Surrogacy

What is surrogacy?

Surrogacy describes the arrangement made when a person agrees to become pregnant and have a baby for another person or couple. The person having the baby is called the surrogate and the person or couple who will become the parent/s are known as the intended parent/s (IPs).

Surrogacy is often the only course of action available to IPs who are unable to carry a baby to term themselves.

There are two forms of surrogacy: 

Full/host surrogacy

In this scenario, the intended parents use IVF treatment to create embryos using their own sperm and eggs. The embryos are then placed in the uterus of the surrogate. Where the treatment is a success, the intended parents are the genetic parents of the baby. It is also possible to use donated eggs or sperm.

Partial/straight surrogacy

Partial surrogacy involves the surrogate becoming pregnant by artificial insemination or IVF, using the sperm from the intended father together with her own eggs. In this instance, the child shares the surrogate’s genes and is a less popular option for treatment.

If you have decided that surrogacy is the right fertility treatment for you and your partner, we’ll carry out our usual fertility assessments on you both to give you a clear idea of your chances of having a successful treatment cycle. As your gametes will be carried by a third party we will need to screen you both, just as if you were egg or sperm donors. This means that you will need to have blood tests for genetic screening as well as screening for diseases.

It’s important to note that the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not regulate most aspects of surrogacy. It’s illegal to become a surrogate for commercial reasons. Therefore the only payments that can be exchanged between the Intended Parents and their surrogate are those that can be classed as reasonable expenses. We charge our usual fees for any necessary IVF and insemination procedures.

We strongly recommend that you take legal advice before embarking on a surrogacy journey, either as the would-be parents or as a surrogate. The laws surrounding surrogacy and the rights of each party are complicated.

We also provide free, mandatory counseling for everyone involved in surrogacy, so you can be sure that you have talked through, and understand all the moral and emotional implications and are happy with your decision to continue.

Finding a surrogate

The responsibility for finding your surrogate lies with you. As a licensed fertility clinic, we are not allowed to find a surrogate mother on behalf of the intended parents.

However, there are some great organisations that can help you to find a suitable surrogate:

Brilliant Beginnings – www.brilliantbeginnings.co.uk

My Surrogacy Journey – www.mysurrogacyjourney.com

Surrogacy UK – www.surrogacyuk.org

The surrogate recruiting agencies specialise in finding surrogates and will help you manage the relationship with your surrogate mother.

Finding an egg donor

If you need donor eggs, we can offer you treatment within six months plus of application, depending on your requirements. 

Click here to find out more about Egg Donors