Gestational Carrier

What is Gestational Carrier or Surrogacy IVF?

Sometimes it requires the help of another person in order to make your family complete. This is called third-party reproduction and it take a variety of forms depending on your infertility diagnosis and preferences.

If you’ve received an infertility diagnosis that requires third-party reproductive solutions, Surrogacy is one of the options that can significantly increase your chances of bringing a healthy newborn into the world.

IVF using a Gestational Carrier, also called Gestational Surrogate. Sometimes a woman is not able to carry a baby to term, whether it be for anatomical or medical reasons. The Intended Parent(s) can opt to undergo egg retrieval and IVF with a partner’s or donor’s sperm, after which a gestational carrier will undergo the Embryo Transfer procedure and carry the baby for her.
Traditional surrogacy. With traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is also the egg donor and intrauterine insemination (IUI) is used to inseminatethe surrogate with the father’s sperm, or donor sperm, depending on the situation.

What kind of medical screening is required?

Prior to beginning treatment, surrogates must be fully screened to ensure that there are no conditions present that could trigger complication during pregnancy.

The range of tests she must undergo includes

A careful medical and family history
A thorough physical examination
A psychological evaluation
Specific blood tests to exclude HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other diseases
Cervical cultures for organisms such as chlamydia and urea plasma that might interfere with a successful outcome
An evaluation of the uterus by hysteroscopy (in which a thin, telescope-like instrument is introduced into the uterus) to determine if anything might interfere with implantation
Blood tests for prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone
Blood testing of the surrogate’s partner for HIV, hepatitis, and other transmittable diseases

Besides the tests mentioned above, here’s the list of Gestational Carrier requirements:

Previous healthy pregnancy without complications
Must have no more than 5 previous pregnancies
Must be ages 21-39 (exceptions can be made)
BMI must be less than 29.5
Negative for Chronic Medical Problems
No history of infectious diseases (exceptions can be made if patient has good documentation and previous treatment)
Must have no more than 3 C-Sections
Must have healthy teeth and gums (gingivitis decreases pregnancy rates)
Normal endometrial lining and mid-cycle ultrasound 8mm or thicker
Must pass a psychological evaluation
Must pass a routine medical screening with a physical exam, hysteroscopy, practice embryo transfer, and endometrial biopsy that must be negative for CD138 inflammatory cells
Must provide previous pregnancy medical records for review
Must have intellectual ability to follow a complicated medication protocol
Must have documented immunity to rubella and varicella, or provide documentation of previous immunization

The intended parents may also be required to undergo tests if it has not already been confirmed that the woman has an adequate ovarian reserve and that there are no unidentified problems with sperm quality that could hinder success.

How to use a Gestational Carrier?

A Gestational Carrier (GC) is a form of surrogacy in which a woman becomes pregnant using an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) by a couple or individual who are unable to carry a pregnancy or carry a pregnancy safely to term.
Intended parents use their own sperm and eggs (or donated sperm and eggs) to create an embryo that is transferred to the GC’s uterus. The resulting child is genetically relatedto the intended parents (or donors) and is not genetically related to the gestational carrier.
Legal documents will be signed in advance identifying the intended parent(s) as the legal parents of the child.
A GC is an option for a woman who has a medical condition prohibiting her from carrying a pregnancy or fertility issues such as a uterine abnormality, recurrent miscarriage or previously failed IVF.
A GC, as well as an egg donor, is also used to assist single men or gay male couples wanting to build a family. 
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), an ideal gestational carrier is a healthy woman, 21-45 years old, who has already had a successful, uneventful pregnancy and has gone through extensive medical tests, including evaluation of the uterus and her general health.

Your Next Step:

Get your consultation time
by clicking the button below
or by calling 941-342-1568.