*Egg Donation & Surrogacy *
[image: IVF] Surrogacy is an arrangement whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant for the purpose of gestating and giving birth to a child for others to raise. She may be the child's genetic mother the more traditional form of surrogacy), or she may be implanted with someone else's fertilized egg (gestational surrogacy). Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction. In some cases it is the only available option for a couple who wish to have a child that is biologically related to them. In traditional surrogacy the surrogate is pregnant with her own biological child, but this child was conceived with the intention of relinquishing the child to be raised by others; often by the biological father and possibly his partner, either male or female. In gestational surrogacy the surrogate is pregnant via embryo transfer with a child of which she is not the biological mother. She may have made an arrangement to relinquish it to the biological mother or father to raise, or to a parent who is themselves unrelated to the child (e. g. because the child was conceived using egg donation and/or sperm donation). Altruistic surrogacy is a situation where the surrogate is not receiving financial reward for her pregnancy or the relinquishment of the child (sometimes with the exception of medical expenses associated with the pregnancy or birth) Compare with commercial surrogacy which is a type of surrogacy in which the surrogate is being paid for her pregnancy and the relinquishment of the child. It is typically combined with gestational surrocacy). A surrogate mother or birth mother is the woman who is pregnant with the child. The word surrogate, from Latin *subr**ŏ**gare* (to substitute), means appointed to act in the place of.] The commissioning parents are the individual or persons who intend to rear the child after its birth. There is a tendency now to limit the term 'surrogacy' to only mean 'gestational surrogacy* * * * Gestational Surrogacy (In Vitro Fertilization) The Intended Parents creates embryos that are transferred to the surrogate mother, and the surrogate mother gestates the child but maintains no genetic link. The eggs can be provided by either the Intended Mother or by an egg donor. The client family then petitions the court to change the birth certificate; this modified birth certificate reflects the correct parentage of the child. Traditional Surrogacy (Artificial Insemination) The surrogate mother donates her egg. The partner or a donor provides the sperm that is used to fertilize the egg inside the womb and creates a child. The surrogate mother gestates the embryo and has a genetic link to the child. The client family then petitions the court to change the birth certificate; this modified birth certificate reflects the correct parentage of the child. Center vs. Independent You may be thinking of finding a surrogate or egg donor on your own, or you may have already located one. This may seem to be an inexpensive way to solve your problems; however, selecting a surrogate mother or donor on your own may be risky! There are many issues to consider and steps to be taken to ensure a successful outcome. Remember, you are asking a surrogate mother or egg donor to become involved in one of the most important events in your life -- the creation of your child! If you still choose to locate your surrogate or egg donor independently, our program also offers an assistance option to help you pursue your own independent surrogate parenting relationship while providing the same safeguards and professional guidance that our center provides through our other egg donation and surrogacy programs.
