• Education, Information & Consultation
• In-vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Male Factor Infertility
• Egg Donation
• Gestational Carriers (Surrogacy)
• Gay Surrogacy
• Reciprocal IVF for Lesbian Couples
• Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS)
• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
• Egg Freezing (Elective & Medical)
• Embryo Donation

» Rhonda Levy » Services » Gestational Carriers (Surrogacy)

Gestational Carriers (Surrogacy)

What Is A Gestational Carrier?

A gestational carrier is a woman who carries a baby created with the eggs of another woman on behalf of a couple or a single person known as the intended parents or parent. The eggs are provided by the intended mother or an egg donor. The sperm is provided by the intended father or a sperm donor.

When Is It Appropriate to Use a Gestational Carrier?

It may be appropriate to consider using a gestational carrier when the intended mother:

• Does not have a uterus;
• Has a uterus but it is not formed properly or does not function properly;
• Has been told that she should not become pregnant because, due to a medical condition, pregnancy could endanger her health;
• Has had several failed IVF cycles and implantation issues are suspected as the cause;
• Has had several miscarriages; or
• Has had a previous pregnancy where she could not carry to term.

The use of a gestational carrier is also a component of gay surrogacy, in which gay men use donated eggs to create a baby with their sperm.

Who Becomes a Gestational Carrier?

Women who become gestational carriers are:

• Women who are known to the intended parents or parent (often a family member or friend) and have volunteered to become their gestational carrier;
• Women who were previously unknown to the intended parents and were recruited by a surrogacy agency; or
• Women who were previously unknown to the intended parent or parents and were independently recruited.

Topics Covered When We Educate Our Clients About Gestational Carriers

• Guidelines of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) regarding gestational carriers;
• Guidelines of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding gestational carriers;
• Basic criteria for gestational carriers to be considered by fertility clinics;
• Critical factors to consider when choosing a fertility clinic for an IVF cycle involving a gestational carrier;
• Fertility clinic success rates for IVF cycles involving a gestational carrier, which are not currently separated out in published fertility clinics success;
• Comparative analysis of world renowned, elite fertility clinics on the cutting edge that report success rates for IVF that are among the highest on the world, and successfully perform a high volume of IVF cycles involving a gestational carrier;
• Comparative analysis of the best fertility clinics for IVF involving a gestational carrier in your geographic area;
• Choosing a doctor within a fertility clinic for an IVF cycle involving a gestational carrier;
• Questions to ask at an initial consultation with a fertility doctor about an IVF cycle involving a gestational carrier;
• Using a gestational carrier agency (often referred to as a surrogacy agency) to find a gestational carrier;
• Comparative analysis of specific gestational carrier agencies (surrogacy agencies);
• Conducting an independent search for a previously unknown gestational carrier;
• Using a known gestational carrier;
• Using a previously unknown gestational carrier;
• Pros and cons of the possible methods of finding a gestational carrier;
• The most rigorous standards of gestational carrier screening by a gestational carrier agency (surrogacy agency);
• The most rigorous standards of gestational carrier screening by a fertility clinic;
• Comparative analysis of specific gestational carrier agencies (surrogacy agencies);
• Transferring fresh embryos versus transferring previously frozen and thawed embryos into your gestational carrier;
• Using preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to assess the chromosomal makeup of your embryos in an IVF cycle involving a gestational carrier;
• Embryo banking in gestational carrier cycles;
• Health insurance for the gestational carrier;
• Health insurance for the intended parents' baby or babies upon birth;
• Grant programs to cover or offset the cost of IVF involving a gestational carrier cycle;
• Programs to finance the cost of IVF involving a gestational carrier;
• Discount programs to reduce the costs of IVF involving a gestational carrier;
• Drug company and other programs to finance or reduce the cost of medications used in IVF involving a gestational carrier;
• Risk sharing programs / money back guarantees / refund plans for IVF involving a gestational carrier;
• Lawyers who specialize in third party reproduction, including IVF involving a gestational carrier; and
• Psychologists, social workers and therapists who specialize in the emotional and psychological considerations in third party reproduction, including having a baby with the help of a gestational carrier.