IVF With Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy is an option for women who are unable to carry a pregnancy. There are many reasons why this may be necessary, including:

      • Someone who was born without a uterus
      • Someone who was born with an abnormally formed uterus
      • Someone  whose uterus has had to be removed due to disease such as cancer, severe endometriosis, uterine fibroids or intractable post-partum bleeding 
      • Someone who has had uterine surgery resulting in severe scarring or other deformity
      • Someone who has an apparently normal uterus, but has been unable to conceive despite multiple infertility treatments
      • Someone who has recurrent miscarriages for reasons other than embryo factors 
      • Someone who has a significant medical condition such as severe diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, breast or other  cancers 

IVF with gestational surrogacy may be done using the woman’s own eggs if she has normally functioning ovaries.  The intended mother undergoes hormone injections to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs. These are then retrieved through the vagina using a minor surgical procedure under a light general anesthesia.  The eggs are then inseminated with sperm provided by the intended father. The resultant embryo(s) is/are transferred to the gestational surrogate, who carries the pregnancy for the intended parents.

Gestational Surrogacy Using Donor Eggs
For those who do not have normally functioning ovaries or whose ovaries are not producing healthy eggs which are capable of resulting in healthy pregnancy, IVF with gestational surrogacy may be provided with the addition of donor eggs.  The donor egg option can be highly successful for many couples. The egg donor undergoes hormone injections to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Eggs are retrieved and inseminated with sperm provided by the intended father, and resultant embryo(s) is/are transferred into the gestational surrogate, who carries the pregnancy for the intended parents.

Selecting a Gestational Surrogate
For some couples, a relative or close friend may be willing to function as a gestational surrogate.  Others make use of one of the many professional agencies that manage the task of recruiting women who are willing to be paid gestational surrogates.  The RSC Third Party Reproduction Program Coordinator can provide a list of agencies.  Paid gestational surrogates are compensated for carrying a pregnancy for intended parents.  Fees vary typically in the range of $20,000 - $40, 000.

Counseling Support
A psychologist and a licensed clinical social worker are on staff at RSC to provide counseling support to all couples faced with the challenges of infertility, including those who may choose to use a gestational surrogate and/or egg donor.  Our counseling professionals have dedicated their careers to specializing in counseling people who need assisted reproductive technology to build their family. They have a unique understanding and a consultation can be very beneficial when considering these options.

How to Proceed
If you feel you may be a candidate for IVF using a gestational surrogate, contact our office to schedule a consultation.  We will help you determine whether this is an appropriate option for you.

Financial Considerations
RSC also has Financial Counselors on staff to help patients evaluate the possibility of health insurance coverage and additional options to pay for treatment. RSC works with two medical financing companies that specialize in providing low interest financing specifically for medical treatment. RSC is also the exclusive provider in New England of the IntegraMed Attain IVF refund guarantee program. Attain IVF is available for patients receiving IVF treatment with donor egg and gestational surrogacy.

This information is provided for general education purposes and is not intended to take the place of a discussion with your physician. If you have questions about any aspect of your health, you are advised to speak with your physician.