Discover how we help candidates for gestational surrogacy take the next step towards parenthood

Tennessee infertility doctors at our clinic help patients determine if they are candidates for gestational surrogacy. This process involves fertility tests, such as an ultrasound for women and sperm test for men, and learning more about who can benefit from surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy can be an effective path to parenthood for women who are unable to carry a pregnancy, as well as for single men and same-sex male couples.

Gestational surrogates are generally healthy women between the ages of 21 and 45 who undergo screening for general, reproductive, genetic and psychological health, in addition to testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Candidates for gestational surrogacy and disqualifying health issues

There are a variety of circumstances that could make someone ineligible to be a candidate for gestational surrogacy. These circumstances often relate to a person’s reproductive health, or issues with their overall health.

• The absence of a uterus
• Structural abnormalities in the uterus
• Past pregnancy complications, such as placenta abruption or placenta accreta
• A history of repeat pregnancy loss, and in particular, a loss related to preterm labor due to an incompetent cervix
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• A heart condition
• Diabetes
• History of an organ transplant
• History of certain forms of cancer
• Women of advanced maternal age are sometimes candidates for gestational surrogacy

Our Tennessee infertility doctors support patients in determining if reproductive or general health circumstances make them candidates for gestational surrogacy.

When patients who can benefit from surrogacy elect to move forward with this process, our clinic connects them with reputable surrogacy agencies.

Learn more about next steps for those who can benefit from surrogacy

After selecting an ideal gestational surrogate, the process of IVF with a gestational surrogate can begin. Our clinic walks hopeful parents through each step of this process.

Ovulation induction. The cycle begins with the female patient or egg donor taking injectable ovulation induction medications that cause numerous eggs to mature.

Monitoring. Throughout the time a woman is taking ovulation medications, she regularly receives ultrasounds and blood tests at our clinic. This monitoring provides helpful information about how the woman is responding to the medications.

Egg retrieval. When her eggs reach an ideal size, the woman injects a medication that prepares the eggs for retrieval. About 35 to 36 hours later, one of our Tennessee infertility doctors retrieves the eggs during a short procedure.

Fertilization. Following the egg retrieval, an embryologist fertilizes the eggs with sperm from the woman’s partner or a sperm donor, or from the single male patient or a partner in a same-sex male couple. Ideally, numerous healthy embryos result.

Embryo transfer. After working with the patients and IVF lab to select an embryo, the doctor transfers the embryo into the uterus of the gestational surrogate. Leading up to the transfer, the surrogate takes medication to prepare the lining of her uterus for the embryo.

Pregnancy test. About two weeks after the embryo transfer, the surrogate takes a pregnancy test at our clinic.

With our support, many patients fulfill the dream of pregnancy through surrogacy.

Contact us for more information about who can benefit from surrogacy.