Surrogacy Medical Process
The Medical Process of Becoming a Surrogate Mother
Step 1: Upon Selection
All medical screening will be performed by an infertility specialist who specializes in the field of assisted reproduction. Your screening will include a thorough examination that involves a physical and lab testing for sexually transmitted diseases, to include (but not limited to) Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, HTLV, Syphilis, Herpes, (a positive test for herpes will not exclude you from our program), blood typing, RH factor, chlamydia, gonorrhea, urine drug analysis. You will also be screened for additional viruses that can potentially affect the health of an unborn child.
Once your test results are received, your husband/partner will be sent for lab screenings as well, to include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, HTLV, Syphilis, and a urine drug screen. All billing for this medical screening will be sent directly to our office for payment by your Intended Parents. Note: Your Intended Parents must complete the same screenings for your protection.
Conceptual Options is not a matching service; therefore, we will assist you in monitoring your cycle. Our staff will coordinate with your physician to provide you with a chart that will outline your scheduling and medication protocol.
Step 2: Medical Procedures
A. Gestational Surrogacy (In Vitro Fertilization) - The goal of assisted reproduction is to correctly time the medical procedures with you and your couple. Your main contact will be with the IVF Nurse Coordinator, because you will be monitored closely by your fertility specialist. The physician will use medications, blood tests and ultrasounds to determine the timing of embryo transfer. At the same time, the physician will use medication to stimulate the Intended Mother (or egg donor) to produce eggs for fertilization. Approximately three to five days before your transfer, the doctor will aspirate the eggs from the Intended Mother (or egg donor), fertilize them and incubate them for a minimum of three days. The transfer merely involves a tiny, flexible catheter inserted through your cervix into your uterus. Approximately anywhere from two to six embryos are transferred, and you must then be placed on bed rest for a minimum of three days to help facilitate implantation. You will remain on medication for several weeks if you become pregnancy occur.
B. Artificial Insemination (AI) - You will begin monitoring your cycle with ovulation kits and charts that are provided to you by your physician. Your physician will also provide you and your Intended Parents with information on how to time your cycle and prepare for success. You will also be monitored via ultrasound to time your exact time of ovulation. The procedure will likely take place in the doctor's office using intrauterine insemination through the injection of semen directly into the uterus. The sperm used can be fresh or frozen.
