Gestational Carriers
Third Party Reproduction Program
Third party parenting is when there is the involvement of a third person (outside the couple) to create a baby. You may know this by the old term “surrogacy”, a woman who carries and delivers a baby for an infertile couple. We now refer to these women as “gestational carriers”. There are a few reasons why this method would be used:
- The woman does not have a uterus, due to uterine cancer or has uterine abnormalities.
- Gay male couples or single men who wish to become parents.
- The woman has had several recurrent miscarriages.
- The woman has had recurrent failed IVF cycles.
- A medical reason why pregnancy might be inadvisable.
There are several ways to participate in this program, including: egg donation, sperm donation, and IVF (in vitro fertilization) with gestational carrier.
A gestational carrier agrees to carry the child of another woman (or of a gay male couple) by providing the “host” uterus for the offspring. She does not contribute the genetic material, i.e. she is not the egg provider. The gestational carrier and the intended mother’s (donor’s) cycles are synchronized in a standard IVF cycle. The intended mother’s (or donor’s) eggs are fertilized with the sperm of the intended mother’s partner (or donor) through in vitro fertilization. Three to five days after egg retrieval, the embryos are replaced with a catheter into the recipient’s uterus. Once pregnant, the gestational carrier is maintained on our post IVF protocol of medications for the first trimester.
Monterey Bay IVF can refer our patients to reputable surrogacy agencies that will assist them in selecting a gestational carrier. Some intended parents may have a relative or friend who is willing to become the carrier, whom we refer to as a “known gestational carrier”. All carriers must be between the ages of 21 and 40, have a history of having achieved pregnancy, have a physical exam, and have infectious disease testing. The partner/spouse is also required to be tested for infectious diseases. Our IVF coordinator, Karen Warfield, will facilitate the process for both the carrier and intended parent(s).
Together with our patients, we have had many pleasant, fulfilling experiences with our program. In all cases, the children resulting from third party parenting are indeed very special.
California Is Surrogacy Friendly
Our state is considered by many to have the strongest laws in the country regarding gestational carriers. The current law essentially states that intended parents in an assisted reproduction arrangement, whether or not biologically related to the resulting child, should be declared the legal parent of the resulting child.
On January 1, 2013, California became the first jurisdiction in the world to legislate away discrimination in its definition of a parent. In this case single parents and LGBT parental rights are solidified in our state. In a recent blog by the American Fertility Association, the bill which they had a hand in drafting, is explained. An excerpt: “California Family Code Section 7690(c) provides, in its entirety, that an “Intended Parent” is “an individual, married or unmarried, who manifests the intent to be legally bound as the parent of a child resulting from assisted reproduction.” By defining “Intended Parent” as an “individual” whether “married or unmarried,” California has become the first jurisdiction in the world to legislatively shatter the traditional conceptions of who a parent is….The new definition of who an intended parent is breaks the status quo. Now, by codifying the seemingly benign phrase “whether married or unmarried,” same-sex couples and single individuals will now be afforded the same rights and protections as their married, heterosexual counterparts.”
An excellent infographic is available from Resolve gestational-surrogacy-infographic.
Reputable agencies located in California include:
Center for Surrogate Parenting, Inc. www.creatingfamilies.com
Conceptual Options www.conceptualoptions.com
Embrace Surrogacy www.embracesurrogacy.com
Extraordinary Conceptions www.extraconceptions.com
Growing Generations www.growinggenerations.com
A Perfect Match www.aperfectmatch.com
West Coast Surrogacy, Inc. www.westcoastsurrogacy.com
Surrogate Alternatives www.affordablesurrogacy.com
Fertility Bridges www.fertilitybridges.com
Three Sisters Surrogacy www.3sisterssurrogacy.com
Modern Family Surrogacy Center www.modernfamilysurrogacy.com
Agency For Surrogacy Solutions www.agency4solutions.com
Out of State Surrogacy & Egg Donor Agencies:
Family Journeys International www.familyjourneysintl.com
Simple Surrogacy www.simplesurrogacy.com
