Top 9 Reasons Intended Parents Choose Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy is an increasingly popular choice for those wishing to add to their family who may not be able to on their own. The surrogacy process involves combining genetic material from the intended parents or donor to form an embryo, which is then carried to term in the womb of a surrogate. Egg donation is also used when needed and is an excellent option for same-sex couples, single parents, and others wanting to start a family.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to help those wishing to add to their families. Here are the top nine reasons intended parents choose egg donation and gestational surrogacy.
- Genetics
With gestational surrogacy, one or both of the intended parents contributes genetic material — the egg and sperm, respectively — to form the embryo. That means that with this choice for pregnancy, at least one parent is biologically related to the child. The surrogate only carries the embryo and is not related to the baby.
If the intended mother is known to carry genes for a debilitating condition, egg donation is a great way to have a child without passing on these risks. In egg donation, the donor’s egg is combined with sperm from an intended parent. This is how many same-sex couples and individuals create their families.
- Present during Milestones
With surrogacy, the intended parents are involved in the process, watching the baby’s growth and development. They are invited to important medical appointments along the way and are present at birth to welcome their child into the world. Surrogates and intended parents often communicate throughout the process to record new milestones in development.
- Raising from Birth
Surrogacy allows intended parents to raise a baby and get to know him or her since birth. This is best compared to adoption, where you meet the child at their current age and may miss raising them during the baby years. Our surrogacy and adoption agency can also connect prospective parents with birth mothers, if you are considering adoption as a possible family planning option.
- Proven Fertility
Many couples and individuals seek out surrogacy because they have been struggling with fertility and may have even tried fertility treatments without success. Surrogates are a select number of women who have been screened for physical emotional health. All have had successful pregnancies with no complications in the past, and have completed their families.
With gestational surrogacy, you are more likely to have a successful pregnancy due to these women’s proven track records with fertility. They will be able to help complete your family.
- Relationships with the Surrogate and Child
Many intended parents develop a relationship with their surrogate, growing close as both parties delight in the progress of the pregnancy. You and the surrogate can decide whether to carry on a relationship after the baby is born, and many do.
Additionally, some intended parents find it important to have a biological relationship with their child, which gestational surrogacy can offer. Egg donation offers this same genetic bond for same-sex couples or single parents looking to be related to their child.
- No Surprises
Legal contracts between the intended parents and surrogate ensure that the process goes as expected. The baby is guaranteed to be in the custody of the intended parents after birth, because the legal contracts confirm they are the legal parents before the baby is born.
This is best compared to adoption, where custody is only awarded after the birth mother relinquishes her parental rights. In adoption, the mother may change her mind and keep the baby after birth, but a surrogate has no rights to the baby and has confirmed this in writing, as has her spouse or partner.
- Waiting Time
It can take over a year to find a match with a birth mother through adoption. Surrogacy, on the other hand, takes only as long as is needed to match with the right surrogate through our surrogacy agency. Once both parties agree to the match, your legal representation will carry out legal proceedings and the fertility treatments will soon begin after that.
- Three Attempts as Necessary
The surrogacy process is an agreement for a set number of embryo transfers, meaning that even if the first session of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is not successful, the surrogate will have agreed to three attempts. Once an embryo is successfully transferred, you have a clear timeline of when to expect your baby and can celebrate throughout the nine months.
- Potential for Multiples
Some intended parents have dreams of twins or triplets. Our surrogacy agency can match you with a surrogate who is willing to carry multiples, if that is your wish. In that case, multiple embryos can be formed and transferred in each attempt through IVF.
Reasons Intended Parents Choose Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado can help you navigate the process of adding to your family. Our agency specializes in gestational surrogacy, and we work with couples and individuals in Colorado who need the help of a surrogate and/or donor to create their family.
If you are considering gestational surrogacy and/or egg donation, please do not hesitate to contact our agency with any questions.
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!