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IVF surrogacy is a modern fertility option that helps intended parents grow their families with the help of a gestational carrier. Through in vitro fertilization (IVF), an embryo created from the intended parents’ or donors’ egg and sperm is implanted into a surrogate, who then carries the pregnancy.
This process has made parenthood possible for many individuals and couples who are unable to conceive or carry a child on their own.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what IVF surrogacy is, how it works, who qualifies, and what to expect from start to finish.
What Is IVF Surrogacy?
IVF surrogacy is a form of gestational surrogacy where an embryo (created from the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors) is transferred to a surrogate who carries the pregnancy.
Unlike traditional surrogacy, the surrogate in IVF surrogacy has no genetic connection to the baby, which helps simplify the legal process and create a clear path to parenthood for intended families.
People commonly turn to IVF surrogacy when:
- They are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy safely
- They’ve experienced repeated IVF failures or miscarriages
- Same-sex male couples need both an egg donor and a surrogate
- A medical condition makes pregnancy too risky for the intended mother
This approach combines advanced reproductive technology with a compassionate and supported journey to help more people grow their families.
How Does IVF Surrogacy Work?
IVF surrogacy involves a series of steps that bring together medical preparation, legal planning, and ongoing support to help grow a family. Here's how the process works from start to finish.
Consultation and Matching
The journey begins with a consultation at a fertility clinic or surrogacy agency. Medical professionals review health histories, and coordinators gather information about preferences for the ideal match.
After screening, intended parents and surrogates get matched based on compatibility, values, and expectations.
At Hatch, our matching team works closely with surrogates and intended parents to curate the best possible match based on the preferences of each party. Don't worry, if it's not a perfect match, each party has the choice to continue searching for the relationship they desire.
Legal Agreements
Both parties work with separate legal counsel to draft and sign a surrogacy agreement. This contract defines responsibilities, outlines financial terms, and establishes parental rights.
Everyone reviews and signs the agreement before starting any medical treatments.
IVF Cycle Preparation
The fertility clinic creates embryos by combining eggs and sperm from the intended parents or donors. Meanwhile, the surrogate starts a cycle of fertility medications (usually estrogen and progesterone) to prepare the uterus for embryo transfer.
Every time you go to the IVF doctor and/or the monitoring clinic (if your IVF clinic is far from your home) you will likely have a vaginal ultrasound and they will draw your blood to test your hormone levels. There are typically 3-5 visits in total throughout the duration of IVF treatment.
At the beginning of the IVF cycle, surrogates receive a shipment containing an IVF calendar and fertility medications. This IVF calendar will cover everything you need to know about the following:
- Medication instructions
- When to schedule cycle monitoring appointments
- Your tentative embryo transfer date
When you receive your shipment of IVF medications, make sure you have everything you need. Check the medications you’ve received with the packing slip and your IVF calendar. If you’re unsure or have questions, please let your clinical coordinator at your IVF clinic and your coordinator at Hatch know as soon as possible.
Here's an example of your IVF calendar. Note that medications and timing will be tailored to your unique treatment plan:
As a gestational surrogate, you'll also need to continue checking your medication supply weekly to ensure that you always have enough medication and unopened backups of medication that will be continued after the embryo transfer takes place.
Embryo Transfer
Once the surrogate’s body is ready, the clinic performs the embryo transfer. A fertility specialist places the embryo into the uterus during a quick, non-surgical procedure.
Afterward, the surrogate follows post-transfer care instructions and continues taking supportive medications to help with implantation.
If you’re preparing for your first embryo transfer as a surrogate, don’t worry -- you’ll be in the most experienced hands. The embryo transfer will occur three to five days after the intended mothers' or donors' egg retrieval, or longer if the intended parents are using frozen embryos.
As you prepare for your embryo transfer, make sure you:
- Organize and take your medications routinely. Ask your doctor if you should take over-the-counter medications and supplements, like Vitamin D.
- Stock up on self-care and entertainment (but avoid chemicals such as endocrine disruptors).
- Consider holistic therapies. Acupuncture, yoga, and massage can improve pregnancy rates by up to 65% in women undergoing IVF treatments.
- Get plenty of rest and relaxation before and after.
- Avoid extreme temperatures against your abdomen and uterus. This can deregulate your reproductive system and impact your embryo transfer’s success.
- Eat a high-fat, low-carb diet to reduce inflammation throughout your body, G.I. tract, and reproductive system.
- Avoid chemical products found in nail polish, some shampoos, cleaning supplies, and more.
- Plan ahead the day before your transfer procedure by packing a bag, picking what time to leave, and anything else you might need.
- Come with a full bladder. Drink plenty of water for the ultrasound-guided transfer!
For more specific information about how to best prepare for your embryo transfer, talk to your reproductive endocrinologist.
While doing the above cannot totally ensure you a successful conception and pregnancy, have faith and trust in your fertility doctors. You’re in capable, experienced hands, and it’s important to have trust in the process!
Embryo Transfer Procedure
When your body and the embryo are ready for the embryo transfer, you'll undergo a very simple procedure without anesthesia. Most often the procedure takes 15 minuets or less. The embryos are microscopic, and the transfer uses a speculum and a guided vaginal ultrasound to guide the catheter to implant the embryos.
After the procedure, you'll need to rest at the doctor’s office for about 20 minutes. When you leave, you’ll be advised to continue bed rest at home or at a nearby hotel, depending on how far away you reside.
The bedrest following the embryo transfer is one to three days, depending on the doctor’s protocol. Your partner is welcome at the transfer. After the transfer, it’s important to keep your activities quiet and light to help implantation.
For surrogates outside of California, you may need to travel for the embryo transfer. If this is the case, your travel expenses will be fully covered by the intended parents, and you'll receive allowances for your stay.
Pregnancy Confirmation
About two weeks after the transfer, the surrogate takes a blood test to confirm pregnancy. If the result is positive, the fertility clinic provides early pregnancy care and monitoring.
Although it’s tempting to take a pregnancy test a few days after your embryo transfer, try to abstain -- fertility clinics strongly recommend you wait the typical two-week period to ensure that you receive accurate results and can manage the emotions that are normal during this process.
Clinics recommend a two-week wait because taking a pregnancy test too soon after the embryo transfer often produce false results. This happens because the hormone used to measure pregnancy within a pregnancy test, referred to as hCG, can vary in levels depending on your phase within the fertility journey. For instance, very early pregnancy often doesn’t result in much natural hCG production, causing you to get a distressing false-negative result.
Once your two weeks have passed, you can take your first pregnancy test after the embryo transfer. To get a more accurate reading, your fertility clinic will book an appointment two weeks after the transfer to perform a blood test to determine the pregnancy result.
If the pregnancy was successful, the surrogate transitions to a regular OB-GYN for routine prenatal care around week 10, and the journey toward delivery continues.
Surrogate IVF Success Rates
The surrogacy success rate of a qualified surrogate candidate undergoing IVF is as high as 75% and increases to about 95% once the surrogate is pregnant. At Hatch, we are proud of our 99%+ success rate, ensuring intended parents go home with a baby when pursuing family via surrogacy.
Who Qualifies for IVF Surrogacy?
IVF surrogacy requires specific qualifications to protect the health and well-being of everyone involved, especially the surrogate and the baby. That’s why fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies follow strict medical, legal, and ethical standards to determine eligibility.
Intended Parent Qualifications
Intended parents may choose IVF surrogacy for many reasons, including medical challenges, prior pregnancy loss, or family-building as a same-sex couple.
While requirements vary by agency or clinic, most intended parents must:
- Complete a psychological screening
- Meet with an attorney to understand legal obligations
- Show financial readiness to support the surrogacy process
- Provide medical records (if using their own genetic material)
Legal factors, like marital status or state laws, can also influence your eligibility.
Surrogate Qualifications
Surrogates must meet clear health and lifestyle requirements to move forward with IVF. Agencies and clinics typically require surrogates to:
- Be between 21 and 42 years old
- Have given birth to at least one child
- Have a healthy pregnancy and delivery history
- Have a BMI between 19 and 32
- Live in a surrogacy-friendly state
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
- Be financially stable and not dependent on public assistance
- Pass medical, psychological, and background screenings
- Be non-smokers and abstain from drugs and alcohol
These criteria help ensure the surrogate can safely carry a pregnancy and handle the physical and emotional responsibilities that come with it.
Become a Surrogate with Hatch Fertility
Are you interested in making intended parents' dreams come true? If you are considering becoming a surrogate, look no further. Hatch is recognized as one of the best agencies in the United States, serving families across the world.
Hatch surrogates can expect top-tier compensation while receiving unwavering support every step of the way. Our team has either been a surrogate or intended parent themselves, so we deeply understand what you are going through. Hatch also has an in-house clinic, offering medical fertility expertise.
Still wondering why Hatch? Take our surrogate's words for it. Here we are passionate about family and welcome you to be part of it. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have throughout this time!
