Virginia Fertility & IVF has over a decade of experience with surrogacy/gestational carrier and we are glad to offer assistance to make this complicated endeavor easier for you as well as successful.
Surrogacy is a form of third party reproduction where a woman (surrogate or gestational carrier) carries a pregnancy for someone else (intended parent). There are two forms of surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy is where the surrogate is inseminated with the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm. The surrogate then carries the pregnancy and upon delivery, gives the baby to the intended couple. The second form is gestational surrogacy, where the intended parents undergo in vitro fertilization in our program using their own gametes (sperm & eggs) or, less often, donor gamete(s) to create embryos that are then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus. The gestational surrogate carries the pregnancy and upon delivery, gives the baby to the intended parents. This is the form of surrogacy done at Virginia Fertility & IVF.
There are several reasons why a couple may choose surrogacy as a means to building a family. This includes women with an absent uterus, women suffering recurrent pregnancy loss, and women with a disease that prohibits pregnancy.
Surrogacy is a complex process. The first step is finding a woman willing to be a surrogate. Some people ask a family member or a friend. Alternatively, a surrogate can be located through agencies or internet sites that post classified ads. Once a surrogate is found, complete medical (including disease testing) and psychological screening and counseling must be done for all parties involved. Competent legal advice is necessary to make sure that Virginia law is followed. We can make recommendations for you to see an experienced surrogacy lawyer in Virginia. A contract with the surrogate must be executed before proceeding.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the next step for the intended parents. During the IVF treatment, the surrogate is prepared hormonally in order for her uterus to be receptive. The embryo is then transferred to her uterus.