Surrogacy describes the relationship between a woman, who agrees to bear a child and another person(s) who will be the legal parent(s). A “gestational surrogate” describes a situation where the woman is not genetically related to the child and eggs or sperm either come from the intended parent(s) or a donor. A “traditional surrogate” refers to a woman who both provides the eggs and carries the pregnancy. Like most other fertility clinics in Canada, traditional surrogacy is not offered at NewLife Fertility. However, we have had many patients undergo IVF treatments with the help of gestational surrogates.
There are several reasons that a gestational surrogate may be used. Some serious medical conditions prevent a woman from getting pregnant or carrying a fetus to term or may cause harm to a woman or the fetus. Same-sex male couples may also require the services of a gestational surrogate to build their family.
In Canada, surrogacy must be altruistic. Under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act it is a criminal offense to pay, offer to pay or advertise payment for a surrogate mother. They may, however, be compensated for receipted expenses related to the pregnancy. Surrogates must be over the age of 21.
If your journey to parenthood includes gestational surrogacy, we recommend first contacting a lawyer and counselor experienced in assisted reproduction. Please go to our Patient Resources page for some recommendations.
Both surrogates and the Intended Parent(s) must undergo both medical and psychological screening.
At NewLife Fertility, we are committed to helping you complete your family and support surrogacy arrangements.
Who It Benefits
Gestational surrogacy can be used in the following situations:
- Single men who want to start a family
- Gay couples who want to start a family
- Women who are unable to safely carry a pregnancy
- Women without a uterus or with an abnormal uterus
- Individuals and couples who have been unsuccessful with previous fertility treatments and are suspected of having a problem with the uterus
First Steps
Women of advanced age, single men, and gay couples looking to create their families receive excellent support from our fertility team in the decision to connect with a gestational carrier. Our team will help you navigate the entire process, including finding a gestational carrier, finding legal guidance, locating and selecting donor eggs, and offering the world-class support and care you deserve.
You and your doctor will discuss and coordinate every detail, including which partner intends to donate sperm and undergo a semen analysis, review, and selection of an appropriate gestational carrier, and review and selection of a suitable egg donor.
In some instances, an individual or couple may ask a willing friend or family member to act as their gestational carrier. Often, patients rely on outside agencies to search for a suitable carrier.
The steps involved in a pregnancy carried out by a gestational carrier are very similar to those of a routine IVF cycle. The intended mother begins a routine of fertility drugs in order to produce multiple eggs. Her doctor then removes the eggs and combines them with either donor sperm or the intended father’s sperm for in-vitro fertilization.
The difference between regular IVF and IVF with a gestational carrier is that the selected embryos are transferred into the carrier’s uterus rather than the uterus of the intended mother.
What To Expect
Your fertility team at NewLife Fertility will guide you toward reputable agencies to help you connect with a gestational carrier. Following selection, your gestational carrier will receive care and monitoring at our clinic as you continue through the process.
Complete Counseling by our Experts
Prior to initiating a cycle of gestational carrier IVF, it is crucial that the intended parents, with their carrier, undergo medical, psychological, and legal counseling so that all parties are informed and in agreement.
Fertility Injections In Ontario
The intended mother receives fertility injections designed to cause her ovaries to produce several eggs. These eggs are then non-surgically removed and combined with sperm from the intended father.
Embryo Transfer Process In Ontario
Embryos are produced in the IVF laboratory. On the day of transfer, the selected embryos are placed into the gestational carrier’s uterus.
When a woman is not able to use her own eggs, or for same-sex male couples and single men, donor eggs may be used to create an embryo.
Selecting Donor Eggs
At NewLife Fertility, our long and extensive experience in egg donation will guide you through the process of selecting the best option for fresh or frozen eggs.
Selecting A Gestational Carrier
Your fertility team at NewLife Fertility will guide you toward reputable agencies to help you connect with a gestational carrier. Following selection, your gestational carrier will be able to receive care and monitoring at our clinic as you continue through the process.
Complete Counseling by our Experts
Prior to initiating a cycle of gestational carrier IVF, it is crucial that the intended parents, with their carrier, undergo medical, psychological, and legal counseling so that all parties are informed and in agreement.
Embryo Transfer
Embryos are produced with donor eggs in the IVF laboratory. On the day of transfer, the selected embryos are placed into the gestational carrier’s uterus.