The Surrogacy Process

We will give you a solid understanding of what to expect from consultation to surrogate matching to legal and medical procedures.

The Basics

Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction where a woman (the surrogate) carries and gives birth to a child on behalf of intended parents. Read our post about 

The term “surrogate” refers to a woman who carries and gives birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple. In the context of assisted reproduction, a surrogate, also known as a gestational carrier, agrees to undergo the pregnancy and childbirth process with the intention of handing over the child to the intended parents after birth. The surrogate may become pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents or through other means involving donor eggs, donor sperm, or both. The role of a surrogate is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the developing fetus until delivery, helping individuals or couples who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to have a child of their own.

The surrogacy process typically involves matching intended parents with a suitable surrogate, undergoing medical procedures like IVF to create embryos, transferring the embryos to the surrogate’s uterus, and ensuring proper care and support throughout the pregnancy. Legal procedures are also involved to establish parental rights.

Surrogacy laws vary by country and even within different states or regions. Some countries have specific legislation that governs surrogacy, while others have restrictions or outright bans. Get in touch with us to know more about surrogacy laws in your jurisdiction.

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Our Surrogacy Process

The Details

The detailed process varies across countries and across clinics so we will discuss the detail with you once you decide upon a country.

Across all programs, in the event you need to undergo additional cycles then each cycle will add a further 1 – 3 months to the journey depending on whether it is just a surrogate cycle or another egg donor cycle. 

You must appreciate that in IVF, the timing is driven by the woman’s menstrual cycle and although this is influenced by medication every woman still has a particular biological clock that determines the timing of embryo transfers. 

This is the first major milestone about which most of our clients become anxious. We understand that and it is a period when we support you and try to allay your concerns.

The surrogacy process always involves the selection of optimum gametes and the scheduling of embryo transfer at a time the surrogate mother’s womb is most conducive to a pregnancy. The health of the surrogate mother and a successful healthy pregnancy are the primary objectives of all involved. 

The selection of a healthy young woman as an egg donor, the selection of individual sperm, clinical assistance with the fertilization process, the selection of the best quality embryos, preparation of the surrogate with medication and embryo transfer with or without a CGH/PGD process are all elements in ensuring the best chance of a successful pregnancy.

After Embryo Transfer

After the embryo transfer you will be given an approximate date for a pregnancy test (blood) – normally 12 – 15 days later. This will involve multiple blood tests over a number of days. 

If this test is positive then an ultrasound examination and blood test will be scheduled for about the embryo’s gestational age of 5 weeks. This ultrasound should show an embryonic sac, and perhaps an embryo, if the pregnancy is successful. 

If pregnant, the surrogate mum will then have medical appointments normally every 2 weeks in the first trimester until an ultrasound is done at 12 weeks and the foetus is checked for development and a heartbeat.

In the second trimester the surrogate mum will have medical appointments every 3 weeks, approximately, during which she will have an ultrasound, blood and urine tests and physical examination.

In the final weeks the doctor will make a decision as to the delivery date and method, the IPs will be advised immediately if there is a confirmed date for any induced labour or caesarean delivery.

Throughout the pregnancy a social worker/counsellor/nurse will meet with the surrogate weekly, sometimes at her residence, to ensure there are no issues in terms of her lifestyle, environment and psychological wellbeing.

What to expect from each surrogacy country

As a leading provider of international surrogacy services, we understand that finding the correct country is crucial in ensuring a successful and positive experience in your surrogacy journey. Whether you seek affordability, legal clarity, ethical soundness, or inclusivity for various family structures, our curated selection of surrogacy countries offers diverse options to meet your unique needs. From Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and more, we provide comprehensive information on each country’s surrogacy regulations, eligibility criteria and costs.  

Embark on this important step towards parenthood by exploring each of our Surrogacy Countries to find the perfect destination to start your journey. Click through the pages to find country-specific processes of the following: egg donations, child citizenship, partner clinics, surrogate screening, aftercare and more. 

Surrogacy in Argentina

Argentina

We’ve highlighted Argentina as a recent addition to the options for global surrogacy. The country allows altruistic surrogacy, making it affordable and inclusive for various family structures, including single-intended parents and same-sex couples. Surrogates receive compensation for their expenses, and health insurance covers the process. Only gestational surrogacy is permitted, meaning the surrogate cannot use her own eggs.  

After the birth, the intended parents assume full responsibility for the child, and contact with the surrogate is determined by the intended parents. The process of obtaining a birth certificate reflecting the intended parents’ names is streamlined, without the need for court applications. Babies born through surrogacy in Argentina gain automatic Argentinian citizenship and can obtain an Argentinian passport with assistance. Learn more about surrogacy in Argentina. 

Surrogacy Services in Mexico

Mexico

Altruistic surrogacy is legally permitted in Mexico through a judicial interpretation of the Constitution and anti-discrimination laws. This option is available to various family structures, including single men, single women, same-sex couples, as well as married and unmarried heterosexual couples. The Mexican Court has outlined specific requirements for intended parents, such as having a physiological need for surrogacy, allowing only gestational surrogacy, ensuring the program is altruistic, and conducting thorough medical and psychological screenings of the surrogate mother.  

Additionally, once the surrogate mother becomes pregnant and signs the surrogacy agreement, she cannot change her mind, and the intended parents are obliged to assume responsibility for the child after birth. Learn more about surrogacy in Mexico here. 

Surrogacy in Colombia

Colombia

Surrogacy in Colombia is legally based on the country’s National Constitution, which recognises the rights of children born through various means, including assisted reproduction techniques. Altruistic surrogacy is permitted and available to single men, single women, same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples.  

The Colombian Court has established essential requirements for intended parents to participate in a surrogacy program, such as having a physiological need for surrogacy, allowing only gestational surrogacy, ensuring the program is altruistic, and providing medical and psychological screening for the surrogate mother. Learn more about Surrogacy in Colombia. 

Surrogacy services are also available in Greece, Georgia, and Ukraine. However, due to current circumstances specific to each country, there may be potential delays if you decide to go for them.

Meeting the surrogate baby

It is recommended that the IPs arrive in country a week before the estimated delivery date so that they can immediately take care of their child in the hospital when it is born. However, pregnancies rarely go according to the doctor’s schedule so the hospitals and clinics have procedures in place so that the child can be cared for in the nursery or by clinic staff until the parents arrive. The child will not be passed to the surrogate mum at any time unless it is a visit authorized by, and in the company of, the IPs.