What is a gestational carrier?
In surrogacy a fertilized embryo is implanted into a gestational carrier’s (surrogate) uterus to carry the pregnancy. The gestational carrier usually isn’t genetically related to the child. Surrogacy can be a path to parenthood for male couples, transgender people, and patients who are unable to carry a pregnancy.
San Diego Fertility Center works closely with a number of trusted surrogacy agencies and we’re here to help you through the surrogacy process from start to finish.
How Surrogacy Works
Partnering with a gestational carrier is a deeply personal process. Once you have chosen a carrier, either independently or through a trusted surrogacy agency, there will be a thorough screening process and legal contracts before your cycle is scheduled.
If you and your partner will be using your own eggs and sperm we will go through the process of egg retrieval and sperm collection to prepare an embryo for implantation into the gestational carrier’s uterus. In other instances where donor eggs, sperm, or both are being used, the same steps will occur to create the embryos.
The embryos will grow in our lab for several days under careful observation, then the healthiest will be selected for freezing. During this time you may also elect to do additional genetic testing to determine if any of the embryos have genetic abnormalities.
The next step will involve the gestational surrogate undergoing an embryo transfer cycle, which involves hormonal therapy, testing such as bloodwork and ultrasound, and eventually transfer of the embryo into the uterus.
The gestational carrier will continue hormonal supplementation through their first trimester until the placenta has matured and supplements are no longer required. For the remainder of the pregnancy, you, your gestational carrier, and your doctor will work together closely as a team to ensure the highest possible success for the pregnancy and health of both the baby and the carrier.
Your doctor will work closely with you to determine whether a gestational carrier is right for you. This can be a potential option for anyone who is unable to carry their own pregnancy. Reasons for this can include:
Ovulation issues
Difficult past pregnancies or factor that would make your pregnancy high risk if you carried it yourself
Recurrent miscarriage or other infertility issues
You do not have a uterus
You are a man seeking single parenthood or a gay male couple
Gestational carrier success with San Diego Fertility Center
Our San Diego Fertility Center physicians perform over 950 gestational carrier transfers every year.
Paying for gestational carrier services
Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that more and more companies are including fertility treatment in employee benefits. A surrogate agency will be a separate cost from San Diego Fertility Center, but we can assist in coordinating with their financial team so that you are always informed on the finances.
You should never feel in the dark about cost. Our financing team is committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way.
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We work with both known gestational carriers, also known as compassionate carriers, and surrogacy agencies. We recommend talking to your team about what option is right for you.
Many patients use their own eggs and sperm to create the embryo that their surrogate will carry. In other cases, patients use donor eggs and/or donor sperm in addition to working with a surrogate. Whatever option you choose, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Your gestational carrier will continue to take hormonal supplements and monitor the pregnancy at San Diego Fertility Center for the first trimester (12 weeks) of the pregnancy. After that time, San Diego Fertility Center will transfer your gestational carrier’s care and pregnancy monitoring to her chosen OB/GYN.