Gestational Surrogacy FAQs
Third-party Reproduction
At RMA we often get questions surrounding the topic of egg donation and surrogacy for intended parents. In most cases, if a couple cannot be helped through the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF), they may want to consider using donor eggs and sometimes donor embryos to achieve parenthood. Surrogacy is also another option available, which is an arrangement where a woman carries and delivers a child for another couple or person.
Frequently Asked Questions
A gestational carrier (surrogate) is a woman who carries a pregnancy for someone else. RMA’s care team can offer guidance to patients interested in surrogacy by helping them select a carrier that fits their needs and preferences.
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own eggs are combined with donor sperm from an anonymous donor or the intended male parent. When using a gestational carrier, both sperm and egg are provided by the intended parents or donated. There is a genetic link between the baby and surrogate mother in traditional surrogacy, where there is no genetic link between a gestational carrier and the baby.
Using a gestational carrier (surrogate) typically costs between $150,000 and $200,000 (including medical and psychological screenings, legal costs, gestational carrier compensation, maternity insurance policy, IVF cycle, and cycle medications).