Gestational Carriers and Embryo Adoption

Surrogacy for pregnancy and gestational carriers seem to often be a trending topic online. We all know that social media can be a source of very helpful connections and information, but it is not always the best source of truth.

Here are some of the myths surrounding surrogacy/gestational carriers and embryo adoption that we have heard that we want to clear up!

• MYTH: A “gestational carrier” is the same as a “surrogate”
  • If a woman is a “surrogate”, that means that she is biologically related to the baby she is carrying. A “gestational carrier” does not share any genetics with the baby she carries. In embryo adoption, if the adopting mother is not carrying the child herself, then they will utilize a “gestational carrier” because there is no genetic link between the embryo and the woman carrying the baby.

• MYTH: You can save fees by using the DIY method to find a gestational carrier
  • When considering the gestational carrier option, the cost can be prohibitive unless you happen to know someone who is willing to be a surrogate on your behalf. Even then the costs can be high, and this is not an area where saving money should be the biggest priority.
• MYTH: I need to adopt embryos before the gestational carrier agreement is drafted by an attorney.
  • It is important that the details of the gestational carrier agreement be settled before an embryo adoption match is made. Be sure to find a local family law attorney who is skilled in the field of assisted reproductive technology. The agreement between the embryo adopting family and the gestational carrier needs to include details such as:
    • Willingness to travel to the appropriate clinic for the frozen embryo transfer(s)
    • Details on how many transfers the gestational carrier is comfortable with
    • Confirmation that the carrier has been screened to carry a pregnancy
    • The fine points of how many embryos the gestational carrier is comfortable with transferring at any one time
• MYTH: What my acquaintance in Texas knows about gestational carriers and how to navigate the process must apply to me in Florida.
  • Be really careful here. The laws surrounding surrogacy and gestational carrying are very specific and vary different from state to state.

If you are considering embryo adoption using a gestational carrier, be encouraged. Families have managed this in the past without issue…just be aware that there are still a few important things to consider and plan for.

You can learn more about Embryo Adoption on our website. See more details on gestational carriers on pages 30-31 of our Embryo Donation and Adoption FAQ Booklet.