Gestational surrogacy is a type of ART(Assisted Reproductive Treatment) that involves a third party carrying the Intended Parents’ baby. This is accomplished through in vitro fertilization or IVF.
Several important steps are legally required for any gestational surrogacy agreement in the US. Surrogate medications, which are taken in preparation for the IVF embryo transfer, are a vital step of this process. A surrogate will also be monitored as she takes several preparatory medications.
In this article, we will discuss surrogacy medications and how to navigate this portion of your journey. If you have any questions about specifics, please get in touch with our team—we’re here to support you.
What are Surrogacy Medications?
As an applicant, surrogate medications might seem confusing. After all, all eligible surrogates already have been pregnant and given birth, likely without taking any of these medications. Why now?
Surrogacy medications are necessary because these pregnancies do not happen “naturally.” They involve a clinically fertilized egg and an implantation procedure. Because of this distinction, certain steps must be taken to prepare the surrogate’s uterus to accept the implanted fertilized embryo. This is where surrogacy medications come in!
Surrogate medications will come with a specific dosing schedule, which is crucial to follow as instructed. This allows for better chances of a successful IVF procedure.
While the process and preparation for surrogacy are unique, surrogates will find this part of pregnancy pretty familiar. For instance, any side effects she had with her own children while pregnant will likely return during a surrogate pregnancy.
Can a Surrogate Carry Her Own Embryo?
Not legally. In the US (and most of the world), only gestational surrogacy is legal. In these agreements, surrogates have no biological ties to the baby they carry. The eggs used are either from an intended parent or egg donor. These embryos are fertilized in a clinical laboratory ahead of the surrogate’s IVF implantation procedure.
What are the Most Common Surrogate Medications?
Surrogacy medications can vary depending on the clinic and fertility doctor. The most common surrogate medications include forms of birth control, estrogen and progesterone. These medications are largely hormone-based and are administered either orally, intramuscularly or with suppositories. Many surrogates also take leuprolide, baby aspirin and supplements like prenatal vitamins and folic acid.
Like the doses itself, the timeline of surrogacy medications will depend on a variety of factors. After pregnancy is confirmed, a surrogate may be told to continue with her estrogen and progesterone for several more weeks. At this point, the pregnancy will start to produce its own hormones, and the surrogate can wean herself off the medications per her doctor’s orders.
Why Are Surrogates Screened?
While taking surrogate medications, candidates will also regularly visit their IVF clinic to be screened and monitored. These visits help ensure that candidates are responding well to their surrogacy medications. The specifics of these appointments will depend on the surrogate’s circumstances and the clinic’s regulations. They often involve blood work or an ultrasound.
The medication and monitoring portion of the surrogate process begins a few weeks before the scheduled transfer. The exact specifics of this process will be different for every surrogate; while IVF is a standard procedure, every clinic has its own protocol.
All Of Your Questions About Surrogate Medication, Answered
It’s natural to have questions about surrogacy mediation — and we’re here to provide answers. We have nearly 20 years of experience helping families come together through the helping hands of surrogacy, we have the passion, understanding and contacts necessary for a smooth and special surrogacy experience.
The Extraordinary Conceptions team is multilingual, empathetic and has lived experience with surrogacy. We understand it takes a village to create a family—we’ve been there! It’s an honor to be a part of your story.
