+ trusted surrogacy programs.

Can Donor Concierge find a surrogate without an agency?

No. We encourage our clients to work with one of our surrogacy agency partners.

How do I choose a surrogate?

We have a saying in this industry: You choose your surrogate as much as she chooses you. While the financial compensation is often a factor, most women who choose to be surrogates do so out of a true desire to help someone have a baby. Your clinic will have its own surrogate requirements based on age, pregnancy and delivery history, and health history, but there are many other factors to consider. For example:

  • Does the surrogate reside in a state that is legally supportive of your particular situation and goals?
  • Is the surrogate financially stable?
  • Is the surrogate psychologically prepared for this process?
  • Has the surrogate had more than two cesarean sections?
  • Does the surrogate have her own children at home?
  • When was the surrogate’s last pregnancy?

These are just some of the factors to consider when looking for a surrogate to help grow your family. For more detailed information, contact us and book a consultation.

The Surrogacy Process FAQ

How long does the surrogacy process take?

The entire surrogacy process can take anywhere from 14 to 18 months. If you work with Donor Concierge, we can find you a surrogate within 1 week. After matching, it can take up to three months to complete contracts, medical screenings, and legal requirements. Then you and your surrogate will undergo an IVF cycle, followed by the 40 weeks of pregnancy.

What is the process of using a surrogate mother?

1. Initial screening, contracts and escrow

Your chosen surrogate will first be screened by your doctor to ensure that she is medically approved to carry your baby.

You’ll also need to be involved in negotiating legal contracts and establishing escrow. This is a critical time, as any issues regarding the pregnancy must be discussed during the contract period. All contracts must be signed, and an escrow or trust account must be funded before any medical procedures can begin. All funds for your surrogacy journey are held in escrow and paid out to the surrogate in predetermined amounts, as stipulated in the contract with your surrogate. The surrogate usually receives a monthly allowance while she is preparing for the embryo transfer. As the pregnancy progresses, she’ll receive a higher allowance each month, with a final payment at the time of birth.

All contracts will be reviewed by your attorney and your surrogate’s legal representative. Once your reproductive endocrinologist (RE) has approved your surrogate, and once both parties have signed their respective contracts, your surrogate will start to be prepped for the embryo transfer.

2. Surrogate evaluation and mock cycle

Next, the surrogate will have a more in-depth medical evaluation. In order for your surrogate to carry a child that is not genetically related to her, and to prevent her body from rejecting the pregnancy, your RE will prescribe injectable hormones, which the surrogate will administer herself.

Part of the evaluation may require that your surrogate go through a mock cycle. She will begin taking prenatal vitamins and estrogen to thicken the lining of her uterus just as she will during the actual cycle. A small piece of the uterine lining will be removed, in a process called an endometrial biopsy, and sent to a lab to determine if her uterine lining is thick enough for an embryo to adhere to.

3. Prepping for embryo transfer

Preparing for an embryo transfer can look different pending on the type of treatment preparation your doctor has picked and if it is a fresh or frozen embryo transfer.

A fresh embryo transfer is when the woman carrying the pregnancy and woman providing eggs synchronize cycles. The egg donor will be taking stimulation medications to recruit as many follicles (eggs) as possible for retrieval. Once the follicles have been stimulated to the ideal size, then the doctor will instruct her to take a medication, often referred to as a trigger shot, to prepare the egg retrieval.

During the stimulation, the woman carrying the pregnancy will be having appointments to check the endometrium. In a fresh transfer, the estrogen is made by the ovarian follicles and helps to prepare the endometrium. When the retrieval day has been determined, the woman carrying the pregnancy will start to prepare the endometrium for embryo implantation by starting medication, usually estrogen and progesterone, to create the ideal implantation environment. The embryo transfer is performed usually either three or five days after the retrieval.

A frozen embryo transfer is when the woman carrying the pregnancy is given estrogen and progesterone medication, known as endometrial priming. The medications used may be estrogen patches, pills, or shots pending on what the doctor thinks is best. These medications help artificially prime the endometrium until it has reached the ideal measurement for embryo implantation. Since the embryos have already been created, are frozen and stored, they will not be thawed until the morning of the embryo transfer.

4. The embryo transfer

The embryo transfer is a relatively simple and painless process. Your surrogate may be given a mild sedative to help her relax. Typically, someone close to the surrogate will accompany her to the transfer and drive her home afterward. If possible, we recommend that you and your partner be there for support as well. Plus, this is a monumental, exciting step in building your family! The case manager or agency owner will also usually be on hand for the embryo transfer.

With the aid of ultrasound, the embryos are drawn up into a thin catheter that is then placed inside the surrogate’s uterus. The embryos are gently released into your surrogate’s uterus, and she is instructed to lie down and relax with her hips slightly elevated for about 20 to 40 minutes. She can then return home to her normal activities, unless otherwise instructed by your reproductive endocrinologist.

5. The pregnancy test

The first pregnancy test will usually be conducted 10 to 12 days after the egg retrieval. At that time, the surrogate will undergo a blood test to determine her hormone levels. If she is pregnant, these levels should be elevated. But this is not the final test: She will not be considered pregnant until a heartbeat is detected, which usually occurs around week five or six.

Your surrogate will continue to see a fertility specialist until the end of the first trimester, when she can stop taking hormones. At this point, she can begin seeing her regular OB/GYN, closer to her home. The surrogate’s OB/GYN must be Board Certified and have privileges to practice at a hospital that has at least a Level 2 Neonatal Unit.

Surrogacy Costs FAQ

How much does surrogacy cost?

There is no simple answer to this question due to the varying complexity of surrogacy and the number of people who need to be involved in the surrogacy process. Typically, working with a surrogate costs between $119,000 to $202,000. Learn more about the expected costs of surrogacy.

Does insurance cover surrogacy?

Insurance is a complex issue. Some gestational carriers will have their own insurance packages that cover surrogacy, but many insurance companies have a surrogacy exclusion. You may need to purchase additional insurance to cover the surrogate’s pregnancy and to cover the baby upon birth. We can provide you with resources to find out more about surrogacy insurance.

Are there any financial assistance options for surrogacy?

There are a few ways that individuals or couples can explore to make their surrogacy journey more financially manageable. These include personal savings, loans, grants and scholarships, fundraising, and checking if insurance benefits cover fertility treatments. While Donor Concierge does not offer any financing plans or other financial assistance, we do provide our intended parents with resources and a list of institutions that can potentially help.

Surrogacy Legalities FAQ

What legal considerations are involved in surrogacy?

In the United States, there is no uniform federal law that governs surrogacy – all laws and regulations pertaining to surrogacy arrangements are enacted at the state level, if at all. These laws and other legal requirements vary widely from state to state, which can impact the overall surrogacy experience. Some of the main legal considerations that intended parents have to contend with include understanding state surrogacy laws, having a comprehensive surrogacy contract, and establishing parental rights. It’s critical that intended parents consult with a reproductive law attorney early on to help navigate the complex legal landscape of surrogacy.

Are there any legal issues regarding parental rights and surrogacy?

Yes, when having a child through gestational surrogacy, intended parents typically need to establish their parental rights through a legal process, which may include obtaining a pre-birth order or post-birth adoption. These rules and regulations vary from state to state.

What are the rights and responsibilities of the intended parents during the surrogacy process?

In a surrogacy arrangement, intended parents have the right to make decisions about medical care and establish their parental rights. They are also financially responsible for the costs associated with surrogacy, including surrogate compensation, medical expenses, legal fees, and pregnancy-related expenses. It’s also the intended parent's responsibility to comply with all legal and ethical guidelines.

Can the surrogate change her mind and keep the baby?

This is a common concern that intended parents have when pursuing surrogacy. The good news is that gestational surrogates cannot change their minds and choose to keep the child. It’s important to remember that gestational surrogates are not genetically related to the children they carry, and thus do not have any claims to parental rights.

Aside from legalities, the overwhelming majority of gestational surrogates understand from the very beginning of the journey that their role is to help bring a child into the world for someone else. It’s also worth noting that, while surrogates may feel an emotional connection with the baby during pregnancy, most describe the surrogacy journey and pregnancy itself as feeling markedly distinct from their previous pregnancies with their own children.

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