Infertility to Surrogacy | American Surrogacy Blog

What Does Alabama’s IVF Ruling Mean for Surrogacy?

The Alabama Supreme Court’s recent IVF ruling has raised questions among intended parents in the state about whether their surrogacy journey will be affected.

On February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF can be considered children under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.

“…to all unborn children without limitation. And that includes unborn children who are not located in utero at the time they are killed.” Read more about the ruling.

Following the ruling, many fertility clinics in Alabama suspended IVF services until it is clear how the ruling would affect IVF patients, clinics and providers. Because IVF is a significant part of the surrogacy process, there have been concerns about how this ruling may affect those pursuing surrogacy in Alabama.

Below we’ll break down what you should know about IVF in Alabama following the ruling and how your journey may be affected.

This is an ongoing story that will be updated upon new developments.

The IVF Process for Surrogacy

IVF and surrogacy are both popular family building methods utilized by couples struggling with infertility, same-sex couples or single individuals who are ready to have a family.

In gestational surrogacy, a gestational carrier or surrogate carries and gives birth to a baby for the intended parents. Because of the role IVF plays in the surrogacy medical process, one or both parents can be biologically related to their child.

Embryo Creation

Intended parents create their embryos using their eggs and sperm or a donor’s. This process involves retrieving multiple eggs from the intended mother, or acquiring donor eggs, which are then fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a donor.

The egg retrieval portion of IVF makes up the bulk of the cost, which makes it more economical to create multiple embryos at once. If you tried conceiving through IVF before surrogacy, you may already have frozen embryos.

Embryo Transfer

One or more embryos are selected and then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus. Since her eggs are not used, the baby does not share DNA with the surrogate.

The first transfer doesn’t always take. Being able to freeze multiple embryos increases your chances of success.

How Does the Ruling Affect IVF and Surrogacy in Alabama?

The ruling did not ban IVF in Alabama nor mention surrogacy explicitly. However, it does set a precedent that IVF providers and patients could face criminal and civil penalties if unused embryos are destroyed.

Many times after an embryo transfer is successful and the parents do not intend to have another child, the unused embryos are discarded.

In the days following the ruling, the many fertility clinics in Alabama paused IVF services out of concern that staff and patients may face criminal or civil liabilities. In an attempt to resume IVF services, Alabama legislature approved bills that would legally protect IVF providers and fertility clinics.

What Can I Do With Leftover Embryos After IVF in Alabama?

When it’s confirmed that your surrogate is pregnant with your child, there’s a chance you will have unused frozen embryos. If you feel your family is complete but you are worried about the legal implications of frozen embryo disposal, you have two options:

You have two alternative options:

Indefinite storage: You have the option of keeping your embryos frozen indefinitely. If this is the route you take, you should be aware that it can become expensive over time. Fertility clinics might have a storage fee of $500-$1,000 a year.
Donation: You can donate your unused embryos to an infertile or gay couple, or an individual who intends to use surrogacy and/or IVF to grow their family. This can be done through an agency or your fertility clinic.

How We Can Help

If you want to grow your family through surrogacy in Alabama, we can provide you with the necessary support and resources for your journey.

All of our intended parents partner with an ART attorney when creating their surrogacy contract. Your attorney will be able to advise you on matters pertaining to how to handle your unused embryos.

If you are prepared to travel for your surrogacy journey, we can connect you with a fertility clinic in a nearby state such as Florida, Georgia or Tennessee.

If you have questions about IVF in Alabama and your journey to parenthood, we’re here for you. To get the support you need, fill out our easy form or call 1-800-875-2229.

You can also learn more about surrogacy from intended parents and surrogates on our Instagram.

The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified attorney or legal professional regarding specific legal matters related to in vitro fertilization (IVF).

4 Benefits of Using a Known Egg Donor

Using a known egg donor allows you to know more about your baby’s potential genetic makeup.

The process of finding the right egg donor in your surrogacy journey can be an emotional journey. With the growing popularity of using a known egg donor, anonymous egg donors are a thing of the past.

Now that DNA tests are readily available, more intended parents are exploring the possibilities and advantages of choosing a known egg donor over an anonymous one.

Below, we dive into the four key benefits of using a known egg donor and provide guidance on how to find the perfect fit.

To learn more about the surrogacy medical process, check out this article

1. Establishing a Personal Connection

One of the most significant advantages of using a known egg donor is the potential for establishing a personal connection. This choice allows you to foster a relationship with the donor, leading to a deeper understanding of their personality, values and beliefs.

Choosing a known egg donor can foster a sense of trust and ease, creating a more emotionally supportive environment throughout the process.

2. Comprehensive Knowledge of Medical History

Understanding the medical history of the egg donor can significantly impact the health and well-being of your child. Known egg donors provide you with a comprehensive insight into their family’s medical background, including any hereditary conditions or genetic predispositions.

This can help you prepare for any potential health challenges that may arise throughout your child’s life.

3. Shared Genetic Connection

Using a known egg donor can offer the unique benefit of establishing a shared genetic connection between the donor and the child. This shared genetic link can play a vital role in the child’s sense of identity and belonging, fostering a deeper understanding of their biological roots and heritage.

By choosing a known egg donor, you can ensure that your child has the opportunity to learn about their biological origins and family medical history, fostering a sense of connection and understanding. This knowledge enables them to develop a comprehensive understanding of their identity, promoting a stronger sense of self-awareness and emotional well-being as they grow and navigate their own personal journey.

4. Openness to Future Communication

Unlike the anonymity associated with traditional egg donation, choosing a known egg donor allows for the possibility of open communication in the future.

This openness can facilitate a healthy and transparent relationship, enabling your child to have access to information about their biological origins and potentially establish a meaningful connection with the donor later in life.

How to Find a Known Egg Donor

Finding a known egg donor involves careful consideration and planning. Here are some practical steps to help you navigate the process:

Work with a fertility clinic or agency that specializes in known egg donor arrangements.
Network within your community and reach out to friends, family or acquaintances who may be willing to serve as an egg donor.
Consult with legal professionals to ensure that all aspects of the donation process, including legal agreements and rights, are thoroughly understood and documented.

The decision to use a known egg donor comes with its own set of considerations and benefits. While weighing the pros and cons of different options, you’ll want to find a suitable and trusted known egg donor who aligns with your values and aspirations for your future family.

To speak with a surrogacy specialist about the process of using a known egg donor, contact us online now to get more free information. You can also connect with a community of intended parents just like you through our Instagram page.

7 Tips on Coping With Infertility During the Holidays

The holidays can be a heavy time for couples struggling with infertility. We’re here to help you cope with the emotions that may surface during this time of year.

Infertility can be a challenging journey, especially during the holiday season when the emphasis on family can magnify feelings of loss and isolation.

Coping with infertility during the holidays requires a balance of self-care, emotional support and strategies that prioritize your well-being. If you find yourself struggling as the holidays approach, here are seven helpful tips to help you cope with infertility during the holiday season.

If you want to learn more about surrogacy as a path to parenthood, then check out this article, or connect with other intended parents like you through our Instagram page.

How to Deal With Infertility During the Holidays [7 Tips]

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings

Acknowledging the complex emotions that you’re feeling about infertility around the holidays is the first step toward healing. Allow yourself the space to grieve and process your emotions. It’s okay to feel a mix of sadness, frustration or even anger.

Understanding and accepting these feelings can be a powerful step toward improving your overall emotional well-being.

2. Seek Support and Emotional Guidance

Don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted friend, family member or a professional counselor specializing in infertility. Infertility counseling can provide a safe, non-judgmental space to express your feelings and learn valuable coping strategies. Sharing your burden with those who understand and empathize can ease the emotional weight during the holiday season.

You can also participate in a support group online or in person to connect with people who have been in your shoes before. This can help you find solace knowing that you’re not the only person who’s struggled with infertility around the holidays.

3. Create New Traditions

Consider establishing new holiday traditions that don’t revolve around children or family gatherings. Focus on activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Find ways to nurture your well-being, such as volunteering, exploring new hobbies, or planning a relaxing getaway.

Shifting the focus away from traditional celebrations can help ease the pain associated with infertility during the holidays.

4. Set Boundaries

Set clear boundaries with well-meaning friends and family members on conversations and gatherings that might trigger emotional distress.

Communicate your needs and limitations to help them understand the importance of sensitivity and understanding on infertility during the holidays. Take charge of your emotional well-being by prioritizing interactions that bring you comfort and support.

5. Practice Self-Care

During the stress of the holidays, make self-care a top priority. Engage in activities that promote relaxation and mindfulness, such as meditation, yoga or regular exercise.

Nourish your body with healthy meals and take the time to rest. By taking care of your physical and emotional well-being, you can better cope with the challenges of infertility during the holiday season.

6. Focus on Gratitude

Redirect your focus towards gratitude by acknowledging the positive aspects of your life. Keep a gratitude journal and reflect on the things that bring you joy and fulfillment beyond infertility.

By having a sense of gratitude, you can gain a more positive outlook on infertility during the holidays. This can help you cope with the emotional strain that comes with dealing with infertility during the holidays.

7. Stay Hopeful

If you’re experiencing infertility during the holidays, try to maintain a sense of hope and optimism for the future. Consider exploring different options for family-building, such as surrogacy or adoption, and stay informed about advancements in infertility treatments and technologies.

Remind yourself that infertility does not define your worth or your ability to create a loving family. By staying hopeful, you can navigate the challenges of infertility during the holidays with strength.

You’re Not Alone

Coping with infertility during the holidays can be emotionally taxing, but with the right strategies and support, it is possible to find solace and joy despite the challenges. Remember that your feelings are valid, and it is essential to prioritize self-care and seek the support you need this holiday season.

If you want to explore surrogacy as a path to parenthood, then contact us online now to speak with a surrogacy consultant.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month 2023 [Finding Support]

During pregnancy and infant loss awareness month in 2023, we want you to know that you’re not alone. Our specialists are here to help you navigate this difficult loss.

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month and we’re here to raise awareness and honor those that have passed on. The tragedy of experiencing infant and pregnancy loss can take on many forms and is a common experience every year.

If you’ve been personally affected by pregnancy or infancy loss and are in need of support, you can reach out to one of our experienced specialists today by filling out our free form or calling 1-800-875-BABY.

Many families experiencing a loss often find themselves feeling like they need to grieve alone. But, know that you don’t have to face these feelings on your own. During infant loss month, we aim to shed light on ways to commemorate your loss, find support and cope in a healthy way.

How to Cope During Pregnancy and Infant Lost Awareness Month [Finding support]

When you experience a loss, you might not know where to turn to help process your grief. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources out there that can help you as you navigate this difficult experience. Here are some steps you can take to cope during pregnancy infant loss month:

Step 1: Reach out to someone you can talk to

The pain of losing a child or pregnancy is one of the hardest things you can experience. Talking to someone you trust can help you acknowledge your grief in a healthy way. Reach out to a spouse, parent, sibling, friend or surrogacy specialist. Verbally processing your emotions can help as you navigate the wave of emotions that come with loss.

By sharing your thoughts, you may feel less alone in your journey and can gain a sense of validation for your emotions. You’ll be able to express your thoughts and feelings, gain perspective and feel supported. Reaching out to someone is a reminder that you’re not alone in your journey.

Step 2: Find a support group in your area

Finding a local support group can be a valuable way to cope with grief and loss. If you can’t find any support groups in your area, you can explore online resources like websites, forums and social media groups from people who have also experienced pregnancy or infant loss.

By actively seeking out and participating in a support group, you can find comfort in the shared experiences of others who have been in your shoes, helping you navigate the journey of pregnancy and infant loss. During infant and pregnancy loss awareness month, connecting with a support group can be beneficial for your health and wellbeing.

There are surrogacy groups listed below that can help you cope with grief and connect with those that have had similar experiences:

If there are no dedicated support groups in your area, you can always connect with us.

Step 3: Find a way to commemorate your loss in a meaningful way

During pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, finding a way to commemorate your loss can help with the healing process. You can create a personal memorial or ritual that honors the memory of your child. This can involve planting a tree, creating a garden or dedicating a special place in your home with photos or mementos. Lighting a candle or releasing balloons with messages can also be a good gesture.

You can also raise awareness during infant loss month by volunteering with organizations that support families that have experienced infant and pregnancy loss. This can help you find purpose and connection within a community who shares your experiences.

Your Journey Isn’t Over

Experiencing a pregnancy or infant loss can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever go through. But, it’s not the end of your journey. There are alternative family-building options that are becoming more popular and accessible. Your dreams of starting or building your family can be fulfilled after infertility.

Whether you’re still trying to have a baby or are ready to explore your options, there are two ways you can fulfill your dreams of becoming parents during infant and pregnancy loss awareness month:

Adoption: If you’re looking to start or expand your family through adoption, domestic infant adoption is often the most common route for hopeful parents. This type of adoption involves a prospective birth mother creating an adoption plan for her unborn baby. She then chooses adoptive parents that match what she’s looking for. You’ll be able to create a profile that explains your hobbies, interests, lifestyle and more. Then after the birth, you get to welcome a newborn home.
Surrogacy: The surrogacy process can be another great way to grow your family. There are several ways you can find a match, choose a gamete donor and complete other aspects of the process. The most important step is finding the right surrogacy agency to work with. To learn more about the surrogacy process with American Surrogacy, contact us online now to speak with a specialist.

If moving forward seems impossible, it may help to read stories from others who have been in your shoes. You’re not alone and there will always be a brighter future ahead.

Contact Us Today

If you want to speak with a surrogacy specialist about pursing surrogacy after infertility, then please contact us online. We’re always here to provide support during miscarriage infant loss awareness month and beyond [SP1] .

Honoring Infertility Awareness Month

June is Infertility Awareness Month. The event was created to help people experiencing infertility discover they aren’t alone and to highlight how they can work through this common diagnosis.

If you’re considering using surrogacy to grow your family, you or your partner may be working through infertility. We want you to know that you’re not alone, and we’re here to support you through whatever stage you’re at in your family-building journey.

Contact us today to connect with a surrogacy specialist who can refer you to a counselor specializing in infertility. With Infertility Awareness Month on the horizon, now is the perfect time to find a professional to help you work through your feelings.

Keep reading to learn about Infertility Awareness Month, how to honor it, and more.

What is Infertility Awareness Month?

June is Infertility Awareness Month. The month-long event was created to bring awareness to how common infertility is and to spotlight the treatments that can help solve some infertility issues.

We’re choosing to honor Infertility Awareness Month by detailing who is affected by it and how people overcome the condition.

Who Experiences Infertility?

According to the National Library of Medicine, 10% to 15% of couples in the United States experience infertility. Men and women experience infertility at the same rate (10%), and sometimes, a couple’s infertility challenges are because of a combination of several factors.

The following are a few other facts about infertility:

A doctor can diagnose infertility when a couple cannot conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex.
A doctor can check men and women for infertility through a variety of tests.
There are several infertility treatments men, and women can pursue.

Common Infertility Treatments

One of the important aspects of Infertility Awareness Month is ensuring people affected by this common condition know their options. One way to handle infertility is through treatment.

The following are just some of the effective infertility treatments people try:

Infertility Medications: Certain medications can be prescribed to men and women to help resolve certain infertility issues.
Infertility Surgeries: Men and women may undergo certain surgeries that can help repair internal infertility causes.
Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Recently, IUI and IVF have become more common. These procedures can help couples overcome many infertility challenges and help them conceive.

Embracing Surrogacy After Infertility

One of the final aspects of acknowledging Infertility Awareness Month is working through your feelings on infertility and deciding your next steps.

Working Through Infertility Grief

Choosing when you’re ready to move from infertility treatments to another family-building option like surrogacy isn’t a simple decision.

You and your partner will experience several intense emotions during this time. You may even decide to work with an infertility counselor to help process your feelings.

Even if you decide not to continue your family-building journey this year, you can use this time to work through your grief and allow yourself time to heal.

Choosing Surrogacy

If you and your partner determine that you’re ready to move on from infertility to another family-building option and choose to go forward with surrogacy, congratulations! Surrogacy is a wonderful choice, and it has helped many people become parents.

One of the benefits of working with American Surrogacy for your surrogacy journey is that our agency can provide the essential benefits needed to help you succeed.

The following are some of the most important benefits our agency can provide you:

Surrogacy Screening: We’re dedicated to ensuring that hopeful intended parents and prospective surrogates are ready to start the surrogacy process. We do this by coordinating your psychological, medical, and physical screenings.
Matchmaking: When you work with our agency, you can expect an average match time of 30 to 90 days. We maintain this by prescreening all hopeful intended parents and surrogates, providing in-house marketing, and keeping a 1:1 intended parent-to-surrogate ratio.
Case Management: We will organize and manage your case so you can spend your time focusing on yourself and your surrogacy partner during your surrogacy journey.
24/7 Support: American Surrogacy will provide you with continuous support from licensed social workers from the beginning to the end of their journey.
Financial Certainty and Transparency: Our agency offers a transparent fixed cost of $149,900 that covers our services, gestational carrier fees, and medical and legal costs. We also provide a Parent Protection Fee and will organize your journey’s variable fees.

Reach Out to Us Today

This June, we hope you can honor Infertility Awareness Month by caring for yourself. If you need extra support during this time, you can contact us anytime, and we’ll refer you to an infertility counselor who can help you process your emotions.

You aren’t alone. There are plenty of intended parents just like you, struggling with very similar situations. Connect with them through our Instagram.

The Importance of Grieving Infertility Before Pursuing Surrogacy

Becoming a parent is one of life’s greatest joys. As you start the surrogacy process, the last thing you want to think about is your infertility journey. After all, your dreams are finally coming true. Now that parenthood is your destination, you can put those painful memories in the rearview mirror and move forward. What is there to worry about?

A lot, actually.

Before you dive headfirst into the surrogacy process, you need to come to terms with and fully grieve your infertility journey. There’s just no way around it. Any unchecked feelings about your infertility journey will impact your mental health, your parenting experience and your relationship with your child. If you haven’t already accepted your infertility grief, it’s going to be hard to move forward from your loss and give the surrogacy experience your all.

Many intended parents have successful parenting experiences after infertility, but you do need to be aware of the challenges that arise when it comes to parenting after infertility.

Why Accepting Your Infertility is a Crucial First Step

The grief of infertility is a heavy burden to carry. It’s so heavy, in fact, that it will be easy for your child to pick up on any negative emotions that you’re trying to keep bottled up.

Even if you think that you’re doing a good job handling your grief and loss, any resentment you have toward not being able to carry your child yourself will affect your relationship with them and their self-esteem. And often, it can hurt your child for many years to come.

We know that you’re excited to become a parent and that you’re more than ready for this experience. However, becoming a parent when you’re not 100% emotionally ready is not fair to you or your child.

The way you feel about your surrogacy experience will shape how your child sees themselves and how they see the surrogacy process. If you continue to carry around resentment about the surrogacy process, or if you only see surrogacy as the second-best option, your child could start to feel like they’re like they’re the backup plan or like the way they came into this world wasn’t enough for you.

Of course, we know that you never want your child to feel this way. It’s OK if surrogacy wasn’t your first choice, but to prevent your child from ever feeling these painful emotions, you need to heal and fully accept your own fertility loss before moving forward.

You’ll never be able to fully embrace the idea of surrogacy when your heart is still yearning for that pregnancy experience. You might feel like you’re “giving up” by choosing surrogacy instead of sticking with IVF treatments. That’s absolutely not the truth. But, if you’re going to put so much time and energy into this family-building process, then you need to be 100% on board in order to become the best parents a child could ever ask for.

How to Cope with Infertility

Learning how to cope with infertility is the first step toward moving forward. On your journey to parenthood, there are a few ways that you can cope with and eventually accept your infertility.

Share your feelings: We know that it’s hard to talk about, but infertility affects more families than you know. If you’re one of the many couples coping with infertility, we know that it can be tough to talk about and be open about what you’re experiencing. But just know that you’re not alone. About 1 in 8 couples experience the devastating heartbreak of infertility. There are people ready to listen to what you’re going through. You can always reach out to an infertility counselor when you need advice.
Allow yourself to truly feel your emotions: Going through infertility is already hard enough, so don’t feel like you must keep everything bottled up. You’re not doing yourself or your partner any favors when you pretend that everything is OK when it’s not. Fully embracing each of the stages of grief is the key to moving forward.
Be honest with your partner: Your partner will be your closest source of support. What you’re going through right now is incredibly difficult, but it’s important that you don’t suppress feelings that can easily turn into resentment and frustration. Share your fears and worries, and work together to come up with a plan to address them.

Becoming the family you’ve always dreamed of is an incredible feeling. But know that parenting after infertility is not as easy as you might think — especially when you haven’t fully dealt with the loss.

Grieving this loss is often the hardest part about becoming a new family after infertility. It’s not uncommon to have lingering emotions of grief and loss long after infertility. Practice self-care and reach out to professionals to keep yourself as mentally healthy as possible. And, remember, there’s nothing wrong with waiting until you are ready to start your new dream as a family through surrogacy.

Your Child’s Differences Should Be Celebrated

Being born through surrogacy is not something that just happens every day. Your child is going to be curious about this process as they get older, and it is something that should be talked about openly.

Children who are born through surrogacy need to know that their unique story is something to be celebrated and embraced. They need to know their story, and they need to hear it from you.

As they learn more about surrogacy, they’re going to come to you with any questions they may have, and it’s up to you to answer them. It will be hard for you to talk about your struggles with infertility if you haven’t yet healed from that experience.

Start Your Parenting Journey

The grief of infertility is not something that will disappear overnight or when you become a parent. These emotions may come back when you least expect it. But, if you are doing the work that’s needed to cope with these feelings of grief and loss, then you should have no problem moving forward and becoming an amazing parent.

to expand your community, you may want to connect with us on Instagram. Surrogates and Intended parents there have many crucial insights into the process ahead of you, and can be a valuable resource.

To learn more about how American Surrogacy can help you reach your parenthood goals, please contact our specialists today at 1-800-875-2229(BABY).

Life After Infertility: Infertility, Pregnancy Loss and Infant Loss Awareness Month

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. The tragedy of losing a pregnancy or newborn takes many forms and is experienced by thousands every year.

Talking about something as personal as the loss of pregnancy or of a child can be incredibly uncomfortable. This month is an opportunity to push past that discomfort in the hope of offering solidarity and help to those who are struggling with the lasting effects of devastating loss.

There are many aspects of pregnancy and infant loss that are worth discussing. Here, we want to look ahead to life after infertility and pregnancy and infant loss. Even in the darkest moments, there can be a spark of hope ahead.

Giving Grief its Time

Although it may seem counterintuitive, we need to talk about grief before we can talk about hope.

Grief is complicated. It’s not as simple as feeling sad, talking about it and moving on. The weight of grief — and specifically that of infertility and pregnancy loss — can stick with you for years.

We say this not to be discouraging, but to acknowledge an important reality: Although there is hope for a beautiful life after infertility, its impact will never fully disappear. We can’t have an honest discussion about life after infertility and pregnancy loss without honoring the very real and challenging grief of this experience.

Real hope is found in confronting pain, not avoiding it. That’s the first principle of life after infertility and pregnancy loss. Give yourself time to honestly face the loss you’ve experienced — to wrestle with it, feel it deeply and process it fully — before jumping to the next step.

Good is coming, but it can’t be rushed.

When you are on this journey, you may realize that you cannot do it alone. Many others have come to the same breaking point. There’s no shame in this. Reaching out to a counselor or other form of professional help could provide the support you need to carry on. You can use this guide from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine to find counselors who specialize in infertility and pregnancy loss.

Rebuilding Your Dreams

Alternative family-building options are becoming more popular and accessible. This means that your dream of starting (or growing) your family can take on a new shape in life after infertility.

Before we go on to family-building options, it’s important to stop and consider if this is really what you want. Life after infertility looks different for everyone. That could mean that, in your life, your new dreams are not related to building a family. Whatever passions bring your joy, that’s what you should pursue.

If your dream of starting a family is as strong as ever, then there are two primary ways to do that:

Adoption: There are several different ways to adopt. For hopeful parents choosing between adoption and surrogacy, domestic infant adoption is often the route that makes the most sense. This type of adoption involves a prospective birth mother creating an adoption plan for her unborn baby. She then chooses the adoptive parents (that could be you!) and, after birth, the newborn is placed with the parents.

The adoption journey is rarely easy, but it can be a beautiful and life-changing way to build your family. If you’d like more information about adoption, you can contact our sister agency, American Adoptions.

Surrogacy: The surrogacy process can be an amazing way to become parents. There are several different ways to go about finding a match, choosing a gamete donor, and completing other aspects of the process. The most important step to a successful surrogacy process is finding the right agency to work with. If you’d like to learn more about surrogacy, you can contact us at any time to speak with a specialist.

You’re Not Alone

Life after infertility and pregnancy and infant loss will always be impacted by the pain you’ve experienced. But, as you can see above, there are available options that create the opportunity for new life in the midst of the pain.

If you find yourself in a place where moving forward feels impossible, it may help to read the stories of others. You are not alone. Others have carried the same weight, and they can testify to the promise of a bright future. You can connect with families like yours on our Instagramor explore stories:

Everyone is on a unique path. As you can see from these courageous stories, there’s always the chance that, despite the pain of the past, the future is full of goodness.

Contact Us Today

Would you like to speak with a surrogacy professional about surrogacy after infertility? Please contact us online today or call 1-800-875-BABY (875-2229).

5 Signs Surrogacy After IVF is Right for You

Building a family is a lifelong dream for many people, one that can be years in the making. But, if you’ve been struggling with unsuccessful IVF attempts for some time, you might be unsure of what your other options are to make your dreams come true.

It’s common for hopeful parents to turn to gestational surrogacy after IVF and infertility treatments. However, it can be hard to know when it’s the right time to move forward or if it’s worth giving this process one last shot — especially if you are hoping that your dreams of becoming pregnant will eventually come true.

Naturally, this will be a decision that you’ll want to put a lot thought into. Changing your family-building plans will be a big adjustment, so it’s okay to take your time as you decide what works best for you. If you’re struggling at all while you try to figure out what to do next, remember that you can always talk to your infertility counselor.

In the meantime, here are five signs to look out for that might mean surrogacy is the right option for you.

1. You’re Ready to Move on from IVF Treatments

This one seems obvious, but it may take a lot of soul-searching before you can truly say yes.

Many people who are moving to surrogacy after IVF have already gone through several rounds of treatment — which means a lot of time and, sadly, disappointment. At this point, you’re probably feeling exhausted, disappointed and heartbroken. And no one can blame you.

For many people who have been pursuing IVF for months or years, it can be extremely difficult to let go of the dream of finally becoming pregnant.

It would be a great disservice to yourself to pursue surrogacy before you’re truly ready. Surrogacy is a long process with its own emotional ups and downs. Before you decide to move forward with it, you should research all family-building methods to confirm you’re making the right decision.

2. You’re More Interested in Parenting than Pregnancy

If you’re interested in surrogacy, you need to be prepared for the fact that someone else will be carrying your baby. Obviously, this process will not be like the pregnancy process you spent so much time envisioning. While it will be difficult, you must let go of your dreams of becoming pregnant in order to have a smooth journey during the surrogacy process.

If you have come to terms with this fact, you may also have realized that, for you, becoming parents is more rewarding than the pregnancy process itself. At the end of the day, that’s what this process really comes down to.

If you’re having doubts about the surrogacy process, or if you’re not ready to let go of your dreams of carrying your child, it would be better to wait until you are truly 100% ready to move forward.

3. You’re Worried About the Cost of Continuing IVF

As you likely already know, IVF treatments aren’t cheap.

It can be extremely frustrating and disheartening to watch your savings dwindle as you attempt cycle after cycle. Instead, many families choose to put their money toward a process with a higher chance of success. While this could mean they decide on surrogacy, they might even think about adoption, which has even greater chance of success.

While it may not be what you hoped for when you set off on your family-building journey, surrogacy can still be a great, fulfilling journey — that leaves you with more funds to give your child the opportunities they deserve.

4. You Only Have a Few Embryos Left

If an intended parent only has a few embryos left, they may start to look at other options — like surrogacy. When faced with this situation, the last thing that many families want to do is to put all their hopes into the traditional IVF process only to be let down once more.

If you’re unsure what to do and you want to protect your last embryos, it may be time to look into surrogacy, especially if you’re looking for an option with a higher success rate. Naturally, you will want to talk to a surrogacy specialist if you’re considering this path.

5. You’ve Done Your Research

For many people, surrogacy is still relatively new. Before you really get going, do as much research as possible about this process to make sure that it’s the best alternative for you.

Like IVF treatments, surrogacy can be a lengthy and expensive process. It is not something that just anyone can jump into, and it is certainly not right for everyone.

Please make sure that you’re ready emotionally, mentally and physically before you get started. Remember that moving on from IVF treatments doesn’t mean that you have to let go of your dreams of parenthood. We know that this is a big adjustment, and it will be an incredibly difficult decision to make as you consider your options for building a family.

You can connect with surrogacy stories on our Instagram, and if you think that you’re ready to learn more about the surrogacy process, please contact our surrogacy specialists at 1-800-875-2229(BABY). You are under no obligation to start the process, but they will give you plenty of information to help you learn more about this option.

How COVID-19 May Impact Your IVF Journey

6 Questions Intended Parents Should Ask Themselves Before Resuming Surrogacy

As IVF and surrogacy procedures slowly resume with new precautions and policies, intended parents are more nervous than ever about restarting their journey to parenthood. There are new physical, emotional and financial concerns to consider.

Whether you’re eager to get back on track as soon as possible or you’re unsure if now is the time to start the IVF and surrogacy process, you’ll need to ask yourself some important questions. When considering how COVID-19 might affect your IVF and surrogacy journey and deciding whether or not you’re ready to resume it, you should ask yourself these six questions:

1. Are your fertility savings still stable?

Aside from the devastating health toll COVID-19 has taken throughout the world, it’s also had an economic impact. If you or your spouse lost your job, or if you took a financial hit as a result of coronavirus, then you may not be as financially ready to begin IVF and surrogacy as you were before.

Your total costs of IVF and surrogacy are going to be fluid, due to medical factors. You may find that your embryos are not viable, it may take several rounds of IVF to produce a viable embryo, or your surrogate may need several rounds of embryo transfers before a successful implantation. All this may mean that you’ll spend more or less than you anticipated.

You’ll need to examine how your IVF and surrogacy savings have been affected by the pandemic and then decide if you’re able to move forward right now, given any financial changes you may have experienced. Has your budget for IVF and surrogacy remained the same?

2. What are your fertility clinic’s policies regarding COVID-19?

In the early days of the pandemic, fertility clinics ceased operations in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. IVF procedures were temporarily suspended. Now, clinics are opening back up and resuming IVF — but with new policies in place to keep everyone (including your embryos) safe.

Each hospital, doctor’s office and fertility clinic will have their own COVID-19 policies. What are the policies at your clinic? How will those policies affect you and your surrogate?

Work with your American Surrogacy specialist to learn about your clinics’ policies before you move forward. Make sure that you feel comfortable with the precautions that they are taking.

3. What happens if someone within your surrogacy partnership contracts COVID-19 mid-cycle?

The health of those involved in this surrogacy journey always comes first. So if you, your spouse, your surrogate, or an immediate member of either or your families were to contract COVID-19 during the process, what happens? Would you still move forward once that person had recovered? Can you wait that long?

This is something that you’ll all need to discuss with your American Surrogacy specialist. In this changing world, it’s important to talk about this scenario together and create a concrete plan of how you will want to proceed.

4. Are you comfortable having a woman become pregnant with your child right now?

It always takes some faith when allowing someone else to carry your baby. Are you prepared to trust someone in protecting themselves (and your baby) against COVID-19?

The woman who will be carrying your child will need to spend a good amount of time in doctor’s offices and hospitals throughout the surrogacy process and pregnancy. Even though all surrogates take the health and safety of themselves and the baby very seriously, and yours will be taking all the prescribed precautions to avoid exposure to illnesses, she’ll still need to have quite a few in-person visits at medical facilities.

Whenever possible, telemedicine appointments may take place. However, there are some doctor’s visits that will, of course, need to occur in the office.

Additionally, you’ll need to consider if you’ll be comfortable with a number of scenarios:

What if she’s an essential worker?
What if her children or spouse are back to school or work?
What if she lives in a coronavirus “hotspot”?
What if she and her family need to travel?

Your surrogate will do her utmost to protect herself, and by proxy, your baby from COVID-19. But there will always be moments when all of us must go out into the world to function.

Would you be able to accept that and trust her to protect herself, her family and your baby?

5. Are you prepared to miss some important moments with your surrogate and baby?

In an effort to maintain social distance and prevent the spread of the virus, you probably won’t see your surrogate in person as much as you would before COVID-19.

Additionally, hospital and medical clinic policies may prevent one or both of you from being with your surrogate during milestones like embryo transfers, sonograms, or possibly even labor and delivery.

For some intended parents, surrogacy is a chance to experience pregnancy alongside their surrogate. You’ll need to decide if you’re willing to miss out on some of these moments in favor of growing your family more quickly.

6. How do you think your emotional and mental health will handle egg retrieval and/or IVF at the moment?

Right now, everyone is under more stress than usual. The early stages of surrogacy’s medical process are always stressful for everyone involved, but in the midst of a global pandemic, it’s understandably even more so.

Consider how you’ll feel during your contributions to the IVF process and as you await the results of your surrogate’s embryo transfer. With the added stressors of COVID-19, you’ll want to make sure that you’re emotionally ready to move forward — so that you can be the best support person for your surrogate.

If you have any questions or concerns about resuming the IVF and surrogacy process, contact American Surrogacy now. Your specialist will help you consider your readiness and can walk you through how COVID-19 will and won’t affect your journey. For a supportive, understanding community, check our Instagram.

When One Spouse Isn’t Ready for Surrogacy: Intended Parents

Embarking on a surrogacy journey will alter the course of your life.

Not only is it a road to fulfilling your dreams of parenthood, it is also a unique path that relatively few have walked. Your experience — the joys and hardships, victories and challenges — will be unlike most other roads to parenthood.

That’s why it is important — vital, even — for both partners to be completely committed to the process. A unity of mind in your relationship should be considered a requirement to begin the surrogacy process.

But, what do you do when one partner isn’t so sure?

Any disagreement within a relationship can create tension. This particular disagreement can be like a ticking time bomb if it is handled the wrong way.

Do you give in and give up on surrogacy? Do you plow ahead and start the process? Is there a middle road?

Each relationship is unique. We can’t give you an exact blueprint to navigate out of this disagreement. However, we have worked with many couples that started where you are. Here’s what we’ve learned about the best ways to respond to a partner who is not totally on board with surrogacy.

Evaluate Your Emotional Readiness

Everyone responds to grief in different ways. Grieving, accepting, and then healing after infertility is never easy, and it may take a long time. Finding alternative family-building options like surrogacy may bring hope back into your world. Your dreams of becoming a parent are very much possible.

But, that doesn’t mean you are ready, or that your partner is ready to move on from infertility. Take stock of your mental state. Ask questions like:

Are you ready to move on from any current infertility treatments?
Can you come to terms with parenthood without pregnancy?
Does it bother you that someone else will carry your baby to term?
Have you spent enough time processing your grief from infertility?
Are you and your partner ready to commit completely to surrogacy?

There are no wrong answers. Be honest with yourself and within your relationship. The surrogacy journey won’t be right for you until each person is truly ready for it.

Consider Counseling

Infertility ushers in a confusing flood of emotions. There’s anger, grief, shame, anxiety, sadness and more. Additionally, there’s confusion about where to go next. That’s why infertility counseling is always worth considering.

Reaching out for professional help may be a foreign idea, but you are in uncharted waters. There are several different stages of counseling, and you can start and stop depending on what you feel is best. While it may be uncomfortable at first, counseling can be very helpful and is highly recommended.

Research Options Together

Are you working with an unacknowledged informational imbalance? If you have been doing your research on surrogacy, you likely understand the process. This may have given you an eagerness to get started. But, remember, there’s no reason to expect your partner to share your enthusiasm if you’ve been doing all of the research on your own.

Don’t assume that your partner knows what you know. Intentionally research your alternative family-building options together. This way, you’re working from a level playing field. These conversations will go much better when each of you is equipped with the same level of understanding.

And, while you’re at it, this is a good time to consider all options that could be available to you in pursuit of starting a family. For example, our sister agency, American Adoptions, has been providing nationwide domestic infant adoption services for more than 25 years. If surrogacy isn’t sitting quite right, have you considered adoption?

There are many amazing ways to start a family, and we support whichever option is best for you and your partner.

If surrogacy could be right for your circumstances, hearing from surrogates and intended parents who have been through the process could help.

Don’t Rush

Processing grief, working through disagreements, researching complex family-building options — these things take time. The most important thing is that you experience the best long-term outcome. Move toward that goal at the pace you are both comfortable with. If that means taking weeks, months or even more than a year to step into your surrogacy journey, that’s okay.

Speak with One of Our Surrogacy Specialists

Of course, you can always call 1-800-875-BABY (2229) or contact us online at any time to speak with a surrogacy specialist. Your partner may have questions you can’t answer, and a conference call with a specialist may be just the thing to clear things up.

American Surrogacy will never pressure you into the process. We believe that each family requires a different approach. You’ll get honest, unbiased information from our specialists that will help you make the best choice.

Being out of step with your partner about issues like this can be difficult. With these things in mind, and the guidance of professionals, you can plot a course forward.

We look forward to hearing from you.