Intended Parents

Surrogacy After Hysterectomy: Growing Your Family When Pregnancy Isn’t Possible

Surrogacy after a hysterectomy gives you the opportunity to grow your family. Here’s a look at another way to growing your family.

A hysterectomy doesn’t mean your dreams of parenthood have to end—surrogacy after hysterectomy offers a safe, medically sound path to welcoming the child you’ve been hoping for.

Through gestational surrogacy, you can still have a baby who is biologically yours using your own eggs (if your ovaries remain intact) or donor eggs, carried by a compassionate surrogate who helps bring your family to life.

Schedule a consultation today to discover how surrogacy can turn your parenthood dreams into reality, even after a hysterectomy.

Whether you’re processing a recent hysterectomy or have been living with this reality for years, you’ll find clear answers about your options for having a baby after a hysterectomy, step-by-step guidance through the surrogacy process, and the emotional support you need to move forward with confidence.

Your Options for Having a Baby after a Hysterectomy

The moment you learned you needed a hysterectomy—or made the difficult decision to have one—you may have felt like your path to parenthood was closing. If you’re thinking “I want a baby but have had a hysterectomy,” you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed by this challenge.

Here’s what we want you to know: a hysterectomy creates challenges for growing your family, but it doesn’t make parenthood impossible.

Surrogacy after hysterectomy gives you a genuine opportunity to have a baby who shares your genetic makeup. If your ovaries weren’t removed during your hysterectomy, your eggs can still be retrieved and fertilized through IVF to create embryos. These embryos are then transferred to a gestational surrogate who carries your baby to term. If your ovaries were removed or your eggs aren’t viable, donor eggs combined with your partner’s sperm (or donor sperm) can create the embryos for your surrogacy journey.

The biological connection you’re hoping for—that genetic link between you and your child—remains entirely possible through surrogacy, regardless of the type of hysterectomy you’ve had.

How Surrogacy Works After Hysterectomy

Understanding the surrogacy process can help you feel more confident about moving forward. Here’s exactly how surrogacy after hysterectomy works when you partner with a reputable agency:

Research and select an experienced agency that specializes in working with intended parents who have complex medical histories. The right agency will understand your unique needs and guide you through every aspect of your journey.

Your agency will match you with a pre-screened surrogate who meets strict medical, psychological, and legal criteria. This matching process considers personality compatibility, communication preferences, and shared values to ensure the best possible relationship.

After completing legal contracts and medical protocols, your embryos (created from your eggs or donor eggs) are transferred to your surrogate during a carefully timed IVF cycle.

Your surrogate receives comprehensive medical care throughout the pregnancy, with you involved as much as you choose to be. Regular updates, appointments, and milestone moments help you stay connected to your growing baby.

You\'ll be present for your child\'s birth, becoming parents the moment your baby arrives. Your surrogate\'s incredible gift allows you to experience the joy of meeting your child for the first time.

Speak with a specialist who can connect you with agencies that have proven track records of success with intended parents in situations similar to yours, or explore our comprehensive list of the 5 most reputable surrogacy agencies.

Find a Reputable Surrogacy Agency

Using Your Own Eggs in Surrogacy

If your ovaries remained intact during your hysterectomy, you can likely use your own eggs for surrogacy. Many women wonder “after a hysterectomy can you produce eggs for surrogacy?”

The answer is yes, if your ovaries weren’t removed. The egg retrieval process involves fertility medications to stimulate egg production, followed by a minor outpatient procedure to collect mature eggs.

Your fertility specialist will conduct thorough testing to assess egg quality and quantity, helping you understand your best options for creating healthy embryos. The emotional significance of using your own eggs provides a sense of continuity and biological parenthood that feels essential to their family-building journey.

Family-Building with Donor Eggs

When your ovaries were removed during hysterectomy, or if your eggs aren’t viable due to age, cancer treatment, or other medical factors, donor eggs open the door to surrogacy.

Egg donation allows you to work with carefully screened donors who provide healthy eggs for fertilization.

Choosing donor eggs involves selecting someone whose physical characteristics, medical history, and personality traits align with your preferences. Many egg donor programs offer detailed profiles that help you feel connected to your choice.

Some intended parents initially feel hesitant about using donor eggs, wondering about the genetic connection to their child. Many families built through donor eggs report feeling completely connected to their children, with the pregnancy experience through surrogacy helping create strong bonds even before birth.

Types of Hysterectomy and Their Impact on Fertility

Understanding the type of hysterectomy you’ve had directly impacts your family-building options:

Partial (or Supracervical) Hysterectomy: removes the upper part of the uterus while leaving the cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries intact. Since your ovaries remain, you can use your own eggs for surrogacy through IVF and egg retrieval.
Complete (or Total) Hysterectomy: removes the entire uterus and cervix. If your ovaries were preserved, you can still use your own eggs for surrogacy. If your ovaries were also removed (called a radical hysterectomy), you’ll need donor eggs to create embryos.

Women who had hysterectomies due to cancer treatment may have additional considerations regarding egg quality, especially if chemotherapy or radiation was involved.

Those who had hysterectomies for benign conditions like fibroids often have more straightforward paths to using their own eggs.

Finding the Right Surrogate After Hysterectomy

The surrogate you choose becomes an integral part of your family’s story, making this selection process one of the most important decisions in your journey. Working with an experienced agency ensures your surrogate has undergone comprehensive medical and psychological screening before you even meet.

Pre-screening saves you significant time, money, and emotional investment by ensuring every potential surrogate has already met strict medical requirements and demonstrated commitment to the surrogacy process. Agencies with thorough screening protocols can also provide financial protection programs.

Look for agencies that offer detailed surrogate profiles, facilitate meaningful conversations between you and potential surrogates, and provide ongoing support throughout your relationship.

What if you could be matched with a pre-screened surrogate in months, not years? Discover how working with agencies that prioritize efficient matching can reduce your surrogacy wait times significantly.

Surrogacy Wait Times

Cost Considerations for Surrogacy after Hysterectomy

Understanding surrogacy costs helps you make informed decisions and plan financially for your family-building journey. Total surrogacy costs typically range from $100,000-$200,000+.

The major cost components include:

Agency fees
Surrogate compensation
Medical expenses for IVF and prenatal care
Legal fees
Insurance considerations that vary based on your surrogate\'s coverage and state regulations

Additional costs specific to surrogacy after hysterectomy may include egg retrieval procedures if you’re using your own eggs, or egg donor fees if you need donor eggs.

Making Surrogacy Affordable: Your Financial Options

If the cost of surrogacy feels overwhelming, you have more financial options than you might realize:

Fertility Financing Companies offer loans specifically designed for reproductive treatments with competitive interest rates
Grants for Intended Parents provide financial assistance, with some organizations supporting families affected by cancer or military families
Personal Loans from banks or credit unions often offer lower interest rates than credit cards
401(k) Loans or Withdrawals allow you to access retirement funds for family-building
Employer Benefits increasingly include fertility coverage that can offset some surrogacy expenses
Payment Plans offered by many agencies help spread costs over time

Emotional Considerations for Surrogacy After Hysterectomy

Processing the emotional impact of not being able to carry your own pregnancy is a significant part of your surrogacy journey. Many women who say “I want a baby but have had a hysterectomy” describe feeling a profound sense of loss—not just of their uterus, but of the pregnancy experience they had imagined.

These feelings are completely valid. You might experience grief, anger, or sadness about needing surrogacy, or worry about whether you’ll feel connected to a baby carried by someone else.

It’s important to know that choosing surrogacy after hysterectomy doesn’t diminish your role as a mother. Many intended parents find that surrogacy creates unique opportunities for connection—being present for ultrasounds, feeling involved in pregnancy care, and building meaningful relationships with their surrogate.

Consider working with counselors who specialize in fertility challenges and third-party reproduction. Support groups for intended parents can provide valuable connection with others who understand your experience.

Taking the Next Step Toward Parenthood

Your path to parenthood may look different than you originally imagined, but it can be just as meaningful and result in the family you’ve been dreaming of. Surrogacy after hysterectomy has helped thousands of intended parents welcome healthy babies into their arms, creating families built on hope, determination, and the generous spirit of surrogates who make these miracles possible.

The most important step is simply taking action. Research reputable agencies, schedule consultations, and begin having conversations about your options for having a baby after a hysterectomy.

Imagine the moment you hear, “You’re going to be parents!” Take your next step today by connecting with surrogacy specialists who understand your unique journey and can guide you toward the family you’re meant to have.

Get the support you deserve

Frequently Asked Questions About Surrogacy after a Hysterectomy

Can I still have a biological child after a hysterectomy?

Yes, if your ovaries weren’t removed during your hysterectomy, you can use your own eggs with your partner’s sperm to create embryos for gestational surrogacy. Even if your ovaries were removed, donor eggs allow you to have a child that shares your partner’s genetics.

How long does the surrogacy process take after hysterectomy?

Most surrogacy after hysterectomy journeys take 12-18 months from initial consultation to birth. This includes time for agency matching, legal processes, medical protocols, embryo transfer, and pregnancy. Working with experienced agencies can help reduce wait times significantly.

Will I feel connected to a baby carried by a surrogate?

Many intended parents worry about bonding, but research shows that genetic connection, involvement in pregnancy care, and being present for birth create strong parent-child bonds. Most intended parents report feeling completely connected to their babies from the moment of birth.

Is surrogacy after hysterectomy covered by insurance?

Coverage varies significantly by insurance plan and state. Some policies cover portions of the medical care, while others exclude surrogacy entirely. Working with agencies that have insurance specialists can help you navigate coverage options and find the most cost-effective approach.

After a hysterectomy can you produce eggs for surrogacy?

Yes, if your ovaries weren’t removed during the procedure. Your fertility specialist will conduct testing to assess your eggs’ viability, while counselors can help you process the emotional aspects of each option.