Do Surrogates Have to Take Hormones?

Hormonal medications plays a role in preparing your body for embryo transfer and supporting early pregnancy. Without them, the chances of a successful implantation drop significantly.

In this guide, we’ll break down why surrogacy without hormones is typically not possible, what role the hormones play and how to cope with hormone side-effects.

Looking for support during your surrogacy journey? Contact us today to learn more about how we guide surrogates through every step of the process, including hormone management.

Keep reading to learn how to manage your hormones and feel more prepared during your surrogacy journey.

Yes. Surrogates take hormonal medications to prepare their body for implantation and support early pregnancy. These hormones ensure your uterine lining is ready for the embryo transfer and help maintain a stable environment for development.

Here are the key hormones used before embryo transfer:

Estrogen (Estradiol, Estrace, or patches): Thickens the uterine lining to support implantation.
Progesterone (injections or suppositories): Maintains a stable uterine lining and prevents early miscarriage.
Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate): Suppresses natural ovulation to allow precise cycle control.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): Signals the body to maintain pregnancy and supports progesterone production.
Dexamethasone (steroid): Lowers immune response to prevent rejection of the embryo.

These medications contribute to higher embryo transfer success rates and ensuring the body is fully prepared for pregnancy.

I Want to Do Surrogacy Without Hormones Because I Don’t Like Needles

For many surrogates, hormone injections are a necessary part of the process, but they can be uncomfortable.

If you were hoping to opt for surrogacy without hormones because you want to avoid needles, there are some strategies to reduce the pain and make the experience a bit easier.

Rotate injection sites: Try switching up the area where you inject each time. Alternate between your thighs and buttocks, and avoid injecting into the same spot repeatedly to prevent irritation.
Consider shot blockers: Some surrogates find relief by using shot blockers, which are small devices that block the nerve signals during the injection. These can help minimize the pain by numbing the area temporarily.
Use a warm compress: Before injecting, apply a warm compress to the area to help relax the muscle. This can make the injection feel smoother and reduce post-injection soreness.
Massage the area: After the injection, gently massage the area for a few moments. This can help disperse the medication more evenly and relieve some of the tightness or tenderness you might feel.
Use ice before the shot: Ice the area where you plan to inject for a few minutes to numb the skin. This can reduce the initial sting when the needle goes in.

While these methods won’t make the injections entirely painless, they can certainly make a difference in how you feel during this part of the journey. Learn more about hormone shots for surrogacy.

How to Cope with Side-Effects of Surrogacy Hormones

Every surrogate’s experience will be different. Most surrogates have experienced pregnancy before, but it’s important to note you may have a different reaction to these hormones than you had in your past pregnancies.

Dealing with hormonal shifts can cause significant discomfort, disorientation and mood swings. Even though surrogacy without hormones is not recommended, there are a few ways you can minimize these negative effects:

Being purposeful with your diet: Creating a balanced diet can help your body stabilize itself during this period, and can have wonderful benefits for your health as well.
Setting an exercise schedule: Getting consistent exercise helps you in several different ways, including helping manage your hormone response by introducing exercise-related endorphins.
Leaning on your support system: Your family, friends, or whoever you have in your corner can help you adjust to this new phase of life. Don’t underestimate the importance of your support system.
Talking with professionals: Discussing hormone regulation and coping strategies with your doctor, nutritionist, or even a councilor can only help.

Dealing With Hormones After Surrogacy and Child Birth

If you’re dealing with long-lasting affects after your surrogacy, here are some ways to cope with the recovery process:

Prenatal vitamins: Even after labor and delivery, pre-natal vitamins carry benefits for you. Remember our discussion of estrogen, serotonin and postpartum depression? Some supplemental estrogen can help minimize the harsh drop in serotonin, letting you adjust more steadily to your new chemical balance.
Reasonable expectations: It’s important to approach your post-pregnancy with an open mind. You’ve gone through a significant event, and your body has changed. It may be quite a while before your body is back to its pre-pregnancy self.
Post-pregnancy workouts: Certain low-impact core and pelvic floor exercises carry extreme benefits to your body post-pregnancy. Consult your physician for personalized care.
Ask for help: Your support network doesn’t disappear just because you’re no longer pregnant. Ask for help, be open about your needs, and lean on the people you trust. Be sure to maintain your scheduled checkups postpartum.

Can Hormones From Surrogacy Cause Cancer?

The hormones used in surrogacy are considered safe, with no proven link to cancer.

If you’re wondering about surrogacy without hormones because you’re worried about long-term risks, research has not found a direct link between fertility medications and an increased cancer risk.

What the research says:

Breast cancer: Some studies have looked into whether estrogen-based fertility drugs raise the risk of breast cancer. So far, there’s no strong evidence to suggest they do.
Ovarian cancer: Early research raised concerns about a possible connection, but more recent studies have found no clear link between fertility medications and ovarian cancer.
Uterine cancer: While long-term estrogen exposure can be a risk factor, fertility treatments are only used for a short time and don’t appear to contribute to this risk.

Your fertility specialist can help you understand any potential risks and guide you toward the safest approach for your surrogacy journey.

Learning More about Surrogacy Hormones

Remember, hormonal shifts are only temporary. Even if they linger after pregnancy, things will eventually balance out. Until then, you have resources that can support you:

Surrogate Mothers Online is a group of surrogates like you who share their experiences and support each other through virtual meet-ups and online chats.
All About Surrogacy is a forum where you can find all kinds of people sharing their experiences with surrogacy.
Some online communities like Instagram communities, Facebook groups and Subreddits can function as support-oriented forms as well.

Ready to take the next step in your surrogacy journey? Our team is here to support you every step of the way. Fill out our simple form to get started.