Gestational Carrier
Gestational Carrier (Previously called Surrogacy)
This process utilizes a third-party “gestational carrier” to carry the pregnancy when, for various reasons, a woman cannot carry a baby herself.
The gestational carrier agrees under contract to be implanted with embryo(s) developed in vitro from the sperm and eggs of the patient/couple in order to achieve the pregnancy.
IVF Gestational Carrier: 50% You + 50% Your Partner = 100% Your Child Genetically
IVF with a gestational carrier creates a child with 100 percent genetic identity with the donor couple. Therefore your child is no different genetically than if they had been conceived and carried to term naturally, which is why this program has become a popular option for many couples dealing with certain types of infertility.
Note that this is an important difference from using an egg donor in IVF. Egg donation creates a child with 50% genetic identity with the couple; because the male partner contributes his sperm to fertilize a donor egg.
How IVF with a Gestational Carrier Works
Both partners come to a fertility clinic, where they are thoroughly evaluated and given a diagnosis by one of our fertility specialists. Many times, couples don’t realize the true cause of their infertility, so proper diagnosis is essential before deciding on a course of infertility treatment.
The female partner begins an IVF cycle by taking the appropriate medications and hormone injections to stimulate ovulation.
After ultrasound monitoring confirms proper ovarian follicle development, the eggs are retrieved and turned over to our IVF lab, the ART Reproductive Center.
The eggs are carefully fertilized using the male partner’s sperm by embryologists in our IVF lab. Sometimes, we may use assisted reproductive technologies such as ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) to ensure fertilization.
Embryos grow and develop in vitro. PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) is an assisted reproductive technology that we frequently employ to select only the most viable embryos and screen for genetic disorders simultaneously.
Embryo transfer or blastocyst transfer is used in order to transfer the embryo(s) to the gestational carrier’s uterus, where they can implant.
The gestational carrier then carries your child until delivery. You celebrate having a happy, healthy baby who is uniquely and completely yours!
We maintain rigorous and exacting standards. Gestational carriers who are part of the program come to us from only the most respected professional agencies.