Why would someone choose surrogacy over adoption?
Adoption is a wonderful choice for many people. However, surrogacy has a number of practical and medical advantages. When egg and/or sperm from the intended parents are used, there can be an actual genetic relationship to the child. In gestational surrogacies, embryos are created outside the womb through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a critically valuable innovation practiced at the more sophisticated medical centers. Before implantation occurs, PGD can detect certain chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo typically discovered mid-pregnancy. Moreover, unlike in most adoptions, intended parents closely monitor the health and progress of the pregnancy and birth. The carrier’s obligations and compensation are governed by contract, which provides a distinct measure of security to all involved. In contrast with adoption, the carrier in a surrogacy has significantly diminished to non-existent parental rights once the baby is born.
Why would a woman choose to be a carrier?
A carrier provides a very special gift to a couple or individual incapable of bearing children on their own. She is also compensated financially for her time and effort, yet her heartfelt commitment to help others is her primary motive. The ideal carrier is married (or in a committed relationship), is raising at least one child, and does not desire any more children of her own. Her family and friends are very supportive of her choice to be a carrier.
How long does the surrogacy process take?
Because of the many variable components of the surrogacy arrangement, the duration of each one is different. Much depends on the availability of carriers, the success of the medical procedures, and a host of other factors. A general time frame of one to two years from the time you start with us to the time your baby is born would be an average.
What is gestational surrogacy?
Using the process of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) eggs are retrieved from the intended mother or egg donor’s ovaries and fertilized with the sperm of the intended father or sperm donor. Embryos are then transferred to the gestational surrogate mother’s uterus where she will carry the fetus to term and deliver a baby for the intended parents.
How do we know we can trust a surrogate mother to carry our child?
Our surrogate mothers go through an extensive evaluation process. We conduct reference checks and make sure that the surrogate mother has support around her from her family and friends. In addition, once the surrogate mother is selected by you she undergoes a detailed psychological evaluation to determine, among other things, that she is ready for and can handle going through surrogacy.
Will our names be put on the birth certificate?
Some surrogacy friendly states allow a pre-birth order to be issued by the courts which instructs the hospital to put the intended parent’s names on the birth certificate. The attorney, acting on behalf of the intended parents, usually starts the work for the pre-birth order in the fourth or fifth month of pregnancy so that the order is granted before the birth of your baby. In other surrogacy friendly states, with the help of your attorney, the birth certificate is re-issued in your names shortly after the birth of your baby.
How much contact can we have with our chosen surrogate mother?
When you complete your profile you tell us how much contact you want to have before, during and after the pregnancy. We will match you with a surrogate mother who wants the same contact as you do.
How is the surrogate mother paid during the pregnancy?
Once the gestational surrogacy agreement has been signed by you, the intended parents and your surrogate mother and her spouse, you deposit funds into an escrow account. The surrogate mother will be paid from these funds according to your signed gestational surrogacy agreement.
Can Surrogacy reduce the future fertility of the Surrogate?
It is not thought that surrogacy reduces the future fertility of the surrogate. This is unless there is a complication with the pregnancy or the delivery.
Can I donate if I just had a baby?
You may not donate while you are breastfeeding. It is also necessary for you to have at least three regular menstrual cycles prior to participating in an egg donation cycle.
Will donating eggs now affect my fertility or the ability to have children in the future?
No. All currently available information shows that there is no decrease in a donor’s ability to get pregnant after completing a normal retrieval.
What are my responsibilities to the children that may be born from this process?
You are not responsible to any children born from this process. The Intended Parents assume all responsibility.
How old do I have to be to donate my eggs?
We require our egg donors to be between the ages of 21 to 30 years of age, though exceptions are occasionally made for women between ages 31 and 34, especially if they have proven fertility (have had children or successfully donated before).
What side effects will I experience (if any) from taking fertility medication?
Most egg donors go through the process with no side effects; however, some may feel bloating, weight gain, pelvic discomfort or moodiness.
How will egg donation affect my personal lifestyle?
Once on fertility drugs, you need to ensure that you have protected sexual intercourse for that month as well as the month following egg donation. From start to finish, you will generally have 10-12 doctor visits; the majority of these visits occur during the two weeks prior to egg retrieval.
How long does the egg donation process take?
The egg donation process from treatment start to retrieval takes approximately one month. The egg retrieval itself takes minutes.
Will I meet the parents or the baby?
Probably not. Almost all of the donations we manager are anonymous in nature. However, if both you and the intended parents express interest in meeting we will facilitate a phone call or in-person meeting.
