What is the process of becoming pregnant via Gestational Surrogacy

The medical procedure for the Embryo Transfer (ET) to the Gestational Surrogate (GS) is similar to having a Pap smear. In most cases it's pain-free. First, your menstrual cycle and the menstrual cycle of the Intended Mother (IM) or Egg Donor (ED) are synchronized using birth control pills and daily injections of Lupron, a drug that suppresses ovulation. If it seems scary, don�t worry! Everyone who has been through the process feels intimidated at first. Often after the first few days they're amazed at how simple and relatively painless it is. The nurse at the reproductive clinic will talk you through the first injections, and we can always help you, too. You will also be taking Estrogen before the transfer, and the Intended Mother or Egg Donor (ED) will be taking daily injections of fertility drugs.

During this time, the development of the Intended Mother or ED's eggs is monitored by periodic blood work and ultrasounds. At the same time, the thickness of the lining of your uterus, which is crucial to the success of the Embryo Transfer, will be evaluated using blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds. You can expect to visit the Reproductive Endocrinologist a few times before the Embryo Transfer in order to check your uterine lining for its readiness to receive the embryo. That exam is entirely painless. Three to five days after the eggs have been retrieved from the biological Mother (or Egg Donor) and fertilized with the sperm of the biological father (or Sperm Donor), the physician will transfer the embryos to you. As we've noted, that procedure is something like a Pap smear, and it's completed under sterile conditions. Depending on the physician, you may then begin progesterone injections and/or suppositories.

Many clinics require a period of bed rest after the Embryo Transfer. That can range from 12 to 72 hours. The Intended Parents will expect you treat the doctor's instructions seriously. If you need childcare to allow you to stay in bed, that will be provided as specified in your contract. Your contract will cover all such eventualities, so you will never have to worry about money to meet your surrogacy obligations. About 10 to 12 days after the embryo transfer, you'll get a pregnancy test. This will usually be done by drawing blood at the clinic or local lab.

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If you pass the initial screening, we will ask you to fill out a much longer questionnaire, which covers a broad range of subjects so that we, and eventually potential Intended Parents, can get to know you. This questionnaire should take roughly 30 minutes to complete. We prefer to send and receive the questionnaire by e-mail.

We will also need photographs of you and your family. It's easiest if the photographs are digital format and are sent through the Internet. If you do not have a digital camera, your local photo shop can create them from prints or you can mail the prints directly to us for scanning.

After you return your questionnaire, one of our Surrogate Coordinators will conduct a phone interview with you. This is not meant to be intimidating, it's just a more direct way to get to know each other and answer any questions you may have. Then, one of our directors will also call to talk to you.

Once we agree to work together, you should download the Agency Program Agreement document, which you will need to print out, sign, and fax/mail to our office.

This indicates your willingness to become a Gestational Surrogate with our agency. It also gives the Intended Parents permission to review your questionnaire and photographs. (Agency for Surrogacy Solutions always insures that your privacy is protected. The Intended Parents will not see the page of the questionnaire that contains confidential identifying information. Your last name and identifying information will not be revealed to any Intended Parents until all agree to work together.)