The Surrogacy Process and Intended Parents

The health of the Surrogate mother is critical to a successful pregnancy, it is important to closely monitor throughout the entire surrogacy process, from the time of screening until the delivery of the baby.

Medical Screen

Once a surrogate has been matched with an intended parent the first step will be to undergo a medical evaluation by the Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist to determine general and reproductive fitness.

• Labs to test for sexually transmitted disease
• Labs to test for general health and and blood type
• Pelvic ultrasound to exam anatomy
• Diagnostic hysteroscopy or sonohistogram to evaluate uterine cavity
• Physical exam
• Pap Smear
• Mammogram
• Spouse or partner will also be screened for Infectious Disease

Once the medical, psychological and legal contracts are signed fertility treatment can begin. The surrogate mother’s menses will be synchronized with the intended mother or the egg donor to prepare for the transfer. The surrogate mother will use injectable bioidentical hormones and pills to imitate the natural cycle to prepare the uterine lining and prime with progesterone prior to the embryo transfer. The Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist will schedule serial blood tests and sonograms to monitor progress during this time. The physician, clinical coordinator and agency will work together to support the surrogate and intended parents throughout this process step-by-step.

The Embryo Transfer

The embryo transfer takes place at the fertility clinic. It is usually 5 days after the Egg Retrieval or soon after a frozen embryo(s) has been thawed. This procedure is relatively quick and painless and usually does not require medication or anesthesia. The surrogate mother may be asked to have a full bladder prior to the appointment. The pregnancy test is usually 10 days after the transfer.

Prenatal Care

The surrogate mother will be required to return to the fertility clinic 10 days after the embryo transfer to take a pregnancy test. Once a positive test is detected serial blood tests and ultrasounds will be scheduled until a healthy heart beat and pregnancy has been confirmed. The fertility clinic will instruct the surrogate mother to continue all medication until 10-12 weeks of pregnancy depending on the clinic. At that point medical records will be transferred to the OBGYN to continue prenatal care. The surrogate mother will continue to receive prenatal care as she would with any pregnancy, though checkups may be more frequent to ensure the health of the baby.

Throughout these medical processes and the entire pregnancy Simple Steps Fertility will attend each appointment and keep the intended parents connected every step of the way. It is our goal to help the intended parents and surrogate experience all of the excitement of the pregnancy together.