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becoming a surrogate

Compensation | Application

Below please find information on ProLiviti's requirements to be a Surrogate Mother in our Program as well as information on types of surrogacy.

ProLiviti’s Preliminary requirements for being a Surrogate Mother:

  • Be between the ages of 21-40
  • Must have a High School Education
  • Must not be on Public Assistance
  • Do not take Illegal Drugs or smoke
  • Have never been convicted of a crime
  • Be height/weight proportionate
  • Have at least one child and be raising that child
  • Must Live in the United States
Types of Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy is accomplished through In Vitro Fertilization / EmbryoTransfer ("IVF/ET"), a process whereby eggs are retrieved from the recipient or a donor and fertilized with the sperm of the recipient's father. The resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus of the Surrogate.

The Surrogate will generally take birth control pills to align her cycle with that of the Recipient or Egg Donor. At the appropriate time, she will begin taking Lupron to suppress ovulation, estrogen to prepare her uterine lining for embryo implantation and pregnancy, and a few days prior to the embryo transfer she will begin taking progesterone to help nourish the baby and maintain the pregnancy during the first trimester. During this time, her hormone levels will be monitored by blood tests and the development of her uterine lining will be monitored by ultrasound. Three to five days following fertilization of the Intended Mother's (or Donor's) eggs, a specified number of embryos are placed into the Surrogate’s uterus. This is a painless procedure, which takes only a few minutes. After the embryo transfer, the Surrogate will remain at the clinic for an hour or two. When she returns home, she will generally have 2-3 days bedrest, and two weeks later blood tests show if she is pregnant.

It is important for Surrogates to know that they will need to take injections. Lupron is given by subcutaneous injection with a very small needle. There are a variety of methods of administration of supplemental estrogen and progesterone, including oral, patches, suppositories and intramuscular injections. The means of administration will be determined by the clinic.

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy is accomplished through Artificial Insemination ("AI"), where the sperm of the recipient "Intended Father" (or a Sperm Donor, if the recipient's sperm is not viable), is placed into the vaginal canal or directly into the uterus (Intrauterine Insemination, or "IUI") of the Surrogate. With this type of surrogacy, because the Surrogate will use her own eggs, she will have a biological tie to the baby she conceives.

The Surrogate will meet with the physician to monitor her cycle, during which she will typically have one or more ultrasounds to monitor follicle development and her uterine lining. Medications may or may not be used, based upon the physician’s protocol and recommendations as well as the parties’ agreement. An ovulation predictor kit will be used to determine when a LH (luteinizing hormone) surge has occurred. Ovulation will generally occur 25-35 hours after the surge. When the ovulation predictor test is positive, the Surrogate will return to the fertility clinic for the insemination. Most often, the clinic will perform IUI (Intrauterine Insemination), depositing the semen directly into the uterus, thus bypassing potentially hostile vaginal secretions. Frequently, more than one insemination will be performed. Approximately two weeks later, a blood test or urine test will determine whether the Surrogate is pregnant.

Immediately following confirmation of pregnancy, a Traditional Surrogate may see the obstetrician of her choice.