When you do not have a functioning uterus or have difficulty sustaining a pregnancy through term, you may opt to use a surrogate to carry your child. Gestational carriers undergo an embryo transfer procedure using your own egg (or donor eggs) fertilized by your partner's sperm (or a sperm donor). Since the embryos are created through IVF, your gestational carrier does not have any genetic link to your child.

Selecting the best possible candidate is purely your discretion. You may use a friend or relative to help you in this process. Based on our experience, and to minimize complications and high-risk pregnancies, we find that gestational carriers between 21 to 40 years old and have less than 4 deliveries are optimal. No history of C-section is preferred. She must also have a normal Body Mass Index (BMI). Any significant medical history for the carrier must be communicated to our physician so we can determine if she is a good candidate. This includes abortion and miscarriage histories.

New Hope Fertility Center will not be actively involved in the intended parent's search for a gestational carrier. We are only able to provide medical assistance in screening, preparing the embryos to be transferred, making sure that the intended parents have undergone the FDA-mandated donor screening, cycling the gestational carrier, and performing the embryo transfer. Any legal arrangements will have to be coursed through the surrogate agency/lawyer. It may take a few weeks to a few months to get matched to a gestational carrier that you will be comfortable with. All candidates must have given birth already, healthy, passed their background checks, and medical screening including psychological evaluation.