Surrogacy is a remarkable option for family building, allowing individuals and couples to have children when they might not be able to do so otherwise. It is a process consisting of a woman carrying and delivering a baby for others.
One of the top questions we receive about surrogacy is whether intercourse is involved in the surrogate pregnancy process. The answer is no!
Instead, surrogates get pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF), where embryos are created in a lab and then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus.
IVF for surrogacy is a medical marvel that provides a path to parenthood for many families.
What is Surrogacy?
As noted, surrogacy is a heartwarming process where a woman carries a baby for another person or couple.
People choose surrogacy for assorted reasons, often rooted in their unique circumstances and dreams of parenthood. Some may face medical challenges that make pregnancy unsafe or impossible, while others might be same-sex couples or single individuals wanting to start a family.
Think of it as a modern-day miracle, where hope and technology come together to create families.
Surrogacy offers a path to parenthood when traditional methods are not an option.
Gestational vs Traditional Surrogacy
Speaking of traditional, there are two distinct types of surrogacies, consisting of completely different processes.
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries a baby conceived through IVF using the intended parents’ or donors’ egg and sperm. With this type of surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
On the other hand, traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate’s own egg being fertilized by the intended father’s sperm, making her the biological mother of the baby.
Most agencies, including ours, exclusively work with gestational surrogates to ensure a clear genetic distinction between the surrogate and the child, providing peace of mind for all parties involved. This ensures a smoother journey in terms of potential legal issues, and helps the surrogate alleviate attachment issues.
As stated by one of our previous surrogates, “it was nothing like the attachment to my own babies. I felt like I was babysitting. I wanted the baby to be healthy and safe while he was with me, but at the end of the day, I was happy to send him home.”
IVF Process for Surrogacy
Now that we have made it clear that we only engage in gestational surrogacy, consisting of IVF. You may be wondering what that IVF process actually entails.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a process where eggs are retrieved from the intended mother or a donor and fertilized with sperm in a lab to create embryos.
For gestational surrogacy, these embryos are then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus, where they can implant and grow.
Something that often surprises women is that your tubes are not required for this process!
Prior to starting this process and preparing your body for this experience, you must undergo comprehensive medical and psychological screenings, to ensure that you are physically and psychologically fit for this process.
To make the journey as smooth and seamless as possible for everyone involved, adhering to this protocol, and fully understanding the entire IVF process are essential before beginning your journey.
Egg Donation & Fertilization
Although the egg donation and fertilization processes do not directly involve the surrogate at all, it is still a key step in their journey and ability to get pregnant.
Egg donation involves a donor, aged 18-30, undergoing a medical process to provide eggs. This process consists of:
- Screening and Selection: The donor is carefully screened for health and genetic factors.
- Ovarian Stimulation: Medication is taken to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs.
- Egg Retrieval: Eggs are collected from the ovaries through a minor surgical procedure.
Once the best quality eggs are selected, the next step is fertilization.
Egg Fertilization follows these three main steps:
- Sperm Collection: Sperm from the intended father or a donor is collected.
- Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are fertilized with the sperm in a lab, creating embryos.
- Embryo Culture: The embryos are monitored for a few days to ensure they are developing properly.
These embryos can then be transferred to the surrogate’s uterus, where they can implant and grow, leading to a surrogate pregnancy!
Embryo Transfer for Surrogate
Marking the beginning of the potential pregnancy, the embryo transfer is a pivotal step in the surrogacy journey, where the carefully created embryos are placed into the surrogate’s uterus.
Before the embryo transfer procedure, there are a few important steps to ensure everything is perfectly aligned. These include medical evaluations and treatments, hormonal medications, and monitoring.
Preparing for the Embryo Transfer
To prepare your body for the journey you are about to embark on, there are multiple steps you must take.
These are in place to minimize health and safety risks for you and the baby, while ensuring the smoothest possible journey.
The main steps consist of:
- Preparation: The surrogate undergoes a series of medical evaluations and treatments to prepare her uterus for the embryo. These may include lining checks, bloodwork, and medication adjustments.
- Synchronization: Hormonal medications are used to synchronize the surrogate’s cycle with the embryo’s development stage. Medications vary per clinic, however usually it is a combination of Progesterone, Estrogen, and occasional Lupron.
- Monitoring: Regular ultrasounds and blood tests are conducted to monitor the surrogate’s readiness for the transfer.
These procedures help create the optimal environment for the embryo to thrive, setting the stage for a successful pregnancy.
Embryo Transfer Procedure
As the big day draws near, it is completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Here is what you can expect during your embryo transfer:
Timing of the Embryo Transfer: The fertility clinic will monitor both the embryos and your uterine lining to determine the optimal time for the transfer.
The Embryo Transfer Procedure: The transfer process is like a regular pelvic exam. Using a speculum to gently open the vaginal canal, your fertility specialist will guide a thin catheter through the cervix and into the uterus. The embryos are then carefully placed into the uterine cavity, where they will hopefully settle in and start growing.
What You Might Feel: Most women describe the embryo transfer as mildly uncomfortable, less so than a pap smear or menstrual cramps.
After the Embryo Transfer
After the transfer, it is important to concentrate on rest.
Some clinics may recommend bed rest or limited activity, while others might say you can resume your normal routine right away.
Usually, surrogates go back home or to a hotel to rest for a day or so.
Mild cramping or spotting afterward is normal. Any severe pain or discomfort is irregular and should be reported immediately to your doctor.
It is critical to follow your doctor’s advice to give the embryos the best chance to be implanted successfully.
Your contract will cover all such eventualities as the need for childcare, lost wages, etc., so you will never have to worry about money to meet your surrogacy obligations.
Pregnancy Test – Two Week Wait
After the transfer, you will have to wait a week to 10 days for your first beta test. A beta test is a blood test that determines whether you are pregnant.
Like many surrogates, you might be eager to find out if you are pregnant before the official blood test. Some surrogates use home pregnancy tests (HPTs). If you decide to try one, remember they are often inaccurate. You might still be pregnant even if the test says otherwise. So, keep taking all your prescribed medications regardless of the HPT results.
On the day your doctor schedules, you will go to a local lab for a blood test. If it all goes well, you will get the exciting news later that same day – YOU’RE PREGNANT!
What if the Embryo Transfer Fails?
Unfortunately, sometimes, embryo transfers do not work on the first try, and it can be a longer process.
To really break down the statistics and success rates, for women under 35 using their own eggs, only ~40% become pregnant from their first embryo transfer.
Designated in the contracts, we ensure that all surrogates and IPs discuss all the details of IVF journey in depth, including how many embryo transfer attempts there will be. Again, the price of these transfers and associated travel costs are covered by the intended parents.
We want to acknowledge that this can take an emotional toll on the surrogate and the intended parents and is a financial toll on the intended parents.
Not only are your coordinator and case manager there to support you the entire time, but our agency also offers an online chat group to share your experiences, ask questions, offer support, and become friends with other surrogates. We can also provide additional support resources additional support resources such as psychological resources, if necessary.
We prioritize the experience of everyone involved and want to make sure you feel supported the entire time, no matter what.
Learn More About Surrogacy With The Fertility Agency
Here at The Fertility Agency, we have been helping intended parents complete their families for 20 years. Our years of knowledge and expertise have allowed us to create a system that supports surrogates and intended parents throughout the entire process, focusing on creating the best possible experience and results for everyone involved.
If you desire more information regarding the surrogacy process step by step, please check out our recent blogs.
Please contact us if you have any questions!
