Gestational Carrier Program
If you or your partner are unable to carry a pregnancy, the Gestational Carrier Program at ٺƵ Fertility Center can work with you and a woman of your choosing who serves as a surrogate and brings the pregnancy to term.
Gestational carriers, also known as gestational surrogates, are often used when cancer or other medical conditions have affected your uterus or ability to carry a pregnancy to term. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, including gay and transgender men and their partners, surrogacy is frequently an important part of the process for building a family.
There are two types of gestational carriers: non-compensated and compensated. The Fertility Center provides embryo transfers for both types of carriers at our Manhattan location.
An individual or their partner may contribute the eggs or sperm used in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. We can also facilitate the use of donor sperm through a New York state–licensed sperm bank or refer you to our Egg Donor Program for the procurement of frozen eggs.
Screening tests, required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), must be completed on the sperm and egg source before an embryo is created and transferred into the uterus of a gestational carrier. Screening involves a physical exam of the sperm donor and the egg donor, blood tests for communicable diseases, and a questionnaire regarding each donor’s medical and social history. The gestational carrier receives a physical exam and testing. She must be in good health, able to carry a pregnancy to term, and meet other medical and legal requirements.
After FDA screening and testing of donors and the surrogate, embryos are created through IVF. The resulting embryos from this IVF cycle are frozen and stored until they are ready for implantation. You may choose to receive preimplantation genetic screening for the embryos at this time. Your fertility specialist completes the embryo transfer, and once pregnancy is confirmed, the surrogate continues her medical care with your selected maternal–fetal specialist and obstetrician.
Contact Us
To learn more about our Gestational Carrier Program, please contact one of our specialists or call the Fertility Center at 212-263-8990.