Intended Parents

Having Difficulty Getting Pregnant with Endometriosis? Surrogacy May Be the Best Option

You can still have the family you’ve dreamed of, even when severe endometriosis makes pregnancy feel impossible. Surrogacy for couples with endometriosis offers a way to use your own eggs and have a genetic connection to your baby, while avoiding the physical challenges that make pregnancy dangerous or unsuccessful for you.

Schedule a consultation today to discover how thousands of couples with endometriosis have built their families through surrogacy — because your diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of your parenthood dreams.

We’ll walk through exactly how endometriosis affects fertility, why repeated IVF failures happen with this condition, when surrogacy becomes your best option, and what the process actually looks like from start to finish.

Why Can’t I Get Pregnant with Severe Endometriosis?

Severe endometriosis ha a direct impact on your reproductive system and ability to get pregnant

The condition causes tissue similar to your uterine lining to grow where it shouldn’t — on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, and throughout your pelvis. Every month, this misplaced tissue responds to your hormones just like the tissue inside your uterus. It thickens, then bleeds.

But here’s the problem: that blood has nowhere to go.

The trapped blood creates inflammation, scar tissue, and adhesions that can literally glue your organs together. Your fallopian tubes get blocked. Your ovaries get damaged. Your uterus becomes hostile to embryos trying to implant.

Research shows that endometriosis affects up to 50% of women with infertility. When you’re trying to get pregnant with severe endometriosis, the condition makes it nearly impossible to conceive naturally — or even with help.

Will IVF Work with Severe Endometriosis?

The short answer? Maybe, but probably not the way you’re hoping.

IVF can help some women with endometriosis get pregnant. But does IVF work with severe endometriosis? Success rates drop significantly compared to women without the condition.

Here’s why getting pregnant with severe endometriosis through IVF is so challenging:

Your eggs may have lower quality due to the inflammatory environment endometriosis creates
Your uterus may reject embryos because of the hostile conditions the disease causes
Even if embryos do implant, the pregnancy may not stick because of the ongoing inflammation and scar tissue

Studies show that IVF success rates decrease as endometriosis severity increases. Many women find themselves trapped in cycles of hope and disappointment, experiencing endometriosis and IVF failure repeatedly.

If you’ve experienced multiple IVF failures, you’re not alone. And you’re not out of options.

Why Surrogacy Becomes the Best Option for Couples with Endometriosis

Difficulty getting pregnant with endometriosis can feel like fighting an impossible battle. Surrogacy changes the game entirely.

With gestational surrogacy, you can still use your own eggs and your partner’s sperm to create embryos through IVF.

The difference? Those embryos get transferred to a healthy surrogate whose body can provide the optimal environment your endometriosis prevents.

This approach bypasses every major fertility challenge that endometriosis creates. Your surrogate’s healthy uterus gives embryos the best possible chance of implanting and developing. You avoid the physical strain and potential complications that pregnancy might create with severe endometriosis.

Surrogacy for endometriosis patients often provides the peace of mind that years of fertility treatments couldn’t offer.

Using Your Own Eggs in Surrogacy: What to Know

Many women with endometriosis worry: can you get pregnant with severe endometriosis using your own eggs?

The answer is often yes, especially if you already have frozen embryos from previous IVF attempts. Even if endometriosis has affected your egg quality somewhat, your fertility specialist can assess whether your eggs are still viable for surrogacy.

If your eggs have been significantly compromised by endometriosis, donor eggs might give you better success rates. But many women with endometriosis can successfully use their own eggs when working with a surrogate.

The key is working with professionals who understand the requirements for using your own embryos and can help optimize your chances of success.

When Surrogacy Becomes the Best Option

You’ve been through enough. You deserve to know when it’s time to try a different path.

Surrogacy for couples with endometriosis often becomes the logical next step when:

You\'ve had three or more failed IVF cycles because of endometriosis complications
Your doctor says pregnancy poses health risks due to the severity of your condition
You\'re experiencing debilitating pain that pregnancy would likely make worse
You\'re emotionally exhausted from years of fertility treatments and need hope again

The numbers make more sense — surrogacy may actually be more cost-effective than continuing failed IVF attempts

Many couples describe feeling relief once they make the decision to pursue surrogacy. Instead of wondering “will this cycle work?” you’re working with someone whose body has already proven it can carry a healthy pregnancy to term.

How Surrogacy Works for Couples with Endometriosis

The surrogacy process follows five clear steps from start to finish:

Step 1: Choose the Right Surrogacy Agency — Find professionals who understand medical complexity
Step 2: Match with Your Surrogate — Work with your agency to find someone whose values fit yours
Step 3: Complete Legal Agreements — Finalize contracts that protect everyone
Step 4: Medical Procedures and Embryo Transfer — Create embryos if needed and transfer them
Step 5: Pregnancy Support and Birth — Get ongoing support until you meet your baby

The entire process typically takes 12-18 months. For couples who’ve spent years on uncertain fertility treatments, this timeline often feels like a relief.

Speak with a specialist who can help you find reputable surrogacy agencies that understand the unique challenges endometriosis creates.

Find a Reputable Surrogacy Agency

How You Can Find the Right Surrogate for Your Journey

Finding the right surrogate is crucial for couples with endometriosis because you need someone who understands the medical complexities and emotional significance of your journey. Reputable agencies conduct extensive screening processes that go far beyond basic health requirements.

Comprehensive medical screening ensures your surrogate has a proven track record of healthy pregnancies and deliveries, with no underlying conditions that could complicate pregnancy. This typically includes:

Complete physical exams
Infectious disease testing
Psychological evaluations
Detailed medical histories

Financial and legal protection becomes especially important when endometriosis has already created financial strain through multiple IVF attempts. Look for agencies that offer programs with built-in safeguards, including comprehensive insurance coverage and legal protections for both intended parents and surrogates.

Working with agencies that pre-screen surrogates saves significant time and money compared to independent matching. Pre-screened surrogates have already completed medical and psychological evaluations, background checks, and legal clearances, allowing you to move forward with confidence rather than spending months on additional screening processes.

The average wait time to be matched with a pre-screened surrogate ranges from 1 - 4 months with established agencies, compared to 6-12 months when starting the screening process from scratch.

Given that time is often a critical factor for couples with endometriosis who have already spent months or years trying to conceive, working with agencies that maintain ready pools of qualified surrogates can significantly accelerate your path to parenthood.

Surrogacy Wait Times

The Hidden Price of Repeated IVF vs. the Investment in Surrogacy

Let’s talk about money, because the financial reality matters.

Surrogacy requires a significant upfront investment — typically $100,000-$200,000+ for a complete journey. But consider what you may have already spent on fertility treatments that didn’t work.

The real costs of multiple IVF cycles with endometriosis:

Average IVF cycle: $15,000-$20,000 (before medications)
Medications per cycle: $3,000-$5,000
Additional procedures often needed: $2,000-$10,000 per cycle
Lost income from time off work

Many couples with severe endometriosis end up needing 4-6 IVF cycles or more, potentially spending $80,000-$150,000 with no guarantee of success.

An average surrogacy cost breakdown shows that while the investment is substantial, success rates are typically much higher.

Financing Surrogacy in Your Situation

The cost shouldn’t prevent you from building your family. Financing options include:

Fertility financing companies
Personal loans
Grants
Family assistance
401(k) options
And more

Emotional Support Resources for Couples Undergoing Surrogacy for Endometriosis

The emotional journey isn’t easy. Finding community helps:

Endometriosis Support Groups — Both online and local communities
Reddit Communities — Active spaces like r/endometriosis
Surrogacy Support Groups — Connect with other intended parents
Fertility Counseling — Professional therapists specializing in fertility
RESOLVE National Infertility Association — Support groups and resources

Remember: choosing surrogacy isn’t giving up. It’s choosing the path most likely to make you a parent.

Taking the First Step: How to Begin Your Surrogacy Journey

Start by researching agencies experienced with medical complexity cases. Look for comprehensive support, transparent pricing, and strong success records.

Schedule a consultation today with a surrogacy professional who understands that endometriosis makes everything more complicated — but not impossible — because every day you wait is another day your family remains just a dream.

Get the support you deserve

The journey from exploring surrogacy to holding your baby may seem long, but for couples with severe endometriosis, it often represents the most reliable path to parenthood available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Surrogacy and Endometriosis

Will my endometriosis affect my surrogate?

No. Endometriosis isn’t contagious, and embryos created from your eggs don’t carry endometriosis.

How much does surrogacy cost compared to repeated IVF?

Surrogacy typically costs $100,000-$200,000+ total, while multiple IVF cycles often reach similar costs with lower success rates.

How long does the surrogacy process take?

From agency selection to birth, surrogacy usually takes 12-18 months.

Will insurance cover surrogacy for endometriosis?

Coverage varies by plan and state. Some plans cover portions of medical procedures.