Assisted Reproduction has come a long way due to incredible advancements in modern medicine, making it more accessible than ever before. For those who are trying to conceive – but have been unsuccessful using natural methods – there exist a multitude of options to choose from, which can help in starting a family.
With so many choices out there when it comes to one’s fertility journey, the process might seem overwhelming. However, for many intended parents, IVF with Surrogacy is a beacon of hope after traditional IUI or IVF treatments weren’t successful in yielding a pregnancy. Choosing an IVF procedure combined with the services of a surrogate offers some of the best success rates out there, and can offer confidence in finally starting a family.
In this post, we’ll go over the details of IVF with Surrogacy, the types of treatments offered, cost overview, in-depth process, as well as success rates and steps to choosing a surrogate agency.
How does IVF work?
IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization, which is a type of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in which the fertilization occurs outside the body. In fact, in vitro means “in glass” in Latin, since the merging of the egg and the sperm actually occurs inside a petri dish, in a laboratory setting. These ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) Labs are facilities where the actual fertilization and development of embryos takes place prior to a transfer into the uterus. The embryologists who work in the lab are considered the “babysitters” of the fertility world, since they care for the embryos as they grow and develop into “blastocysts” – the final stage of the embryo before it is ready for implantation.
Since IVF occurs entirely outside the uterus, it’s most commonly used with gestational surrogacy or for couples who need fertility treatment. In some cases, a traditional IVF procedure may not be successful due to:
- Advanced age
- Unhealthy lifestyle
- Genetic conditions
- Infertility
If you’re a hopeful parent wondering about the IVF process, it’s important to know that the egg and sperm used in IVF can either come from you and your partner, or from screened and reputable donors. Whatever your final choice, modern medicine has given people multiple options when it comes to conceiving a child via IVF.
Do You Have To Do IVF For Surrogacy?
Yes, IVF is essential for gestational surrogacy. This process ensures the embryo has a genetic link to the intended parents. Without IVF, creating and implanting a genetically related embryo in the surrogate wouldn’t be possible, making IVF a crucial step in the surrogacy process.
What is IVF with Surrogacy?
IVF with surrogacy follows traditional IVF steps but uses a surrogate for the implantation stage. This method is chosen when intended parents cannot conceive naturally or carry a pregnancy due to medical reasons. IVF with surrogacy provides a high success rate for those eager to welcome a baby into their lives.
What Types of Surrogacy Services Are There?
There are two primary forms of surrogacy:
- Traditional Surrogacy: The surrogate donates her own egg, making her genetically related to the child. Fertilization occurs through IUI or IVF.
- Gestational Surrogacy: The surrogate carries an embryo created from the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material, with no genetic link to the surrogate. This is the most common and preferred form of surrogacy.
Surrogacy involves comprehensive legal agreements, varying significantly by state, like California vs Oregon, necessitating specialized reproductive law attorneys.
What is the IVF treatment for surrogates?
If the goal for intended parents is to have a baby that’s biologically connected to the parents, while utilizing the services of a surrogate, then undergoing an IVF procedure is required. Let’s review the step-by-step process for going forward with In-Vitro Fertilization.
Undergoing IVF Treatment
- Preparing the body – After undergoing thorough pre-testing which includes bloodwork and ultrasounds, the intended mother will usually start an “IVF STIM Cycle,” achieved by starting “STIM” medications which stimulate ovulation, help eggs mature, and prepare the mother’s womb.
- Determining if eggs are ready – It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks of medical preparation before the eggs can be retrieved. Doctors will use non-invasive procedures like a transvaginal ultrasound and/or blood tests to determine whether the eggs have grown to the appropriate size for retrieval.
- Egg retrieval. The intended mother will be sedated and given pain medications so that doctors can remove the mature eggs and pass them to the ART Lab to prepare for fertilization. (Sedation is necessary as this is a very delicate procedure, and any sudden movement can jeopardize the retrieval process). If availability permits, multiple eggs can be retrieved at once in hopes of yielding multiple embryos; however, you can undergo IVF more than once after a retrieval procedure, as long as the body is given time to heal and return back to its regular state.
- Sperm retrieval. Sperm is provided to the ART Lab by the intended mother’s partner or by a screened sperm donor.
- Fertilization – This occurs either via standard IVF practice, where thousands of healthy sperm and a mature egg are mixed together in a petri dish usually resulting in fertilization, or it can be helped along by a procedure called ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection), a procedure where an embryologist injects a single healthy sperm into a single mature egg, thus completing the fertilization process.
- Embryo Development – Once fertilized, an embryo should continue to grow for 5 days until it reaches the blastocyst stage, when it’s mature enough to be transferred into a healthy uterus.
- Embryo Freezing (optional) – This optional step has now become extremely commonplace in fertility clinics, as success rates for embryo transfers after they’ve been frozen – and then later thawed for transfer – tend to be higher than attempting a “fresh transfer” (implanting the embryo after 5 days of development and approximately a week after egg retrieval). This is due to many factors, but some of the most common challenges are aligning the embryo’s development with the building up of the intended mother’s uterine lining, making sure the intended mother’s body is able to undergo a transfer so close to the retrieval, and if choosing to go with a surrogate, whether the chosen candidate will have been physically ready to receive the implanted embryo after the 5 day development. Because of so many variables, many fertility clinics encourage intended parents to freeze their embryos, so that when everything is aligned perfectly, the best embryo can be thawed out, and prepared for implantation – whether into the intended mother, or a screened surrogate.
At the end of the day, the ultimate goal of IVF is to create a healthy, viable embryo to transfer into the surrogate’s womb, and result in a successful birth.
What is the Surrogacy Process?
Let’s break down the basic steps of surrogacy:
- Screening. A surrogate agency will typically screen potential surrogates and make sure they meet all requirements.
- Preparing for embryo transfer. If they meet all the requirements, the surrogate will undergo a series of treatments and medications to prepare her body for pregnancy.
- Embryo transfer. After the intended mother gets a healthy, viable embryo via IVF, it will get implanted into the surrogate’s uterus. This is usually done 3 to 5 days after egg retrieval, or if the embryo is frozen first, it will be thawed out when the surrogate’s uterine lining is ready for implantation.
- Rest. The surrogate should rest for 2 to 3 days after the embryo transfer to allow for optimal results..
- Confirm the pregnancy. Doctors will confirm the surrogate’s pregnancy and then her care will be transferred from the fertility clinic to her OBGYN, where she will have regular appointments until birth.
For those who are considering becoming a surrogate, it’s important to note that the transfer is a non-invasive procedure that’s usually painless and rarely requires any painkillers, sedatives, or anesthetics. The doctor simply inserts a catheter to transfer the embryo into your womb. This may cause some temporary discomfort, but it quickly passes. After the transfer, rest is recommended, so that the embryo is given the best chance to implant successfully and thrive.
Who Should Choose IVF with Surrogacy?
IVF with surrogacy is ideal for intended parents who cannot conceive naturally, have faced unsuccessful fertility treatments, or cannot carry a pregnancy due to medical conditions, age, or previous surgeries. It offers favorable success rates and the joy of parenthood with the help of a surrogate.
What Is IVF Surrogacy Cost?
The average cost of IVF with surrogacy ranges from $90k to $145k, depending on factors like location, the number of IVF cycles, how much your surrogate will be paid, and additional third-party support. IVF alone costs between $10k and $15k per cycle, while surrogacy expenses range from $80k to $130k, covering surrogate compensation, medical costs, legal fees, and additional requests, such as screening costs to find and match intended parents with the right surrogate.
How Successful Is IVF with a Surrogate?
IVF with surrogacy boasts a high success rate due to the optimal child-bearing age of surrogates. The average success rate across U.S. clinics is 75%, which can rise to 95% once the surrogate is pregnant.
How to Choose a Clinic for IVF?
When choosing a fertility clinic, there are some key considerations to take into account. A convenient location for both the IPs and surrogate mother is always a plus, as that will make the process easier for all parties involved.
The next factor to consider are the prospective clinic’s success rates, both with IVF and Embryo Transfer. Many of these statistics can be found on the SART (Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology) website. Be mindful that every clinic operates differently with what cases they choose to take on, and practicing some healthy skepticism is always a plus. Some clinics, for fear of their success rates being impacted, refuse to take on more high risk cases, whereas clinics which pride themselves on welcoming more challenging cases, take on the risk of their success rates possibly falling below expected numbers.
Surrogacy clinics also greatly vary in cost, so doing thorough research on pricing across the clinic, surgery center, and ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) Lab – which often require separate payments – is imperative. Usually if the clinic has an above average success rate and uses more advanced technologies in the lab (such as Embryo Genetic Testing or an Embryoscope), the increase in cost will be reflected in the final price. Intended parents should talk to a clinic’s Financial Counselor whenever possible, and consider their budget, as well as any available financing options, if eligible.
Finding Your Surrogate: How to Get Started?
Choosing the right surrogate begins with finding a matching agency. Building a relationship based on trust and shared values with the surrogate is crucial. Communication, mutual comfort, and a genuine connection are essential for a successful surrogacy journey.
Choosing the Right Agency
Finding the best surrogacy agency that aligns with your values is vital. Agencies handle screening, legal arrangements, and support throughout the process. Researching and asking detailed questions about their services, success rates, and reviews from other parents ensures you choose the best match for your family.
Choose Surrogacy by Faith to Build Your Family
Surrogacy by Faith, a Christian agency based in Irvine, California, supports families of all backgrounds. We guide intended parents and surrogates through every step of the surrogacy journey, from screening candidates to navigating legal processes, offering a compassionate and supportive experience.
Embarking on the surrogacy journey is complex but ultimately rewarding, bringing the joy of parenthood to many hopeful families. Whether you’re considering giving the gift of life and becoming a surrogate, or if you’re an intended parent ready to start the process, fill out either a surrogate initial inquiry or an intended parent or parents initial inquiry to establish contact.