We want to try Gestational Surrogacy, how much will this cost?

Each clinic has different set fees but the cost of a cycle with a surrogate will be slightly more than that of a standard IVF cycle as both Intended Mother and Surrogate Mother will need to be treated.

How much are Surrogate Mothers' expenses?

There is no set amount of expenses for a Surrogate. Each case is different as each Surrogate Mother has different expenses. The expenses must be justified to the courts and they will ask for proof if the expenses are too high. These expenses are to cover everything that a Surrogate Mother would have to pay for while she is pregnant with your baby. These include maternity clothing, vitamins, travel, time off work, take aways, childcare, cleaner etc.

I am single, can I look for a Surrogate Mother to help me?

Unfortunately the answer to this is no. Legally in the UK you can only carry out a Surrogacy Arrangement if you can apply for a Parental Order. For more information on Parental Orders press on this Link.

Who can be a Surrogate Mother?

We take every situation on its own merits. Ideally a Surrogate Mother would have completed her own family. If doing Host Surrogacy she would have to comply with the rules of the clinic they are using. Clinics' rules vary as they take a lot of elements into consideration, such as health issues, age, weight etc. If carrying out a Straight Surrogacy Arrangement, the Surrogate should ideally be under 35 years of age, since the chance of Downs Syndrome is higher after this age. However, this is not essential. In fact, we have many ladies up to the age of 40 being Straight Surrogates. What matters most is that the Surrogate Mother and the Intended Parents are completely honest with each another.

I am not a British Citizen but I would like to be a Surrogate for a couple in the UK, is this possible?

This is possible and has been done. Treatment could be conducted either in the UK or abroad. However, we would strongly recommend that you are based in the UK for the pregnancy and birth (and legally entitled to be here) to avoid problems with crossing borders after the birth, and legal difficulties over nationality and immigration law. If you have children and family commitments, it may be very difficult to either leave them behind or to bring them over to the UK to live with you while you are awaiting the birth. This type of surrogacy arrangement can be very complicated and costly, and most people who undergo such an arrangement are usually family members i.e. a sister to sister surrogacy arrangement.

We are lucky enough to have found our Surrogate, what tests do we need?

We would always recommend all parties have a police check, ask for details at your local station. If you are doing straight surrogacy it is also strongly recommended that everyone has STD (STI) tests performed. To include:

a) HIV
b) Chlamydia
c) Gonorrhoea
d) Hepatitis B
e) Hepatitis C
f) Syphilis

Intended Fathers that will be doing Straight Surrogacy must have a full sperm test which includes a MAR test.

There are other relevant tests depending on you nationality/religion and your local GP or clinic will be able to advise you.

Am I crazy to consider surrogacy?

No. Surrogacy is a wonderful way to help a couple realize their dream of parenting.

Is Surrogate Motherhood Legal?

Surrogacy laws are extremely complicated. The laws surrounding the surrogate motherhood process, genetic parental rights, adoption of a surrogate baby, and the surrogate mother's rights are in-depth and vary from state to state. Note that surrogacy is not legal in every state.

The whole legality issue of surrogate motherhood is further complicated by the ongoing debate of whether any type of surrogacy should be legal. Some people say surrogacy should be illegal everywhere - a hard thing to hear for couples who are dreaming of a baby yet can't successfully carry one on their own.

The problem is that there's a fine line. Many people have heard of the case of Baby M, the first major groundbreaking surrogacy case made public. The case of Baby M involved surrogate mother Mary Beth Whitehead who agreed to carry a child for a couple, the Sterns. After the baby was born, Whitehead changed her mind and an intense court case ensued. Whitehead and the other family had signed a contract and the judge eventually awarded baby M to the Sterns, but it absolutely made everyone in the country think differently about surrogate motherhood.

The lines surrounding surrogacy are fuzzy. Are the legal parents the individuals who provide the egg and sperm or the woman who carries the baby for the entire pregnancy? Is it the person holding the contract rights? Because this is such a complicated issue, it's in your best interest to have superior legal advice before entering into a surrogate contract. Legal advice is essential whether you're the surrogate mother or the eventual adoptive parents.

Surrogate motherhood and the entire surrogacy process is so in-depth that you have a lot more to learn.

Is it reasonable?

Before deciding to pursue surrogacy as an option for having a child of your own, it's wise to spend some time considering both sides of the issue.

Arguments for surrogacy include:

The process provides a genetic link between parent and child. Even if the woman is not the child's genetic mother, her husband is the biological father. For many couples, this is considered extremely important.

It allows you to avoid common adoption pitfalls. While adopting a child can be a wonderful way to achieve your dream of becoming a parent, the adoption process is rather complicated. It's often difficult to adopt a newborn infant and many older children have physical or emotional issues associated with their early living conditions.

It's sometimes the only option available. While most people who use surrogacy to achieve their dreams of parenthood are married heterosexual couples, surrogacy is becoming increasingly popular among gay men who wish to become parents.

Arguments against surrogacy include:

It's expensive. In addition to the medical costs, the couple must generally pay for a portion of the surrogate's living expenses. In many cases, the cost of surrogacy represents a real financial hardship.

There are already many children available for adoption. Many people opposed to surrogacy believe couples should be encouraged to consider caring for a child in desperate need of a loving home before engaging in this form of assisted reproduction.

It sets the couple up for potential legal problems. For example, Melissa Stern was the subject of a highly publicized custody debate in 1986. Her parents had hired Mary Beth Whitehead as a surrogate mother. After she gave birth, however, Ms. Whitehead refused to give up the child. After several years of legal battles related to the definition of surrogacy, Melissa's biological father was awarded legal custody and Ms. Whitehead was granted visitation rights.

Are there any risks involved in becoming a Surrogate Mother?

Potential Surrogates should be aware that there are risks in every pregnancy. Most pregnancies are uneventful, however, complications may occur such as pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure, ectopic pregnancy, diabetes, thrombosis, miscarriage and haemorrhage. It should also be noted, that it is possible to lose your own fertility as a result of a pregnancy complication such as ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Finally, there is a risk of maternal death of 1 in 10,000 pregnancies.

Should We tell our child?

One of the biggest questions that couples who have gone through egg donation in the past have is whether or not they should tell their child about the procedure. Many couples feel that it is their child's right to know about their biological background. But other couples often feel that telling their child about ovum donation is unnecessary. Some common reasons that you may have for worrying about disclosing egg donation information include:

• Fear of your child's emotional reaction.
• Fear of the reaction from your other relatives, friends, or colleagues.
• Fear that your child will feel violated or betrayed.
• Fear that your child will no longer trust you.

Despite these valid fears, most therapist and the American Infertility Association recommend that parents discuss egg donation with their child.

Why Should You Tell?

There are a variety of good reasons to inform your child that she was conceived through an egg donation procedure.

• Children have the ability to "sense" out secrets that may be present in a family.
• Secrets rarely stay secrets forever.
• If a child finds out accidentally, he could experience a lot of trust and betrayal issues.
• A child's genetic background may need to be released in the future for certain medical procedures.

How Much Should You Tell Your Child?

There are different levels of information disclosure that you and your partner may settle upon when talking to your child. Depending upon your child's emotional and intellectual development, as well as your own feelings, one type of disclosure may be more suitable for you.

Are couples medically and psychologically screened?

Yes. Medical and psychological screening is important to our success.

What is Gestational Surrogacy?

Gestational Surrogacy is the legal and medical process through which a Surrogate woman carries the genetic material of the Intended Father or Sperm Donor and the Intended Mother or Egg Donor.

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 to create Embryos. 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.

What is the difference between Traditional Surrogacy and Gestational Surrogacy?

In Traditional Surrogacy, the Surrogate is genetically related to the child she is carrying - she is both the Egg Donor and the Surrogate.

In Gestational Surrogacy, the Surrogate is not genetically related to the child. She carries the genetic material of the Intended Parents (or Sperm/EggDonors). This type of surrogacy provides the opportunity to be genetically related to the child and is quickly becoming the choice for those who face infertility. The legal protections for the Intended Parents in a Gestational Surrogacy arrangment are far more solid and offer more security.

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.

Can I become a surrogate if I have never given birth?

Unfortunately not, we require that our surrogates have at least one natural born child.

What type of surrogacy requires injections?

Gestational surrogacy.

How long does the gestational surrogate's transfer cycle take?

Approximately 6-10 weeks depending on the egg donor's or intended mother's cycle, and the fertility specialists protocol.

What happens during the cycle month and embryo transfer?

First, the surrogate and egg donor/intended mother are both started on birth control pills then each is asked to begin an injectible medication called Lupron. This enables the fertility specialist to coordinate both women's cycles. Soon after the surrogate begins Lupron she will have a period.

After which the surrogate will begin an estrogen supplement usually it is an injection given twice weekly but can also be offered in pill form or patches depending on which fertility specialist is used. The estrogen helps build a nice uterine lining in preparation for the embryo transfer. A few days prior to the embryo transfer the surrogate will begin daily progesterone injections, vaginal gel, or oral supplements. These help her body maintain a pregnancy if the transfer is successful until her natural progesterone kicks in.

The embryo transfer procedure is simple, painless, and only takes a few minutes. It is much like a pelvic exam or pap smear. The fertility specialist will insert a speculum into her vagina, slightly dilate her cervix, and insert a thin catheter into her uterus. The doctor will then transfer the embryos into the surrogate's uterus. The catheter is removed and given to an embryologist to confirm that all embryos were transferred. At this point, the speculum is removed and the surrogate is asked to rest for approximately 1 hour before leaving the fertility clinic. She is usually ordered to have 24 hours of strict bedrest followed by up to 3 days of limited bedrest. This is variable depending on which fertility specialist you are working with. A pregnancy blood test is given 10-12 days after the embryo transfer. If the surrogate is pregnant, she will continue all medications as directed by the fertility specialist.