Whether you are an intended parent or a prospective surrogate, you might be asking, “Where can I find a gestational surrogacy agency?” Our answer: nearly anywhere. Surrogacy professionals in the U.S. almost exclusively complete gestational surrogacies because traditional surrogacies are risky and complex.

Gestational surrogacy is the most common type of surrogacy pursued today. It’s a path that has helped many people realize their dreams of parenthood that seemed otherwise impossible. You can contact us online at any time if you have questions as you’re reading along. We would love to help you out in any way that we can. In the meantime, learn more about gestational surrogacy in this detailed guide.

Gestational Surrogacy Definition [What Does It Mean?]

Gestational surrogacy is when the child does not have any biological ties to the surrogate. In this case, the surrogate is often known as the gestational carrier. This is because the gestational surrogacy process uses in vitro fertilization (IVF). It’s a procedure that combines the intended parents’ (and/or third-party donors’) eggs and sperm, which creates an embryo and then transfers that embryo to the surrogate.

Some other terms for gestational surrogacy include “host surrogacy” and “full surrogacy.” Keep in mind that the surrogate has no genetic relation to the baby. In most cases, at least one intended parent does, and sometimes both do. This makes the gestational surrogacy process much simpler when compared to something like traditional surrogacy. Unlike traditional surrogacy, there is no need for the surrogate to terminate parental rights or for a stepparent adoption to take place (in most states and situations).

In terms of the types of intended parents who typically work with gestational surrogate agencies, here are some examples:

• Same-sex couples
• People with a history of infertility
• Single parents
• People who cannot carry a pregnancy safely to term
• People who want to share a biological tie with their child

How Does Gestational Surrogacy Work? [The Gestational Surrogacy Process Explained]

Although no two surrogacies are the same, the process of gestational surrogacy can be broken down into a handful of digestible steps. The vast majority of surrogacies in the U.S. today are gestational, so many of the best surrogacy agencies have optimized their process to give you the smoothest experience possible.

From a general standpoint, gestational surrogacy involves:

• Finding intended parents or a prospective surrogate
• Completing the legal paperwork
• Transferring the embryo to the gestational carrier

Intended parents can either pursue an independent surrogacy and find a prospective surrogate on their own or work with a gestational carrier agency. Most people choose the latter path so that the gestational surrogacy agency can do all the heavy lifting. The best gestational surrogacy agency will help you find the perfect match and take all your preferences into account.

After you have found a match, both parties will work with a reputable surrogacy attorney to ensure that everything is handled in a legal and ethical fashion. They will also discuss surrogacy compensation for the gestational carrier. Once the legalities have been approved, it’s time for the IVF process, which will happen in one of the following ways:

• The fertility clinic will use the intended parents’ eggs and sperm, meaning that both parents will be biologically related to the child.
• The fertility clinic will use an intended father’s sperm and a donated egg, meaning that only one intended parent will be biologically related to the child.
• The fertility clinic will use an intended mother’s eggs and donated sperm, meaning that only one intended parent will be biologically related to the child.
• The fertility clinic will use donated eggs and sperm to create an embryo, meaning that neither of the intended parents will be biologically related to the child.

Once the clinic has created the embryo, it’s time for the gestational surrogate pregnancy. The embryo will be transferred to the surrogate, and they will carry the pregnancy to term. Keep in mind that the overall process will vary depending on your state’s surrogacy laws. Be sure to speak with your surrogacy professional so they can explain how gestational surrogacy works for your situation.

Benefits of Gestational Surrogacy

There is a reason that most intended parents and prospective surrogates alike choose gestational surrogacy. There are many benefits that make it an appealing choice. We’ve put together a list of some of those advantages below:

• The gestational surrogacy process is legally safer than other types of surrogacy. Because the baby has no genetic ties to the surrogate, it is not as legally complicated as traditional surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate still has parental rights, and they have the power to keep the baby after delivery. In gestational surrogacy, though, the surrogate does not have parental rights because they are not the biological mother.
• Most states and professionals allow gestational surrogacy. This makes it easier to find the best gestational surrogacy agencies that will ensure as stress-free a journey as possible. In turn, this also means that gestational surrogacy is legally safer and simpler than its traditional counterpart.
• Gestational surrogacy allows people to realize their parenting dreams. For instance, LGBTQ+ couples, infertile couples and single parents can choose surrogacy and become parents. Through this path, people can chase what at first didn’t seem possible, and that is beautiful.
• Intended parents and prospective surrogates can forge a meaningful bond. The gestational carrier process can tie surrogates and intended parents together in a deep, significant way. Many intended parents maintain a close relationship with their child’s surrogate and develop a lasting connection.
• Gestational surrogacy is emotionally safer than traditional surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the gestational carrier is genetically related to the child and has parental rights, which can lead to emotional complications. When you choose gestational surrogacy, you won’t have to worry about either of these things, giving intended parents and the surrogate greater peace of mind.

How to Find a Gestational Surrogacy Agency

Searching for the best gestational surrogacy agencies can be overwhelming. So, we put together a brief list of professionals that can handle your gestational surrogacy, whether you are an intended parent or a prospective surrogate:

• American Surrogacy
• Circle Surrogacy
• Growing Generations
• Creating Families
• Simple Surrogacy

If you have any more questions about gestational surrogacy, then please don’t hesitate to contact us online today to get more surrogacy information. We look forward to hearing from you!