The surrogacy medical process in Alaska is one that requires the support and guidance of trusted professionals.

Below are some common questions about the medical process of surrogacy in Alaska.

If you’re interested in surrogacy and want more information about the medical process, contact one of our specialists. Until then, here is a comprehensive guide on what to expect from the medical process for surrogates.

What is the Surrogacy Medical Process in Alaska

In gestational surrogacy, a surrogate prepares their body to receive an embryo (an already fertilized egg). This means that the surrogate is not related to the embryo or baby because the DNA is brought in from different sources. The embryo is placed in the surrogate’s uterus, where the embryo can develop into a child.

What are Surrogate Medications?

As the surrogacy process moves toward transferring an embryo to the surrogate, the surrogate will start taking prescribed fertility medications. These medications regulate the body’s hormone levels to prepare the uterus for the transfer of the embryo. Taking fertility medications increases the likelihood of a successful embryo transfer. Often, these medications are injected or taken orally.

The specific surrogate or fertility medications that you’ll take will be determined by your doctor – everybody’s body is different.

What is the IVF Process?

In in vitro fertilization, eggs are collected from the biological mother and fertilized with sperm from the donor in a lab. The source of the eggs and the sperm can be from the intended parents or sourced elsewhere. In gestational surrogacy, the embryo created during this process is transferred to the uterus of the surrogate to develop.

What is an Embryo Transfer?

An embryo transfer is the main medical procedure that a gestational surrogate undergoes. During the embryo transfer, a surrogate has the embryo placed in their uterus manually by a doctor. While the process feels invasive, it is similar to a Pap smear. The process takes about 15 minutes, and afterward, the doctor ensures the embryo is in the uterus. It won’t be until a few days after the procedure that you will know if the embryo has successfully transferred.

An embryo will have to be successfully transferred for the embryo to develop into a child. Some surrogacies require a few tries before the embryo is successfully transferred.

What is the Success Rate for Surrogate Embryo Transfers?

It is important to worry about the success rate of embryo transfers because the process can feel invasive. Success rates vary for embryo transfers based on specifics like the surrogate’s age, embryo quality, and iteration of the IVF cycle (i.e. if it is the first, second, or third transfer). If you want to know about the success rate of IVF, you should reach out to doctors or medical researchers with expertise in this field.

How Long After Embryo Transfer Does the Embryo Implant?

The implantation of an embryo typically occurs about 6 to 10 days after the embryo transfer. This period allows the embryo to travel down the fallopian tube and attach itself to the lining of the uterus. It’s at this stage that early pregnancy symptoms may start to appear for some women. These symptoms can include light spotting, cramping, breast tenderness, and fatigue.

Do Surrogates Share DNA with the Children?

Gestational surrogates do not share DNA with the embryo or child because the eggs that are fertilized are sourced from places other than the surrogate. This means that although the surrogate carries the embryo inside their body, they don’t share DNA or blood.

Thus, the child born out of gestational surrogacy is not related to the surrogate, though the surrogate may feel a special relationship with the child, having carried them during pregnancy.

However, if the surrogate also provides the eggs to be fertilized in a lab, the surrogate would share DNA with the child. Because surrogacy is a complicated legal matter, it is likely that the surrogate, even though related to the child, does not have a legal relationship with the child. 

If you wonder if the child will look like the surrogate, it depends on the relationship of the surrogate to the child. If they provided eggs for IVF, then the child might look like the surrogate. However, if the surrogate is a gestational surrogate, then the child won’t look like them because they don’t share any DNA.

Throughout surrogacy, you may wonder, “What will the child look like?” Because surrogates don’t share DNA with the children, the children won’t look like their surrogates.

Who Pays for the Surrogate’s Medical Bills?

Childbirth is an expensive medical process, so it is reasonable to wonder about who pays for the surrogate’s medical bills of a surrogate after birth. Though surrogacies can vary, in general, the surrogacy agency pays the medical bills of the surrogate, but these costs are paid out of the fees charged to the intended family.

As seen above, a surrogate undergoes a lot of medical procedures, from prenatal care to embryo transfer to the delivery of the child. Those considering surrogacy should know that if they use a surrogacy agency, they won’t be responsible for medical bills.

Can You Get Pregnant After Being a Surrogate?

Yes, being a surrogate does not typically inhibit a woman’s ability to conceive or carry a pregnancy in the future. After the recovery period post-delivery, the surrogate’s fertility should revert to its pre-surrogacy state. However, every woman’s body and circumstances are unique, so it’s always recommended to consult with a healthcare provider or fertility expert when planning future pregnancies.

If you want more information about surrogacy and the medical bills, you should contact us!