Intended parents consult with an IVF physician for medical screening. The intended father’s sperm and/or the intended mother’s eggs will be analyzed to determine if they can be used in the surrogacy. Once complete, the couple contacts a surrogate agency to help them find a gestational carrier.

The couple chooses a large agency or a smaller, more intimate agency. The agency will walk them through the process, which can include:

• Offering legal, medical, insurance and financial guidance
• Screening potential surrogates
• Setting up meetings with potential carriers
• Guiding the couple through the surrogacy process, from matching with a surrogate to delivery

Once the surrogate and intended parents decide to work together, both parties will need to have medical and psychological screening done:

• Psychological evaluations to anticipate problems that may arise and to identify any psychological reason the gestational carrier should not proceed with surrogacy
• Medical examinations to screen for infectious diseases and sexually transmitted diseases in any of the parties
• Other medical exams and blood work that may be required

Once medical and psychological screening is completed, both parties will need to be represented by an attorney specializing in third-party reproduction to represent them in the contract phase. Agreements should be drafted based on state laws and validated through the judicial system so everything is conducted in a legal manner.

After all of the medical screening has been done:

• The surrogate will start medications to thicken the lining of her uterus, and she will be on medications for approximately 4-6 weeks, depending on the protocol of the IVF clinic
• Once the surrogate’s uterine lining is optimal, the most viable frozen embryo(s) are thawed and transferred to the uterus of the surrogate via IVF
• The surrogate typically waits nine to 14 days before taking a pregnancy test; if the surrogate is pregnant at that time, an ultrasound is scheduled two weeks later to determine the number of embryos that implanted
• The baby’s heartbeat can typically be seen at this time
• After the pregnancy reaches eight to ten weeks gestation, the IVF physician will discharge the surrogate from his/her care to the care of her OB
• At this time, the surrogate’s OB will monitor her for the duration of the pregnancy