How do the Surrogacy and IVF Processes Work in Gestational Surrogacy?
Many intended families grow with the help of gestational surrogacy. To do this, they rely on the magic of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to share a genetic bond with their child. But, how does everything work? What does the IVF process look like? What is the surrogacy process like?
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado guides our surrogates through the surrogacy process of gestational surrogacy with the help of counseling from our surrogacy specialists and resources to prepare them for pregnancy. Below, we explain how the surrogacy and IVF processes work in gestational surrogacy to bring healthy babies to intended families.
How does the Surrogacy Process Work?
Gestational surrogacy begins with the intended parents’ egg and sperm. The eggs and sperm, respectively, are then combined in a laboratory setting to form multiple embryos. How long this takes can greatly vary. During this time, the surrogate is preparing herself with hormones, a healthy diet and timing her menstrual cycle. She is then artificially inseminated with the intended parents’ embryo(s).
Once there has been a successful transfer, a heartbeat found at the six-week ultrasound will confirm a healthy pregnancy.
What does the IVF Process Look Like?
As just mentioned, the IVF process is when the embryo(s) are transferred into the surrogate. However, IVF is a bit more involved than that.
Here is a deeper look at what the IVF process with gestational surrogacy entails:
- Examinations and Fertility Treatments to Prepare for IVF
The surrogate will be given a medical screening to make sure her body is healthy and ready to go through pregnancy. This involves not only a physical examination, but also an ultrasound for the uterus.
Additionally, surrogates are given hormone treatments (typically, progesterone injections and estrogen replacements) and may be put on birth control pills so the fertility doctor can track her cycle carefully.
- Sperm and Egg Donation or Retrieval before IVF
The intended parent or egg donor will be given hormone injections so that they produce more than one egg each month. They will also take medications to help mature the eggs to the correct developmental stage. Before the eggs are released from the follicle, the egg donor will go to the fertility clinic, where the eggs will be retrieved. This is done through using a hollow needle, while the intended mother or donor is under pain medication or full anesthesia.
Sperm donation, by either the donor or intended parent, will happen the same day as egg retrieval for the best chances of fertilization.
- Embryo Formation using IVF
The egg and sperm will be fertilized in a laboratory, and then remain under observation to watch their development. The fertility clinic will watch over them closely for five days, give or take.
If the intended parents have frozen their embryos, those will be gently thawed and given the opportunity to grow.
- Surrogate/IVF Embryo Transfer
The surrogate will come into the fertility clinic once she is five days past the midpoint of her cycle and the embryos have grown. The fertility doctor will transfer up to three embryos into her uterus using a catheter. Transferring more than one at a time increases the chance of a successful pregnancy.
Once she has been inseminated, the surrogate will go home and rest for a few days.
- Checking for IVF Success
The surrogate will return to the fertility clinic one week after the embryo transfer to check her pregnancy hormone (HCG) levels. A typical range can be anywhere between 50 for a single pregnancy to 200 if multiple embryos were successfully fertilized and implanted. However, this can vary from woman to woman, and it’s best to consult with your doctor about what to expect for this. After this first check, the doctor will likely want to check again in a few days.
If the first embryo transfer is not successful, the surrogate can begin another round of IVF when her cycle is ready. Most surrogacy agreements decide on three embryo transfer attempts in the hopes of a successful pregnancy. This will mean starting the IVF process over and continuing to take her hormones as directed.
- Signs of Pregnancy after IVF
Six weeks after the successful embryo transfer, the surrogate will return to the doctor for an ultrasound. Once the doctor hears a heartbeat from the baby, the pregnancy is official. The surrogate may need to return for a 12-week ultrasound with the fertility clinic, but will then be transferred to her OB/GYN for regular care. The surrogate will no longer need to take her hormones after the 12-week point, unless directed to do so by her doctor. The placenta will produce the necessary hormones from that point on.
Throughout the pregnancy, the surrogate will continue with her prenatal care regimen, which will include vitamins and supplements to promote the successful growth and development of the baby.
Understanding How the Surrogacy and IVF Processes Work in Gestational Surrogacy
At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, we understand that each surrogate has her own journey. We are here to support you throughout both the surrogacy and IVF processes.
If you have any more questions, or any concerns, about either of these processes, please contact our surrogacy specialists.
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the Author: Madilyn Moeller is a writer and editor keen on translating the technical. Madilyn’s years of science writing shine through as she explains everything from health insurance to moving for her readers. Madilyn has a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Professional Writing, Psychology, and Neuroscience. She is a lifelong writer bringing her curiosity to the marketing stage, building websites and blogs for businesses moving online. She knows more about Medicare than any young adult should.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!