What is the surrogate

What It Is and How Does Surrogacy Work

Written by Rebecca Buffum Taylor

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on November 04, 2021

There's still some controversy about using a surrogate mother to have a baby. The legal process is also tricky because it varies from state to state. Even so, whether it's because of fertility problems or other reasons, surrogacy is an option for you and your partner. Find out how it works and see if it's right for you.

What Is a Surrogate Mother?

There are two kinds:

Traditional surrogate. It's a woman who gets artificially inseminated with the father's sperm. They then carry the baby and deliver it for you and your partner to raise.

A traditional surrogate is the baby's biological mother. That's because it was their egg that was fertilized by the father's sperm. Donor sperm can also be used.

Gestational surrogates. A technique called "in vitro fertilization" (IVF) now makes it possible to gather eggs from the mother (or an egg donor), fertilize them with sperm from the father (or a sperm donor), and place the embryo into the uterus of a gestational surrogate.

The surrogate then carries the baby until birth. They don't have any genetic ties to the child because it wasn't their egg that was used.

A gestational surrogate is called the "birth mother." The biological mother, though, is still the woman whose egg was fertilized.

In the U.S., gestational surrogacy is less complex legally. That's because both intended parents have genetic ties to the baby. As a result, gestational surrogacy has become more common than a traditional surrogate. About 750 babies are born each year using gestational surrogacy.

Who Uses Surrogates?

If you're a woman, you may consider a surrogate for several reasons:

Medical problems with your uterus
You had a hysterectomy that removed your uterus
Conditions that make pregnancy impossible or risky for you, such as severe heart disease

You may want to think about surrogacy if you tried but couldn't get pregnant with a variety of assisted-reproduction techniques, such as IVF.

Surrogates have also made parenthood an option for people who might not be able to adopt a child, perhaps because of their age or marital status.

If gay men decide to use a traditional surrogate, one of them uses their sperm to fertilize the surrogate's egg through artificial insemination. The surrogate then carries the baby and gives birth.

A gay couple might also choose an egg donor, fertilize that donated egg, and then have the embryo implanted in a gestational surrogate to carry until birth.

Finding a Surrogate

There are several ways you can find a surrogate mother:

Friends or family. Sometimes you can ask a friend or relative to be a surrogate for you. It's somewhat controversial. But because of the high cost of surrogacy and the complex legal issues it raises about parental rights, a tried-and-tested family relationship can be simpler to manage.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine accepts certain family ties as acceptable for surrogates. It generally discourages surrogacy, though, if the child would carry the same genes as a child born of incest between close relatives.

A surrogacy agency. Most people use one to arrange a gestational surrogate. There are about 100 agencies now operating in the U.S. They act as go-betweens.

An agency helps you find a surrogate and make arrangements. It also collects any fees that get passed between you and the surrogate, such as paying for their medical expenses.

How to Choose a Surrogate

Right now there aren't any regulations about who can be a surrogate mother. But experts agree on a few points about how to select one.

You should choose surrogates who:

Are at least 21 years old
Have already given birth to at least one healthy baby so they understand firsthand the medical risks of pregnancy and childbirth and the emotional issues of bonding with a newborn
Have passed a psychological screening by a mental health professional to uncover any issues with giving up the baby after birth
Sign a contract about their role and responsibilities in the pregnancy, such as prenatal care and agreeing to give you the baby after birth

Using a Surrogate

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says surrogates should get a medical exam to check that they are likely to have a healthy, full-term pregnancy. The organization suggests they get tests that check for infectious diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B and C.

Surrogates should get tests to make sure they have immunity to measles, rubella (German measles), and chickenpox. Also, you may want to ask that they get a medical procedure to visually "map" the uterus, which can help the doctor check their potential to carry a pregnancy. Surrogate mothers should have their own doctor during pregnancy rather than use yours.

The cost of surrogacy can range from $80,000 to $120,000. A lot of different things go into the price, such as whether the surrogates have their own medical insurance or whether you need to buy a surrogacy-pregnancy policy for them.

Legal Issues With Surrogates

Parental rights aren't guaranteed after a surrogate pregnancy. The law continues to change as reproductive technology and the very definition of a "parent" changes.

There isn't a federal law on surrogacy and state laws vary. After a surrogate pregnancy in some states, you may still have to pass adoption proceedings to gain legal custody of the child. In other states, a "declaration of parentage" before birth lets you avoid having to "adopt" the baby.

To protect your rights as parents-to-be -- and the rights of the child you're hoping to have -- hire an attorney who specializes in reproductive law in your state. They can write a surrogacy contract that clearly spells out what everyone needs to do.

A contract like that may help if legal issues come up after birth. It can also outline agreements about a variety of possible scenarios with the pregnancy, such as what happens if there are twins or triplets.

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What is Surrogacy? Surrogates, Parents and Egg Donors

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Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction where intended parents work with a gestational surrogate who will carry and care for their baby(ies) until birth. Intended parents use surrogacy to start or grow their families when they can't do so on their own.

How Surrogacy Works

Surrogacy definition and how does surrogacy work?

By definition, surrogacy is the process or arrangement of someone giving birth for someone else. Gestational surrogacy helps those who are unable to have children become parents. It’s a process that requires medical and legal expertise, as well as a strong support process throughout the journey. Those who explore surrogacy to have a child are often referred to as Intended Parents (IPs for short).

Through IVF, embryos are created in a lab at a fertility clinic. Sometimes the intended parents use their own genetic material. Sometimes, an egg donor is required. At the fertility clinic, 1-2 embryos are implanted into a gestational carrier, who carries the baby(ies) to term.

Do surrogates use their own eggs for surrogacy? No! Gestational carriers have no genetic relationship to the child(ren) they carry.

Surrogacy has been a family-building option for quite some time, though it has evolved over the years.

What's the Difference between a Surrogate vs a Gestational Carrier

At Circle Surrogacy we only practice gestational surrogacy, however it's important to know what the difference is. This video shares the differences between a surrogate mother and a gestational carrier, or gestational surrogate.

Why choose surrogacy to grow your family?

Surrogacy allows couples and individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ages and sexual orientations to build their families.

Intended parents who use surrogacy include:

• Heterosexual couples who have struggled with infertility
• Intended mothers who are unable to carry a child
• Intended parents who have a genetic defect or health condition they don't want to pass onto the child
• Gay and trans intended parents who want to have a genetic link to their baby

Each surrogacy journey is unique, and we proud to have helped grow so many amazing families in the United States and around the world.

For Parents For Surrogates

How much does a surrogate cost?

The cost of a surrogate mother is just one fee that makes up total surrogacy costs.

If you live in the U.S. you can estimate surrogacy costs around $110K-$175K for a journey, exclusive of IVF costs. The actual journey costs depend on the services intended parents need (whether you require a surrogate only, or a surrogate plus an egg donor), your insurance and the details of your specific journey. Each journey is unique - there is no "one cost fits all".

Of those total costs, approximately 40% will pay for a surrogate: her base compensation, additional benefits and payments, her legal counsel, social work and screening.

For those intended parents who use a surrogacy agency (highly recommended) their surrogacy costs will also include an agency fee.

Learn More About Costs

How much do surrogates make?

The monetary benefits of becoming a surrogate mother are significant, but the indescribable sense of fulfillment our surrogates get from helping intended families bring a child into the world cannot be found doing anything else.

Surrogate mother pay depends on a few factors: where she lives, if she has insurance and whether or not she's a first time carrier. On average, surrogate mothers are paid between $50,000 and $60,000 total, which is made of a base fee of $30k-$40k, plus additional compensation and benefits.

Circle Surrogacy offers the most comprehensive and protective pay and benefits package for gestational carriers and their families. See full details about how a surrogate is paid and how much she can expect to earn.

What is the surrogacy process?

While it's relatively simple to understand the meaning of surrogacy, understanding the process is a bit more involved. The surrogacy process can be complex, and working with an experienced agency like Circle Surrogacy helps navigate the milestones and provides support when you need it most.

A general overview of the surrogacy process looks like this:

• Apply as a surrogate or a parent
• Meet all requirements (surrogates) and complete initial consultation (parents)
• Surrogate and Parent Matching
• Medical screenings, surrogate medications and embryo transfer
• Confirmation of pregnancy
• Pregnancy, building a relationship between Intended parents and surrogate
• Delivery day and beyond

Circle is a relationship-based agency, meaning we encourage strong relationships between intended parents and surrogates.

Parents' surrogacy process Surrogates' surrogacy process

What is the meaning of surrogacy for surrogate mothers?

Becoming a surrogate is life-changing. Surrogate mothers – more commonly referred to a gestational surrogates or gestational carriers – are generous and selfless, passionate about family, and willing to help others. Many surrogates form life-long bonds with their intended parents, and remain part of each others' lives well after the baby is born.

To be able to give someone the gift of parenthood is empowering. Women who apply to become surrogates are ready to be 100% dedicated emotionally, mentally and physically for their intended parents.

The Pros and Cons of Being a Surrogate

If you're considering surrogacy, you can review the pros and cons of becoming a surrogate mother. See the benefits and challenges associated with surrogacy.

How to become a surrogate

What does surrogacy mean for intended parents?

Becoming a parent through surrogacy is an emotional and rewarding path to parenthood. Intended parents put their trust into not only their gestational carrier, but their surrogacy agency as well. It can be a journey filled with ups and downs, however the day your baby is born is hard to put into words.

Intended parents have the choice to pursue independent surrogacy or to work with an agency such as Circle Surrogacy. Working with an agency provides a level or partnership and expertise that parents would not have on their own. Having an agency manage the journey and the details allows parents to focus on preparing for the arrival of their baby(ies). Read more about why you should work with an agency.

The Pros and Cons of Surrogacy for Intended Parents

There are many benefits to surrogacy for intended parents, however there are also challenges. This video outlines some of the pros and cons of surrogacy for intended parents.

How to become a parent

Common questions about surrogacy.

Whether you're considering surrogacy, becoming a parent through surrogacy, or still understanding what is surrogacy, you may have questions along the way. With many experienced surrogates and parents via surrogacy on staff, we've helped families navigate their journeys successfully, and have answered almost every question out there!

What is the difference between traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy is when a woman carries a baby for intended parents that she shares no DNA with – her eggs are not used – an embryo is transferred into her uterus. Gestational surrogacies makeup the vast majority of modern surrogacy arrangements. By contrast, traditional surrogates typically become pregnant through artificial insemination, and have a genetic connection to the child or children they carry for their intended parents. We do not arrange traditional surrogacies.

Do I need to work with a surrogacy agency?
Intended parents and surrogates are not required to work with an agency for a surrogacy journey; this type of journey is called an independent or "indy" journey. Understanding how complex the surrogacy process can be, Circle Surrogacy recommends working with a surrogacy agency for both surrogates and intended parents to ensure they receive the support they need, as well as allowing someone to manage the details (and any bumps in the road) as well as having the emotional support available throughout the journey.

Why should I choose Circle Surrogacy?
There are many reasons intended parents should choose Circle Surrogacy! Circle was founded over 25 years ago, and has brought thousands of babies into the world! Here are 5 of the most important reasons to choose Circle:
1. 99.3% success rate
2. We are a full-service surrogacy and egg donation agency: we take care of everything for you
3. The most comprehensive surrogate screening process
4. 40% of our staff has personal experience with surrogacy and third party reproduction – we've been in your shoes
5. And all-inclusive cost program that promises no surprise costs and offers a 100% refund on our agency fee. See our cost page for details.

How does a surrogate woman (gestational carrier) get pregnant?
A surrogate or gestational carrier gets pregnant when an IVF doctor implants an embryo into her uterus. The surrogate has used IVF medications to prepare her body for the pregnancy. The embryo transfer is rather painless and is a quick procedure; the doctor may ask the surrogate to rest and have limited activity a few days after the transfer.

Can I speak with intended parents or surrogates from your program?
Yes! We are happy to connect you with experienced surrogates and parents.

See All FAQs

Surrogacy Acronyms and Abbreviations

The world of surrogacy has a language of its own, and if you aren't familiar with the surrogacy acronyms or abbreviations you might feel like you're reading something in a different language.

Here is a list of common surrogacy acronyms and abbreviations

GC or GS: Gestational Carrier or Gestational Surrogate

IP (IPs): Intended Parents. Also seen as: IF (Intended Father) and IM (Intended Mother)

ED: Egg Donor

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization

RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist

ART: Assisted Reproductive Technology

FET: Frozen Embryo Transfer

SET: Single Embryo Transfer

MET: Multiple Embryo Transfer

2WW: 2 Week Wait

DPT: Days Post Transfer (often seen with a number, such as DP5DT or Days Post 5 Day Transfer)

BETA: Blood Test for Pregnancy

POAS: Pee on a Stick (referring to a home pregnancy test)

Learn more about these terms and their definitions in this surrogacy acronym blog post.

SURROGATE - What is a SURROGATE?

The word consists of 8 letters: first s, second y, third p, fourth p, fifth oh sixth g, seventh a, last t,

The word surrogate in English letters (transliteration) - srrogat

The letter with occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter starting with
The letter in occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter y
The letter p occurs 2 times. Words with 2 letters p
The letter o occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter o
The letter g occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter g
The letter a occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter a
The letter t occurs 1 time. Words with 1 letter t

Meanings of the word surrogate. What is a surrogate?

Surrogate

SURROGATE (from lat. surrogatus - supplied in return) -1) a product (or object) that replaces some other product (or object) with which it has some properties in common, but does not have its qualities (for example, a surrogate coffee beans - barley…
Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

SURROGATE - delivered in exchange - a product or object that replaces some other product or object with which it has some properties in common, but does not have its qualities, for example C. coffee beans - barley, acorns.
Dictionary of historical terms. - 1998

Surrogate S. is commonly called falsification or counterfeit food substances, which can only to a certain extent replace the corresponding food substances.
F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron. - 1890-1907

Surrogate Speaker

Surrogate speaker - a person: - enjoying a certain authority in the information market; - attracted to discuss topical issues instead of the first persons.
glossary.ru

Surrogate speaker - a person: - enjoying a certain authority in the information market; - attracted to discuss topical issues instead of the first persons.
Dictionary of financial terms

Surrogate speaker (from the English surrogate - deputy and speakers - speaker) - people who enjoy a certain authority in the information market, who are attracted to discuss topical problems instead of the first persons.
Radchenko I.A. Educational dictionary of terms of advertising and public relations. - 2004

Surrogate (film)

The Surrogate (English The Sessions; original title English The Surrogate) is a tragicomedy independent feature film directed by Ben Lewin. The film premiered in January 2012 at the Sundance Independent Film Festival...
en.wikipedia.org

Surrogates (film)

Surrogates is a 2009 science fiction action movie based on the comic book of the same name directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Bruce Willis. The action takes place in the future, in 2017.
en.wikipedia.org

Surrogates (comic)

The Surrogates is a limited edition comic book series by Top Shelf Productions. Consists of five issues, drawn by Brett Weldel from a script by Robert Venditti.
en.wikipedia.org

Alcohol substitutes

Alcohol substitutes - various liquids not intended for internal consumption, but nevertheless used instead of alcoholic beverages. Depending on the composition, they can cause significant harm to health.
en.wikipedia.org

Human milk surrogates

Women's milk surrogates [This article complements the articles: Feeding, Women's Milk, Cow's Milk, Condensed Milk.]. Contents: Sanitary and economic importance of S. with artificial feeding.
F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron. - 1890-1907

MONEY SURROGATES

MONEY SURROGATES Transitional national currencies issued in the CIS countries before the introduction of full-fledged national currencies. In addition, individual regions of the Russian Federation often resorted to issuing their own means of payment, as a rule ...
Modern jargon of Russian politicians and journalists

MONEY SURROGATES - banknotes not provided for by law and introduced by individuals without permission. The reason for their appearance (mainly) is the lack of official banknotes.
Dictionary of legal terms. - 2000

Russian