Surrogacy/IVF Surrogacy

At Pacific Reproductive Center, we encourage our patients to explore every option for family building. We are passionate about providing the resources and information potential parents need to welcome healthy babies into their hearts and homes. Though certain reproductive obstacles might seem too large to overcome, we are confident that we can help you reach your goal.

If you are experiencing fertility challenges, one of the reproductive possibilities you might be considering is surrogate services. Surrogacy involves the participation of a third party who carries a pregnancy to term. While potential parents who are medically incapable of achieving pregnancy might opt for surrogacy, it is also a choice often made by same-sex couples or single parents.

There are two general categories of surrogacy: traditional and IVF surrogacy.

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy requires a donor to carry the pregnancy to term and use her own egg. Traditional surrogacies are becoming increasingly rare due to the challenging legal and ethical implications surrounding the conception of a child who is the genetic offspring of the surrogate.

IVF Surrogacy

IVF surrogacy only requires the surrogate to host an implanted embryo to term. The baby will not be the biological offspring of the surrogate, also called the gestational carrier. This is largely the preferred type of surrogacy because it presents the fewest legal obstacles.

IVF surrogacy involves standard in-vitro fertilization protocols – retrieving the intended mother’s mature eggs, which are then fertilized by the intended father’s sperm. The resulting fertilized eggs or embryos are then transferred to a third-party gestational carrier.

IVF surrogacy might be an appealing option for some potential parents who want a child that is the biological offspring of one or both parties. However, it’s important to be fully aware of the inherent complexities of involving a third party in your reproductive solutions. Traditional surrogacy, while still sometimes performed, can be a fraught practice. For many potential parents, the decision to employ traditional surrogacy is highly complicated and can have long-term implications.

At Pacific Reproductive Center, we are more than happy to discuss your reproductive options and help you discover the strategy that is right for you.