What is Surrogacy ?

hi

Surrogacy is when a woman bears a child for another person or couple, becoming pregnant either through in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI).

There are two types of surrogacy, gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy.

In gestational surrogacy, the more common practice, a surrogate becomes pregnant via in vitro fertilization and is not genetically related to the child to whom she gives birth.

In a traditional surrogacy, a surrogate becomes pregnant via intrauterine insemination, uses her own eggs and has a genetic connection to the baby.

Today the vast majority of surrogacy arrangements involve gestational surrogacy.

All of Circle’s surrogacy agreements are between gestational surrogates and intended parents.

Compensated vs. Uncompensated


When arranging a surrogacy, there are two options: compensated surrogacy and uncompensated surrogacy. In a compensated surrogacy, the surrogate receives payment for her services, the intended parents pay all medical costs, and the parties typically work with a surrogacy agency, like Circle. In an uncompensated (sometimes called “altruistic”) surrogacy arrangement, the surrogate is often a friend or relative of the intended parents, and she receives no payment outside of reimbursement for medical expenses.

The majority of surrogacy arrangements, including Circle’s, involve compensated surrogacy.

Using egg and sperm from the intended parents. In this situation, both intended parents would be genetically related to the child.

Common Surrogacy Situations:

People turn to surrogacy to build their families for various reasons. Intended parents include:

Heterosexual couples who have repeat miscarriages or several failed assisted reproductive technology attempts, such as in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination

Using either egg or sperm from one intended parent, in combination with donor egg or sperm. In this situation, one intended parent would be genetically connected to the baby.

Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child

Intended parents who have a genetic defect or health condition they don’t want to pass onto the child

Using both donor egg and donor sperm. In this situation, the intended parents would not be genetically related to the child. (This can lead to legal complications in some places.)

Getting Pregnant

The process by which a surrogate becomes pregnant depends on the type of surrogacy.

Using donor embryo. This also would not lead to genetic relation to the baby, which can create legal issues in some places.

With gestational surrogacy, the surrogate becomes pregnant by IVF—the intended mother’s eggs or eggs from an egg donor are retrieved through a surgical procedure and fertilized by sperm in a petri dish.

To somewhat simplify what is already a complicated process, this explanation will assume the intended parents are providing the egg and sperm for conception.

The resulting embryos are cultivated in the laboratory for several days and one or more are then transferred into the carrier’s uterus.

Frozen embryos are stored at your IVF clinic. If your family is complete, you will be advised on your options for the future of your embryos.

If you choose to move your embryos, your IVF center will assist you in that process. Of course, you may use the cryopreserved embryos in a future surrogacy if you choose.

First, the intended parents will have decided with the help of their doctor that surrogacy is a possible option for them to have a child, and that the intended mother and father have eggs and sperm healthy enough to conceive a child.

Has delivered a child of their own, and is currently parenting at least one child.

The intended parents will need to have a psychological screening or evaluation, to help them fully understand the risks and possible complications of an IVF surrogacy, as well as help them think through and understand other options, including adoption or pursuing a childfree life. This may occur before or after the intended parents find an agency.