What is a gestational carrier (surrogate)?
In surrogacy an embryo is placed into the uterus of a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) to carry the pregnancy. The gestational carrier usually isn’t genetically related to the child. Surrogacy can be a path to parenthood for male couples, transgender people, and patients who are unable to carry a pregnancy.
Pacific Northwest Fertility works closely with a number of trusted surrogacy agencies and we’re here to help you through the surrogacy process from start to finish.
Our Center of Excellence in Collaborative Reproduction
Pacific Northwest Fertility’s Center for Collaborative Reproduction is directed by Jamie Massie, MD with the goal of providing world-class fertility options for all kinds of families. Whether you’re building your family with donor eggs, donor sperm, or surrogacy, our expert team is here to support you.
Our Center for Collaborative Reproduction is one of our four Centers of Excellence, which represent areas of deep focus and investment within our practice in order to bring our patients unmatched care and the latest advancements in each specialty.
How surrogacy works
Partnering with a gestational carrier is a deeply personal process. Once you have chosen a carrier, either independently or through a trusted surrogacy agency, there will be a thorough screening process and legal contracts before your cycle is scheduled.
If you and your partner will be using your own egg and sperm we will go through the process of egg retrieval and sperm collection to prepare an embryo for transfer into the gestational carrier’s uterus. In other instances where a donor egg, sperm, or both are being used, the same steps will occur to develop the embryos.
The embryos will grow in our lab for several days under careful observation, then the embryos with the greatest chances of a successful pregnancy will be selected for freezing. During this time you may also elect to do additional genetic testing to determine if any of the embryos have chromosomal abnormalities.
The next step will involve the gestational surrogate undergoing a transfer cycle, which includes hormone-based medication, bloodwork and ultrasound monitoring, and eventually an embryo transfer.
The gestational carrier will continue hormonal medications through their first trimester until the placenta has matured and supplements are no longer required. For the remainder of the pregnancy, you, your gestational carrier, and your gestational carrier’s OBGYN will work together closely as a team to ensure the highest possible success for the pregnancy and health of both the baby and the carrier.
Your doctor will work closely with you to determine whether a gestational carrier is right for you. This can be an option for anyone who is unable to carry their own pregnancy. Reasons for this can include:
Difficult past pregnancies or health issues that would make your pregnancy high risk if you carried it yourself
Recurrent miscarriage or multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles
You do not have a uterus or are unable to use your uterus for attempted pregnancy
You are a man seeking single parenthood or a gay male couple
Gestational Carrier Success with Pacific Northwest Fertility
PNWF is home to a Center for Excellence in Collaborative Reproduction exclusively dedicated to excellence in donor and surrogacy services.
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Paying for gestational carrier services
Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that you have options. We are committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way. With Pacific Northwest Fertility you will never be in the dark about cost. Working with a surrogacy agency will come with separate costs, but we can assist in coordinating with their financial team so that you are always informed on the finances.
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We work with known gestational carriers, sometimes referred to as compassionate or altruistic carriers, as well as surrogacy agencies. We recommend talking to your team about what option is right for you.
Many intended parents use their own eggs and sperm to develop the embryo that their surrogate will carry. In other cases, patients use donor eggs and/or donor sperm in addition to working with a surrogate. Whatever option you choose, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Your gestational carrier will continue to take hormonal supplements and we will help monitor the pregnancy for the first trimester (10 weeks) of the pregnancy. After that time, Pacific Northwest Fertility will transfer your gestational carrier’s care and pregnancy monitoring to her chosen OB/GYN.