Surrogacy Challenges

Gestational surrogacy is an arrangement in which a person carries a pregnancy for another person or couple. The gestational carrier undergoes the transfer of an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the egg and sperm of the intended parent(s) and/or a donor. The gestational carrier does not contribute eggs to the creation of the embryos and therefore is not genetically related to the child.

Gestational surrogacy is right for families who do not have a prospective parent with a uterus who is willing or able to carry a pregnancy to term.

Some examples:

• A prospective parent has eggs from a fertility preservation, but is unable or does not want to carry a pregnancy.

• Two partners both produce sperm and would like one them to be the genetic parent of their child.

There are many contributing factors that affect the cost of surrogacy, including:

• Using a known surrogate or an agency

• Using your own genetic material or a donor

• Care and complications such as multiple IVF cycles and twins

• Legal challenges concerning parental rights

We provide you the resources to understand the total expected costs involved in your surrogacy journey and reliable experts to guide you throughout.

You will make many choices when it comes to gestational surrogacy, but the first you must make are whether to use a known surrogate or a surrogacy agency.

A known surrogate can be a friend, family member, acquaintance and is also known as an altruistic surrogate.

A compensated surrogate is a surrogate you will be connected through via a surrogacy agency. The agencies we work with are sensitive to each family’s unique needs, and will find you a surrogate who is excited to help you have a child.

A surrogacy attorney can help you navigate all of the legal considerations that are unique to your circumstances. In the state of Pennsylvania, compensated gestational surrogacy is legal, and up to two parents can get a pre-birth order to be listed on the birth certificate, regardless of their gender, marital status, or genetic connection to the child. However, courts in individual counties can exercise a challenge to these legal rights, which may take several court visits to resolve.