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Gestational Carrier Services

A surrogate can help build your family—and with our expert team guiding the way, you can collaborate with confidence.

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What is a gestational carrier (Surrogate)?

In surrogacy an embryo is placed into the uterus of a gestational carrier (also known as a surrogate) to carry the pregnancy. The gestational carrier usually isn’t genetically related to the child. Surrogacy can be a path to parenthood for male couples, transgender people, and patients who are unable to carry a pregnancy.


Los Angeles Reproductive Centerworks closely with a number of trusted surrogacy agencies and we’re here to help you through the surrogacy process from start to finish.

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How surrogacy works

Partnering with a gestational carrier is a deeply personal process. Once you have chosen a carrier, either independently or through a trusted surrogacy agency, there will be a thorough screening process and legal contracts before your cycle is scheduled.

If you and your partner will be using your own egg and sperm we will go through the process of egg retrieval and sperm collection to prepare an embryo for transfer into the gestational carrier’s uterus. In other instances where a donor egg, sperm, or both are being used, the same steps will occur to develop the embryos.

The embryos will grow in our lab for several days under careful observation, then the developed embryos will be frozen. During this time you may also elect to do additional genetic testing to determine if any of the embryos have genetic abnormalities.

The next step will involve the gestational surrogate undergoing a transfer cycle, which involves hormone-based medication, bloodwork and ultrasound monitoring, and eventually an embryo transfer.

The gestational carrier will continue hormonal medications through their first trimester until the placenta has matured and supplements are no longer required. For the remainder of the pregnancy, you, your gestational carrier, and your doctor will work together closely as a team to ensure the highest possible success for the pregnancy and health of both the baby and the carrier.

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Is using a gestational carrier right for me?

Your doctor will work closely with you to determine whether a gestational carrier is right for you. This can be an option for anyone who is unable to carry their own pregnancy. Reasons for this can include:


  • You are a man seeking single parenthood or a gay male couple
  • Difficult past pregnancies or personal issues that would make your pregnancy high risk if you carried it yourself
  • Recurrent miscarriage or multiple unsuccessful IVF cycles
  • You do not have a uterus or your uterus cannot support the pregnancy

Paying for gestational carrier services

Though coverage for fertility care varies widely by insurance plan, the good news is that you have options. We are committed to guiding you through your insurance benefits, out-of-pocket expenses, and other financing options every step of the way. With Los Angeles Reproductive Center you will never be in the dark about cost. Working with a surrogacy agency will come with separate costs, but we can assist in coordinating with their financial team so that you are always informed on the finances.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COSTS
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You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

We work with known gestational carriers, sometimes referred to as compassionate or independent gestational carriers, as well as surrogacy agencies. We recommend talking to your team about what option is right for you.

The genetics of the child will depend on the egg and sperm source. If you are using your own egg and/or sperm, the child will be genetically related to you. Many intended parents use their own eggs and sperm to develop the embryo that their surrogate will carry. In other cases, patients use donor eggs and/or donor sperm in addition to working with a surrogate. Whatever option you choose, we are here to support you every step of the way.

Your gestational carrier will continue to take hormonal supplements and we will help monitor the pregnancy for the first 10 weeks of the pregnancy. After that time, Los Angeles Reproductive Center will transfer your gestational carrier’s care and pregnancy monitoring to her chosen OB/GYN.

We see surrogates from outside of California. Surrogates can come from different states depending on the legislation of each state. We collaborate with many centers in and out of state and are accustomed to working with surrogates who live throughout the country to ensure the greatest level of care while minimizing travel.