Intended parents considering surrogacy need time to educate themselves about the process, the professionals involved, legal requirements, costs, expected timeline, and other factors. Their decision typically requires significant research, thought, and planning. They also may be exploring other treatments, adoption, or child-free living as they weigh their options for building a family.
At CACRM, we respect that intended parents require time, information, and patience so they are confident about moving forward with this major decision.
Pursuing surrogacy requires making multiple important and consequential choices. In our experience, we have found that parents need to feel comfortable entrusting their pregnancy to a gestational carrier. Learning they need surrogacy may have been difficult emotionally. They also need to feel confident about the agency and clinic they select. After all, this is a significant life commitment.
Here are some questions parents should ask themselves:
Same-sex and single males know they will require a surrogate mother to have a biological child. Other intended parents usually have medical diagnoses for surrogacy requiring surrogacy or have undergone multiple failed IVF cycles.
Women unable to experience pregnancy and needing surrogacy may have one of these conditions:
Some women use surrogates because of work or professional obligations, which is known as social surrogacy.
Intended parents shall feel comfortable with the surrogate they select and the providers who will treat them and manage the process. Counseling is highly recommended for any intended parent(s) undergoing surrogacy.
Parents, especially prospective mothers, can be impacted by the perceived lack of control they might have during the pregnancy.
Asking questions and expressing your feelings to the surrogacy professionals you encounter can help alleviate concerns. Developing criteria for the type of relationship you want to have with your surrogate is also important.
CACRM advises prospective parents to do their due diligence to gain knowledge about the entire surrogacy process. Seek testimonials from previous patients of the providers you want to use. Read educational materials from professionals and patient advocacy associations such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Peruse websites, social media, and videos for trusted accounts and perspectives may help during the intended parent’s journey.
Surrogacy is a multi-step process requiring many professionals to make it as effective as possible. It may take more than one cycle of treatment to achieve success.
Parents should plan and gauge their expectations and finances accordingly. At CACRM, we have everyone who has inquiries about surrogacy meet with our financial coordinator for financial and treatment plans, and to discuss the cost of surrogacy. We strive to be transparent about this family-building financial investment as much as possible to help prepare for your surrogacy journey.
Surrogacy is an alluring service that will hopefully conclude with the birth of a child. The experience can be filled with joy, hopefulness, and challenges.
We are thrilled to help you navigate your entire time along this path. We have designed our unique physician-directed surrogacy program to streamline the surrogacy process and maximize your chances of success in as short a timeframe as possible.