Surrogacy has been around since the 1980s, but in the early years it was often shrouded in secrecy and legal red tape. These days, advances in medicine, law, and public awareness have allowed IVF surrogacy to become a routine option for many people who might otherwise never have the chance to have a baby who shares their genetic heritage.

What is IVF Surrogacy?

IVF surrogacy uses a third party “gestational surrogate” to carry the pregnancy when a patient is unable to carry a baby to term herself. The gestational surrogate may also be called the “gestational carrier” or “gestational mother.” The gestational surrogate signs a contract with the intended parent or parents to undergo an embryo transfer procedure using embryos created through IVF and to carry the resulting pregnancy.

For heterosexual couples, this generally means using embryos created using the eggs and sperm of the client couple. This means that, if the pregnancy is successful, the couple can bring home a baby who is 100% related to both partners, just as if they had been able to conceive and carry the pregnancy on their own. Single women opting for IVF surrogacy may use their own eggs and donor sperm.

At the beginning of the IVF surrogacy process, the biological/intended parents and the gestational surrogate will go through an assessment and laboratory tests with your clinic to make sure that you are all healthy and prepared both mentally and physically, and that there are no sexually transmitted diseases that could damage potential embryos or be given to the surrogate during the embryo transfer. From here the process is relatively simple:

• The biological mother (who is providing the eggs) and the gestational surrogate will take medication to synchronize their menstrual cycles.
• Once the cycles are synchronized, the egg provider will begin her IVF protocol to stimulate her ovaries for egg production.
• The egg provider will undergo an egg retrieval procedure.
• Her eggs will be taken to the lab and mixed with her partner’s (or donor) sperm and cultured for 3 to 5 days.
• At the same time, the gestational surrogate will begin taking supplemental progesterone to prepare her uterine lining for pregnancy.
• When the embryos are ready, one or more will be transferred to the surrogate’s uterus.
• In two weeks, the surrogate will take a pregnancy test to determine whether implantation was successful.
• If pregnancy occurs, the surrogate will be monitored by the IVF clinic until the pregnancy is 10 to 12 weeks along, at which point her care is transferred to an OB.
• When the pregnancy is complete, the surrogate delivers the baby.
• The baby goes home with its intended, biological parents.

Sometimes, the biological mother undergoes her IVF cycle some time before, and the resulting embryos are frozen for later transfer to the gestational surrogate, in which case the timelines can differ.

Understanding all the options open to you as you explore your own fertility journey is the best way to make an informed decision. In the world of advanced reproductive technologies (ART), IVF surrogacy is now a common treatment path, and there are many resources out there to help you find your way through the process.

To get the process started…At The Gynaeworld IVF & Fertility Center in Pune 

If you are considering surrogacy please call our experienced donor team to discuss our surrogacy program can assist you or book an appointment with a fertility specialist.