Choosing a fertility clinic is one of the most important steps in your surrogacy journey, especially in a state like California, where options are abundant and standards are high. Whether you’re an intended parent or a surrogate, the clinic you work with will shape every stage of the IVF process, from medical screenings to embryo transfer.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what makes California a leader in fertility care, how clinics support the surrogacy process, and what to look for when selecting the right clinic for your needs. You’ll also learn about typical IVF costs in California and how to ensure your agency and clinic work seamlessly together.
What Makes California a Top State for Surrogacy and Fertility Care
Supportive Surrogacy-Friendly Laws
California has long been recognized as a national leader in surrogacy law. Unlike many other states, California allows intended parents to establish their legal parental rights before the baby is born, thanks to the availability of pre-birth orders. This legal process clearly names the intended parents on the baby’s birth certificate and eliminates the need for additional legal steps after delivery.
These surrogacy laws are inclusive and protective. They apply regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or biological connection to the child, making California an ideal destination for international families, single parents, and LGBTQ+ couples. Surrogates also benefit from clear legal protections, allowing them to move forward confidently, knowing everyone’s rights are respected and documented from the start.
This stability is one of the reasons why so many surrogacy journeys begin and succeed in California. The combination of predictable court procedures, established legal precedent, and attorney expertise makes the state one of the most secure environments in the world for building families through surrogacy. Learn more in our guide on Surrogacy in California.
Advanced Fertility Treatments and Care
Beyond its legal framework, California offers some of the most advanced and personalized fertility care available today. The state is home to dozens of fertility clinics that specialize in IVF for surrogacy, many of which are nationally and internationally accredited. These clinics use the latest reproductive technologies, including genetic testing, embryo freezing, and individualized medication protocols, to improve outcomes and enhance safety.
What sets many California clinics apart is their experience with gestational surrogacy. Unlike general IVF centers, these clinics are deeply familiar with the needs of surrogates and intended parents. They offer coordinated care plans that address not just medical needs but also the logistical and emotional components of third-party reproduction.
Many clinics also work closely with agencies like Surrogacy by Faith, ensuring that all medical steps from initial screenings to embryo transfer are handled in alignment with the overall surrogacy plan. Whether you’re located in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, or a smaller city in between, you’ll find expert teams who understand the unique path you’re on and are ready to support you at every stage.
How Fertility Clinics Support the IVF and Surrogacy Process in California
Coordinating the Medical Process for Intended Parents and Surrogates
One of the most important roles of a fertility clinic in surrogacy is managing the entire medical process from start to finish. This begins well before embryo transfer, with careful coordination between all the parties involved. The clinic oversees medical timelines, synchronizes cycles, prescribes medications, and ensures that everyone is physically and emotionally prepared for each step.
This coordination extends beyond the exam room. The clinic is in constant communication with the surrogacy agency, legal counsel, and sometimes third-party specialists to make sure that every decision made is aligned with the overall plan for the journey. Each detail matters, from the timing of hormone treatments to the scheduling of ultrasounds, and experienced clinics know how to navigate these logistics with precision and care.
A well-organized clinic helps reduce stress, minimize delays, and improve outcomes. For both intended parents and surrogates, this kind of structure provides a sense of security during a time that can feel overwhelming or deeply personal.
Health Screenings and Genetic Testing
Before starting an IVF cycle, the clinic conducts thorough health screenings for everyone involved. This step is essential to protect the safety of the surrogate and the future baby, and to make sure the IVF process has the best possible chance of success.
For surrogates, these evaluations typically include blood tests, physical exams, uterine imaging, and infectious disease screening. The surrogate’s health history is reviewed in detail to ensure her body is medically ready to carry a pregnancy for someone else. Psychological assessments are also often part of this process, confirming that the surrogate is emotionally prepared and understands what the journey will require.
Intended parents may also undergo certain screenings, especially if they are providing sperm or eggs. If donor gametes are involved, the clinic reviews the donor’s medical background and performs additional testing to rule out genetic or hereditary risks.
Many California clinics also offer advanced embryo testing options, such as PGT-A or PGT-M. These genetic screenings can help identify chromosomal abnormalities or inherited conditions, which may improve implantation rates and lower the risk of miscarriage. For families who have waited a long time for this moment, the added information provides another layer of reassurance.
Personalized IVF Care with an In-House Medical Team
Many fertility clinics in California offer in-house IVF services, meaning that all major steps of the process, from egg retrieval to embryo transfer, are performed on-site by the clinic’s own team. This creates a more consistent and personalized experience for both intended parents and surrogates.
Having an in-house team allows for better communication between doctors, embryologists, and nurses. It also means fewer delays, more flexibility in scheduling, and quicker access to results. Intended parents often appreciate the ability to meet their medical team face to face, ask questions directly, and feel more involved in decision-making at every stage.
For surrogates, it ensures that they receive care from professionals who are not only experienced in IVF but also familiar with the specific needs of gestational carriers. When the same team manages the entire cycle from start to finish, the process feels smoother, more connected, and less fragmented.
Emotional and Psychological Support
IVF for surrogacy is not just a physical journey. It’s deeply emotional for everyone involved. High-quality fertility clinics understand this and provide resources that go beyond the medical side. Many clinics offer access to mental health professionals, support groups, and counseling services to help manage the emotional ups and downs that can come with fertility treatment and third-party reproduction.
Surrogates may experience a wide range of emotions throughout the cycle, from excitement to anxiety. Intended parents often carry the weight of previous fertility struggles or the intensity of anticipation. Compassionate care teams know how to support both parties with sensitivity and understanding, creating a safer and more reassuring environment.
When clinics integrate emotional care into their practice, it reinforces trust and strengthens the connection between all members of the surrogacy journey.
Working Closely with Surrogacy Agencies
Strong collaboration between the fertility clinic and the surrogacy agency is essential. A good clinic doesn’t work in isolation. It communicates regularly with the surrogacy agency to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
This partnership helps coordinate everything from medical records to surrogate scheduling and ensures a seamless transition between each stage of the process. When the clinic and agency work well together, intended parents don’t have to act as go-betweens. Instead, they can focus on the emotional experience of building their family, knowing the logistics are being handled by experienced professionals.
At Surrogacy by Faith, the team only partners with trusted clinics that share this collaborative mindset. This ensures that all medical care is aligned with the agency’s high standards of ethical support, clarity, and respect.
IVF Cost in California: What to Expect
Understanding the cost of IVF and the cost of the surrogacy journey is a key part of preparing for what lies ahead. California is known for offering world-class fertility care, but it also comes with some of the highest prices in the country. Knowing what to expect can help intended parents plan ahead and make informed decisions.
The average cost of a single IVF cycle in California typically ranges between $12,000 and $20,000. This base price often includes medical consultations, blood tests, ultrasounds, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. However, many intended parents need to account for additional expenses that are not always included in that estimate.
Medication costs alone can range from $3,000 to $7,000 per cycle, depending on the protocol. If genetic testing is part of the plan, such as preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), this can add several thousand dollars. Embryo freezing and storage fees may also apply, especially if multiple cycles are planned or the timeline requires flexibility.
Costs can vary even more if donor eggs or donor sperm are needed, or if multiple IVF attempts are necessary before achieving a successful pregnancy. Some clinics offer package pricing or refund programs, but eligibility often depends on specific age and health factors.
While the numbers may seem high, it’s important to remember that IVF is only one part of the surrogacy process. Most families work with both a clinic and a surrogacy agency to create a full budget that includes medical care, surrogate compensation, legal services, and other essential support.
What to Look for in a Fertility Clinic for Surrogacy
Experience with Gestational Surrogacy
Not all fertility clinics are familiar with the medical and logistical complexities of surrogacy. Look for clinics that regularly work with surrogates and have protocols specifically designed for third-party reproduction. Their team should understand how to coordinate multiple parties, including the intended parents, the surrogate, and sometimes a donor, and be comfortable managing the unique aspects of the process.
Clinics with this kind of experience tend to be more proactive, better organized, and more prepared to handle sensitive situations if they arise. They also know how to build trust and communicate effectively with everyone involved, which makes a big difference.
In-House Fertility Specialists and Embryologists
When a clinic handles the entire IVF process internally with its own doctors, nurses, embryologists, and lab facilities, it creates a more seamless and personalized experience. There’s no need to coordinate between multiple locations or rely on outsourced services.
This matters because each part of the IVF cycle is deeply interconnected. From monitoring egg development to fertilization and embryo transfer, having one unified team can improve efficiency and reduce the risk of miscommunication. It also allows the clinic to adjust treatment in real time and offer direct answers to your questions.
For intended parents, this means more visibility into what’s happening at every stage. For surrogates, it often means shorter visits, less stress, and more consistent care.
Success Rates and Specialization
One of the clearest indicators of a clinic’s quality is its success rate, particularly when it comes to gestational surrogacy cases. Look for clinics that publish transparent data on embryo transfer success, live birth rates, and outcomes involving donor eggs or surrogates.
Numbers alone don’t tell the whole story, but they do provide a helpful benchmark. Clinics that consistently perform well tend to have strong lab practices, experienced medical teams, and a proven ability to manage complex cases.
You can also ask how many surrogacy cases they handle per year. A higher volume often means more familiarity with the emotional and logistical nuances that make surrogacy different from standard fertility treatment.
Coordination With Your Surrogacy Agency
A strong working relationship between your fertility clinic and surrogacy agency is essential. These two teams need to collaborate closely to keep your journey on track medically, legally, and emotionally.
Clinics that are used to working with agencies like Surrogacy by Faith understand how to integrate their medical timeline with the agency’s broader coordination. They’re familiar with the screening steps required by the agency, the surrogate’s schedule, and the legal processes that come next.
This level of cooperation helps prevent delays, avoid misunderstandings, and ensure that everyone involved receives consistent care. When the clinic and agency share the same values and communicate well, the entire experience feels smoother and more supportive.
Fertility Clinic vs. Surrogacy Agency: Who Does What?
Understanding the Roles
The fertility clinic is responsible for the medical aspects of the surrogacy journey. This includes evaluating the health of the surrogate, performing egg retrieval and fertilization, transferring embryos, and monitoring the early stages of pregnancy. Clinics also manage hormone protocols and may offer additional services like genetic testing or embryo freezing.
The surrogacy agency coordinates all the non-medical parts of the process. It screens surrogates and intended parents, handles the matching process, manages communication between parties, ensures surrogacy contracts are in place, and provides emotional support throughout. The agency also follows up on logistics like insurance, payments, and travel arrangements for the surrogate. Before moving forward, it’s important to be prepared with clear questions to ask a surrogacy agency, such as how often they work with your chosen clinic and how they handle communication throughout the medical process.
Choosing the Right Team
Make sure your clinic has experience specifically with gestational surrogacy, not just general IVF. Ask how many surrogacy cases they handle each year and whether they have internal systems for working with agencies. The best clinics know how to time their medical protocol around the agency’s legal and psychological steps.
On the agency side, ask whether they have preferred clinics they work with and how closely they collaborate. A strong agency should guide you in choosing a clinic that suits your medical needs, budget, and timeline. Ideally, both teams communicate directly so you don’t have to act as the middleperson during a complex and emotional process.
Find the Right Surrogacy Agency in California
A Team That Understands the Journey
Surrogacy by Faith is a California-based agency led by former surrogates and IVF professionals who have personally experienced the journey. Our team combines emotional insight with medical expertise to guide intended parents and surrogates with care, structure, and transparency.
The agency offers full-service support from matching through postpartum, including legal coordination, surrogate advocacy, and personalized case management. Every journey is handled with compassion and professionalism, grounded in values that place the human experience at the center.
Trusted Clinic Partnerships Across California
Surrogacy by Faith collaborates exclusively with top fertility clinics in California that are highly experienced in IVF for surrogacy. These include well-known centers such as HRC Fertility, San Diego Fertility Center, Pacific Fertility Center, California Fertility Partners, and RSMC in La Jolla. Check out their clinic partners here.
Each of these clinics is chosen for its success rates, ethical standards, and ability to coordinate smoothly with the agency’s team. This close partnership ensures that intended parents receive consistent, high-quality care throughout the medical process, with fewer delays and more clarity at every stage.
For intended parents considering surrogacy, the best way to start the journey is by exploring the intended parent application process. Women interested in becoming surrogates can learn more about the steps involved by reviewing the surrogate mother application process.