MEDICAL PROCESS

With gestational surrogacy, intended parents can use the mother’s egg or a donor egg as well as the father’s sperm or donor sperm. With gestational surrogacy, the carrier has no biological tie to the embryo that is transferred to her during the in vitro fertilization cycle.

When using the intended mother’s egg and an anonymous sperm donor, the medical process is as follows:

FDA Testing of Intended Mother: The FDA requires the female genetic parent (referred to as a known or directed egg donor when using a gestational carrier) to undergo the following tests 30 days prior to retrieval:

1. HIV-1 antibody and NAT (or MPX)
2. HIV-2 antibody
3. HIV group O antibody
4. Hepatitis C antibody and NAT (or MPX)
5. Hepatitis B surface antigen
6. Hepatitis B core antibody (IgG and IgM)
7. Serologic test for syphilis (TP or RPR)
8. Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis NAT on urine or a swab

In the case of an anonymous sperm donor, the FDA testing that is required is done by the sperm bank from which the anonymous donor sperm was obtained.  The sperm bank will provide a Summary of Records and indicate the sperm is FDA eligible for use.

ASRM recommends testing the intended mother’s and anonymous sperm donor’s blood types and Rh factor along with gestatonal carrier’s blood type and Rh.  If there is the potential for Rh incompatibility, couples should be informed about the obstetric significance of this condition.

Ovarian Stimulation: On day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle, medication is prescribed to the intended mother to stimulate the growth of multiple follicles in her ovaries. During this time, follicular growth is monitored through ultrasound as they develop into eggs, and hormone levels are tracked through blood tests. Medication protocols are changed as needed. 36 hours before the scheduled egg retrieval, a trigger shot(s) is given to induce maturation of the eggs within a scheduled timeframe.

Egg Retrieval (OPU): Eggs are retrieved using a thin ultrasound-guided needle during a short procedure under sedation. The number of eggs retrieved from the intended mother depends on her body’s response to the medication.

Sperm Collection and Embryo Creation: On the day of egg retrieval, the anonymous donor sperm is thawed to fertilize the retrieved eggs.

Testing of Gestational Carrier: At Gift of Life Surrogacy, we require that gestational carriers and their partners (if applicable) undergo the following tests within 90 days of embryo transfer:

1. HIV-1 antibody as well as NAT (or MPX)
2. HIV-2 antibody
3. HIV group O antibody
4. Hepatitis C antibody and NAT (or MPX)
5. Hepatitis B surface antigen 1304
6. Hepatitis B core antibody (IgG and IgM)
7. Serologic test for syphilis (TP or RPR)
8. CMV (IgG and IgM)
9. Additional testing for the gestational carrier’s male partner (if applicable):

1. 1. HTLV-1 and HTLV-2
   2. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (IgG and IgM)

Embryo Transfer: Embryo transfer is a minor procedure. Following the procedure, the gestational carrier’s hormone levels are tracked through blood test to confirm pregnancy. Any fresh embryos that are not transferred to the gestational carrier may be frozen and used in a future cycle.