What the Difference?

Surrogates and gestational carriers are terms that are often used interchangeably for women who carry a baby for someone else. While very similar, they actually refer to something slightly different . . . it’s really a technicality, but let’s start there!

Surrogate

A surrogate is someone who, in addition to carrying the pregnancy also acted as the “egg donor,” meaning the child is genetically related to them. Can be completed with IUI or IVF.

Gestational Carriers
A gestational carrier is not genetically related to the child they are carrying. The child can be genetically related to the intended parents or the gametes can come from a donor. Can be coupled with IVF or donor egg IVF. 

Why use a Surrogate/Gestational Carrier? 

While everyone uses a surrogate because they need help carrying a child there are multiple underlying reasons as to why. Here are some of the most common reasons:

Medical Reasons
-Hysterectomy: total or partial removal of the uterus.
-Endometrial Ablation: a procedure that surgically destroys the lining of the uterus (usually done to reduce menstrual flow) but in most cases also makes carrying a pregnancy difficult or dangerous.
-Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Someone that experiences numerous miscarriages with unsuccessful immunological treatments.
-Other Medical Conditions: Some medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or heart conditions can make carrying a pregnancy dangerous. Some other conditions can cause a non-functioning uterus.

Social Reasons
There are social reasons that an individual or couple may seek to have a child using gestational surrogacy. Gay couples or single men may opt to use a surrogate or gestational carrier and an egg donor to have children. Lesbian women may choose to undergo reciprocal IVF, a process in which one woman donates her eggs and the other carries the baby to term, each playing a role in the pregnancy. 

Process for Treatment with a Surrogate/Gestational Carrier: 

#1 Set up a Consultation:
Set up a consultation and a full reproductive workup. Every person is different so there is no one treatment that will fit all. At Your Family Fertility, we pride ourselves on using an individualized, holistic approach to help you reach your goals. Even if you’ve been seen at another facility regarding treatment, we will need a full new patient visit with our doctor to better understand your story.

#2 Contact a Reproductive Lawyer:
Due to the legal complexities involving gestational carriers and surrogacy, having a trusted lawyer who is familiar with law regarding reproduction and parental rights is a must. They will guide you in drafting necessary agreements/contracts and help you find answers to questions you didn’t think to ask. (Some lawyers listed below)

#3 Find a Surrogate/Gestational Carrier:
You may seek out your own carrier via family, friends, or a surrogacy agency. By using an agency, you can choose from pre-screened carriers and all of the legal documentation is taken care of in-house. After you have chosen your surrogate, she will need to be seen in our office for clearance and to become established as a patient.
(Some agencies listed below)

#4 Surrogate/Gestational Carrier Medical Workup:
After your chosen surrogate establishes as a patient she will visit our practice and complete a full workup. This would include: full physical exam, medical releases (PCP, OBGYN, any other specialists she sees), pre-conception labs, a saline-infusion sonogram, and a mock cycle to understand how her uterine lining develops in response to estrogen.

#5 Decide who’s eggs & sperm you will use:
If you are using your own eggs, you will need to complete FDA infectious disease testing within 30 days of the retrieval to ensure the safety of your carrier. This testing is done in office and includes blood work and a urine analysis. Donor eggs are pre-screened and can be ordered from an Egg Bank. You will coordinate with out lab staff to have eggs sent to the office and schedule a date to thaw and inseminate the eggs.
If you are using your own or your partner’s sperm, the sperm is required to be cryopreserved and then undergo a 6 month quarantine as well as FDA testing. If you are using donor sperm, that sperm has already had the necessary processing done and just needs to be purchased and sent to our office. Any preparation is suitable.

#6: The Treatment:
Prior to the start of a treatment cycle, intended parents must agree to the payment requirements for these services and receive a financial clearance from Your Family Fertility. Any questions surrounding insurance coverage or other finance issues should be directed to our billing department. Your Family Fertility is not responsible for any costs associated with medications and outside monitoring services for a carrier. These costs are paid directly by the intended parents. Any fees related to the use of Your Family Fertility mental health professionals and counseling services are billed separately by YFF and are not included in the cost of treatment. Please contact billing for the cost of these services.

After everything is completed in the steps above your surrogacy and donor coordinator will discuss and coordinate the individualized treatment cycle. 

List of Reproductive Lawyers:
Kathleen Copps-DiPaola Melissa Brisman Reproductive Possibilities Surrogate Steps


List of Gestational Carrier Agencies:

New York Surrogacy Center
ConceiveAbilities
Los Angeles Surrogacy

How to become a Surrogate/Gestational Carrier

 
What are the requirements?
- 21-39 years old
- Delivered at least one healthy child
- No prior pregnancy complications
- If in a relationship, your partner must comply with all requirements
- A willingness to be completely committed to the intended parents
- Adherence to our screening and counseling protocol
- Have a stable financial base
- Clear our criminal background checks
- Non-Smoker
- U.S citizenship or permanent residency status
- Reliable form of transportation
- Have a healthy BMI

If you meet the above prerequisites we would love to have you apply to become a Gestational Carrier with us today! 

Process

#1 Completing your application:
The application may seem lengthy and personal, but it is one of the most important steps in becoming a gestational carrier. The intended parents have often been waiting a long time for this opportunity to grow their family, so this application is your time to shine! Most importantly, be honest- as it will help our team determine if you qualify to becoming one of our carriers. Our team is here to help you understand every step of way so feel free to contact us with questions!

#2 Schedule your Intake & Consultation:
At the time of the consultation, our team will explain the entirety of how the process works and answer any questions you may have before taking the next step with us on your journey. Once you fully understand exactly what it takes to become a gestational carrier with Your Family Fertility you will move on to our screening process. Our screening process is extensive as we require: an in-person interview, psychological testing & evaluation, medical records evaluation, infectious disease screening, and a criminal background check.

#3 If you are Approved in our program:
You will wait to hear back from one of our members of the team. If you are approved, you now start the journey with our team!

#4 Choosing Your Intended Parents:
At this time, you will focus on matching your Intended Parents with your needs and expectations. Each gestational carrier and set of Intended Parents have different requirements and considerations, which is why our team members will work closely with you to make certain your journey is what you expect.

#5 More Paperwork and Medical Screening
The IVF doctor will conduct a screening on the medical side, and the attorneys will draft and finalize your surrogacy agreement.

#6 Your IVF treatment starts!
Once everything is completed, you have been matched with your Intended Parents, all screenings have been completed, agreements finalized, your IVF cycle will start! At this time, you will take daily medications/injections to sync your cycle with that of the Intended Mother/donor egg .Next step- The Embryo Transfer!

#7 The TWO WEEK WAIT!
After the transfer, you will wait two weeks before getting bloodwork to determine the results on pregnancy!

#8 After a POSITIVE test, What to expect now that you are PREGNANT:
Now that you are on your way to creating a family for someone else, we will support you both during
pregnancy and after delivery. The intended parents’ lawyer will likely start a parentage proceeding in which you will sign off the rights to the child you are carrying so that it may be fully and legally a part of the intended parents’ family.

Apply Now 

We look forward to receiving your surrogate application. Once your file is complete, if you are qualified to become one of our surrogates, we will contact you to complete our surrogate screening process. Intended Parents are already waiting for their ideal surrogate to help them on their journey to parenthood, so please complete this as soon as possible.

Provided information will remain private and confidential, surrogate mothers will only be used by recipient parents in order to select an ideal surrogate for their surrogacy needs. All personal information regarding your name, address, personal medical and health records, etc. will not be provided to potential parents.
Your Family Fertility wants to thank you for taking the first step in applying to become a surrogate and helping an individual or couple complete their dream of having a family. At Your Family Fertility we are with you every step of the way!