What Is Surrogacy and How Does It Work?

Surrogacy is an important method of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in which a woman carries a pregnancy to term for another couple or individual to help them become parents and build their families. Surrogates give the gift of family to those unable to conceive.

What Is Surrogacy? 

The definition of surrogacy is the process or the arrangement of someone carrying a pregnancy to term and giving birth to a child for someone else. This form of assisted reproduction helps those who are unable to carry their own children into this world.

The couple or individuals utilizing the support of a surrogate are known as Intended Parents (IPs). IPs can also be referred to as an Intended Mother (IM) and an Intended Father (IF).

This family-building process requires both exceptional legal and medical competencies, paired with experienced support. Similar to other technologies we see in the world, surrogacy has majorly evolved over the years and is more accessible than ever before, keep reading to learn all about surrogacy basics.

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The Difference Between Traditional and Gestational Surrogacy

With the introduction of Gestational Surrogacy (GS), this ART method is becoming more popular for IPs struggling to conceive as well as for women interested in helping build families. This is thanks to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). See below to understand the differences between traditional and gestational surrogacy.

What is Traditional Surrogacy?

Traditional surrogacy is called 'traditional' in the sense it is the old way of doing things. Traditional surrogacy refers to when a surrogate's biological eggs are used to get pregnant and deliver the baby to another couple or individual. In this scenario, the surrogate would be genetically related to the baby.

Before assisted reproductive technology developed IVF, traditional surrogacy was the only way to complete a surrogacy. In this process, the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the intended father’s sperm, and once pregnant, she then carries and delivers the baby. 

This type of surrogacy arrangement is most commonly discouraged because it has led to many legal and emotional struggles for surrogates when it came time to give up the baby to the intended parents. This type of surrogacy is much rarer now, and is, in fact, illegal in some states. 

What is Gestational Surrogacy?

Gestational surrogacy refers to when a surrogate has no genetic relation to the child and her uterus is used to carry the baby while in gestation. Gestational Surrogacy happens through IVF when embryos are cultured in a fertility clinic's lab using the IP's specimens or a donor's if needed (sometimes, IPs will use their biological genetic egg or sperm). Once ready, the surrogate will undergo an embryo transfer, where one or two embryos are implanted and she will carry them to term.

Gestational surrogacy is often preferred and much more common within the fertility industry. At Hatch, we only service gestational surrogacy.

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Why Do Intended Parents Use Surrogacy?

Surrogacy allows an opportunity for individuals from all walks of life to pursue the path to parenthood and realize the joy of building a family of their own. At Hatch, we work with a variety of intended parents including:

• Couples who have been struggling with infertility, such as female infertility and male infertility
• Women who are not able to carry a successful pregnancy
• LGBTQ intended parents who desire a biological child
• Intended parents with hereditary genetic conditions
• Single parents by choice

We believe that anyone who wants to have a family should have that option. And we’re devoted to ensuring that intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors alike have the most rewarding experience possible throughout their journeys. Our motivation comes from helping intended parents bring newborns into the world, allowing donors and surrogates to contribute to a loving family, and making all participants’ dreams come true.

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How Much Does Surrogacy Cost?

How Much Money Do Surrogates Make?

'The gift of parenthood is priceless, and surrogates deserve to be valued for their selflessness in choosing to participate in a family-building journey. Though earning money is not the primary motivation for gestational carriers, how they are compensated is important to understand before embarking on a journey for both the surrogate and intended parents alike.

First-time gestational carriers have the opportunity to earn between $61,100 - $66,100+ depending on their state and other factors. Compensation may vary depending on the specific circumstances. All medical bills and insurance premiums are also paid for by the Intended Parents. 

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What Is the Gestational Surrogacy Process?

Established in 1991, we were the first egg donor agency of its kind and one of the first surrogate agencies. Our screening process is rigorous; we accept only the top five percent of donors and surrogates. Meaning we’ve set the standard for best and ethical practices, donor and surrogate selection, and curated matching with intended parents.

An Overview of the Surrogacy Process

Although every journey is unique, below are some general steps that IPs & GCs can expect to go through while embarking on a surrogacy journey with Hatch Fertility:

• Applying to become a surrogate or become a parent
• Meeting the surrogate requirements & qualifications (surrogate) or completing an initial consultation (parent)
• Egg donor match/embryo creation (parent)
• Surrogate and intended parent matching
• IVF cycle and embryo transfer
• Confirmation of pregnancy
• Pregnancy and monitoring
• Birth and postpartum

Our team will guide you every step of the way throughout your surrogacy experience. Your coordinator will make sure your journey is an enjoyable, exciting time of your life by breaking up this process into small, manageable steps.