Surrogacy After Infertility

Key Points:

• Couples experiencing infertility should allow themselves time to navigate and process their emotions before considering surrogacy.
• There are typically 7 steps involved in pursuing surrogacy after infertility.
• A surrogacy professional will be there from start to finish providing full-service support.

Choosing to pursue surrogacy after experiencing infertility is a big step. You’ve likely spent a lot of time – and money – trying to grow your family with your partner and, possibly, through infertility treatments.

Although every person decides to move from infertility to surrogacy for different reasons, people making this switch will feel a range of emotions. It’s important to know this is normal, and you should give yourself time to process your feelings.

Speak with a specialist today

Continue reading to find out more about infertility and surrogacy basics.

Disclaimer: You should always speak to a medical professional if you think you’re experiencing infertility. This article is only intended for educational purposes and should not be taken as medical advice.

Choosing Surrogacy After Infertility

Before we discuss how couples can determine if they are ready to pursue surrogacy, we want to tell you that infertility is not your fault.

The Mayo Clinic reports that 10% to 15% of couples in the United States are infertile and that infertility affects men and women equally. And often, a doctor can’t determine what’s causing infertility within a couple. You are not alone in your diagnosis, and there are support groups that can provide comfort.

Consider the following points to help determine if you’re ready to move on from infertility.

Talk to Your Partner

You and your partner likely have experienced a lot of loss through the past year. While surrogacy is a wonderful way to become a parent, it can sometimes be challenging. 

One way you and your partner can determine that surrogacy is the right choice is by talking to a surrogacy professional at a surrogacy agency. Surrogacy professionals are experts in surrogacy and can give you all the information you need to determine if surrogacy is right for you.

Are You Ready for Someone Else to Carry Your Child?

It’s normal to grieve the reality that you and your partner won’t experience the pregnancy that brings your child into the world as you both envisioned. Take all the time you need and make sure you are ready to pursue parenthood rather than pregnancy.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is when people collaborate to bring a child into the world. You (the intended parents) will work with the following people during your surrogacy:

• Gestational surrogate: This person will undergo the medical surrogacy process and carry your baby to term.
• Surrogacy professional: A surrogacy professional will support you through every step of your surrogacy journey.

How Does Surrogacy Work?

Generally, intended parents go through the following steps on their surrogacy journey.

Step 1: Decide Surrogacy is Right for you and Choose a Surrogacy Agency

Once you decide that surrogacy is the right choice for you, it’s time to find a surrogacy agency to work with.

Surrogacy agencies make the surrogacy process much easier to navigate. Agencies have your back throughout your journey and provide you with a surrogacy professional dedicated to ensuring everything goes smoothly.

Looking for a surrogacy agency to help you start your surrogacy journey? Consider starting with this list:

• American Surrogacy
• Circle Surrogacy
• Growing Generations
• Creating Families
• Simple Surrogacy

Step 2: Complete Surrogacy Screenings with the Support of your Agency

Don’t get too worried about the screening process. Screenings just make sure you and your partner are ready to go through the surrogacy process. Your surrogacy professional is on your side.

Step 3: Match with a Surrogate

You will have the opportunity to browse surrogacy profiles and choose the surrogate you think best aligns with your needs. The surrogate will get to look at your profile, too. Once you decide to work together, your surrogacy professional will arrange a phone call.

Step 4: Sign a Surrogacy Contract

Your surrogacy attorney will help you create a surrogacy contract. Your attorney and the surrogate’s attorney will work together to ensure everyone’s needs are met. The contract also includes:

• The base compensation you’ll pay the surrogate
• The compensation you will give the surrogate for their legal and medical needs, and pregnancy care

Intended parents’ surrogacy fees range from $60,000 to $150,000.

Step 5: Start the Medical Surrogacy Process

You and your partner’s egg and sperm or donor gametes are used to create an embryo at a fertility clinic through a process known as IVF. The embryo is then transferred to the surrogate.

Step 6: Confirm the Pregnancy

Once a pregnancy is confirmed, you and the surrogate will stay in contact so you can enjoy the pregnancy. You may go to some OBGYN appointments and meet up so you can receive updates about your baby.

Step 7: Bring Your Child Home

Once the surrogate gives birth, you will take your baby home and enjoy parenthood.

Next Steps Toward Choosing Surrogacy After Infertility

Choosing surrogacy after infertility takes time and a lot of thought. But, once you’re ready, your dream of parenthood isn’t far off.

Contact us today if you’re ready to grow your family with surrogacy.