Why 2023 is a Great Year to Pursue Surrogacy

The 2023 year is a great opportunity for you to pursue the surrogacy process and become a loving parent for your future child. Find out how you can begin today.

Many people look to the new year as a refreshing start with the “new year, new me” mentality. In addition to setting achievable goals, we also welcome change in our lives.

The 2023 year is a great opportunity for you, as intended parents, to pursue the surrogacy process and become a loving mom or dad for your future child. Your dream of parenthood can become a reality. And, you don’t need to wait any longer to see that come true.

American Surrogacy provides expert care from the best professionals and has many helpful services waiting for you, like:

  • Unlimited re-matching until a successful pregnancy
  • The shortest wait times in the industry
  • Extensive surrogate screening
  • Your own surrogacy specialist for every step of the process
  • And more

You can reach out to a surrogacy specialist at any time for free advice and guidance on how to navigate your 2023 year of family-building through surrogacy. Continue reading for our helpful tips below.

5 Steps to Welcome a New Family Member in the New Year

There is inspiration and hope that come with a new year. So, whether previous family-building methods have not gone in your favor or surrogacy was your first choice, you deserve to be parents. Our team is prepared to make that happen.

Every intended parent’s journey to surrogacy will be different, but there are a few general steps that our surrogacy specialists recommend every hopeful parent take before making life-changing decisions.

In our experience, those who are best prepared for the surrogacy process have usually completed these steps:

Step 1: Decide American Surrogacy is Right for You

Surrogacy is a complicated process and is not one that an intended parent jumps to right away. Those struggling with infertility have many other assisted reproduction methods before gestational surrogacy, such as an IUI or IVF.

Additionally, the adoption process is another method intended parents choose. Very different processes are taken for surrogacy vs. adoption, but they are viable options for those looking to add to their family.

In order to know what is best for your family, you must fully understand all of the options available to you. Fortunately, the specialists at American Surrogacy are well-experienced in both the gestational surrogacy and adoption processes.

Your surrogacy specialist will be your point of contact and will oversee the entire gestational surrogacy process from your initial phone call to well after the surrogacy process is completed. They will be available to:

  • Answer any questions you have along the way
  • Offer support and advice
  • Make sure that your surrogacy journey is proceeding as smoothly as possible

Step 2. Complete the Screening Process with American Surrogacy

To get to know you and your goals for surrogacy better, your specialist will first send you our Surrogacy Planning Questionnaire.

The SPQ will have a variety of questions designed to tailor the surrogacy process to your preferences, including:

  • Do you have any past experiences with surrogacy or adoption?
  • What is your budget for surrogacy?
  • Do you require an egg or a sperm donor?
  • What type of contact do you want with the surrogate during and after the surrogacy?
  • And many more

The screening process is an essential step in our surrogacy method. Your answers will help us find the right surrogate for your family and prepare for the upcoming steps of your surrogacy process.

For intended parents, our screening process includes two steps: the home assessment and background clearances.

The home assessment consists of an in-home inspection and interviews. Your social worker will conduct these steps. Additionally, screening both intended parents and surrogates ensures that the other party is physically, psychologically and legally ready for the surrogacy process before matching. This prevents any delays in your surrogacy process once you begin.

Step 3. Match with a Surrogate

Based on your preferences and goals, your surrogacy specialist will help identify possible surrogate candidates and show them your Intended Parent Profile.

Your profile will include:

  • Information about your family and your home
  • Pictures of your family
  • A letter to any prospective surrogate reading your profile

Your surrogacy specialist and our media team will work with you to create your profile to help you find the right surrogate for your family.

Once you and a surrogate reciprocate interest in one another, your surrogacy specialist will set up a meeting for you to get to know each other and discuss your surrogacy goals.

From there, if both parties are ready to move forward with our surrogacy procedure, you are officially matched, and the legal process will begin.

Step 4. Understand the Legal Process

Both you and your surrogate will have your own attorney who will meet with you individually to review the agreements and ensure you understand your rights and any possible risks.

The legal process is a crucial part of how surrogacy works. Once the contracts are signed, your attorney will begin working on the pre-birth order after the first trimester, which will:

  • Establish you as the legal parents of your child
  • Allow you to make medical decisions for your child
  • Resolve any insurance conflicts
  • Direct the hospital and the state’s vital records department to include your names on the birth certificate

Step 5. Complete the Embryo Transfer

American Surrogacy partners with fertility clinics across the country. We’ll help you find a fertility clinic that’s current with the best surrogacy technology to make this medical process of surrogacy go as smoothly as possible.

In gestational surrogacy, a surrogate is not related to the child that she carries. Instead, a previously created embryo will be transferred into her uterus.

If an egg or sperm donor is required, the fertility clinic will handle much of this surrogacy process while we oversee it.

Once all conditions have been satisfied, the embryo will be transferred to your surrogate. A few months later, once a healthy pregnancy is confirmed, base compensation of monthly payments will begin.

Supporting the surrogate is a vital part of the overall surrogacy process, especially at this stage. Her surrogacy specialist will be available for her during every step of the pregnancy, and we educate and encourage intended parents to be there for her as well in any way they can.

Bringing Your Baby Home This New Year

The hospital stay is obviously a very exciting time for everyone, as everyone’s hard work and dedication will soon result in a beautiful newborn.

You and the surrogate, along with your surrogacy specialist, will determine the events of the hospital stay and the surrogacy birth, such as:

  • The hospital choice for the surrogacy
  • Whether you will be involved with the birth in the delivery room
  • How much the surrogate wants to be a part of post-birth

Once the surrogate can be dismissed from the hospital, you will all leave together, forever connected in this new year.

Our staffs’ help isn’t finished yet. As we said at the beginning, any support and guidance you need over the next few days, weeks or years, we will be there for you.

If you’re ready to have a baby through surrogacy, please contact us today at 1-800-875-BABY.

What to Know about Pregnancy, Infants and RSV

RSV is a virus that can be serious in newborns and young children. It affects the lungs, respiratory system and breathing. Read more on how to prevent spread.

The holiday season is about spending time with family and spreading cheer, but it’s also the time to be cautious about what else we are spreading. The colder months also mean flu season, typically involving a rise in common cold cases such as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV is a virus that can be particularly serious in newborns and children under 5 years old because it affects the lungs, respiratory system and breathing. This guide will help families protect their little ones during and after the gestational pregnancy. Let’s understand:

  • What the symptoms are of RSV
  • The precautions to take during pregnancy
  • How milder cases of RSV can be treated at home
  • When to seek treatment
  • And more

What are the Symptoms of RSV?

The symptoms of RSV can look very similar to those of COVID-19 and the flu. People infected with RSV usually show symptoms within 4 to 6 days. Symptoms of the infection can include:

  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Coughing then wheezing
  • Fever
  • Decrease in appetite

These symptoms usually appear in stages and not all at once. In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and difficulty breathing.

How to Prevent and Care for RSV

Each year in the United States, an estimated 58,000-80,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized because of RSV infection. Infections in healthy children and adults are generally less severe than among infants and older adults with certain medical conditions.

Those at greatest risk for severe illness from RSV include:

  • Premature infants
  • Infants 6 months and younger
  • Older adults and children younger than 2 years old with chronic lung disease
  • Children and adults with weakened immune systems
  • Children who have neuromuscular disorders, causing difficulty in swallowing or clearing mucus

But this virus is common and typically not severe. People will most likely get infected with RSV for the first time as an infant or toddler. In addition, nearly all children are infected before their second birthday.

There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, but researchers work tirelessly to develop helpful vaccines.  

Help Prevent the Spread of RSV

Whether you made the selfless decision of being a surrogate or you are the intended parent, a child’s safety is always critical.

There are steps you can take to help prevent the spread of RSV. If you have cold-like symptoms, you should:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and phones or tablets
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve, not your hands
  • Avoid close contact, such as kissing, shaking hands and sharing cups with others

RSV can spread in many different ways, like when:

  • An infected person coughs or sneezes
  • You get virus droplets from a cough or sneeze in your eyes, nose or mouth
  • You have direct contact with the virus, like kissing the face of a child with RSV

Most RSV infections go away on their own in a week or two. But, repeat infections may occur throughout life, and people of any age can become infected.

Steps to Relieve Symptoms at Home

In the U.S., RSV circulation generally starts during fall and peaks in the winter. The timing and severity of RSV circulation can vary from year to year.

  • Manage fever and pain with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (Never give aspirin to children).
  • Keep your child hydrated with water and electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids).
  • Talk to your healthcare provider before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines. Some medicines contain ingredients that are not good for children.

When to See the Pediatrician or Visit an Emergency Center for RSV

Some cases of RSV can be serious and cause severe illnesses such as:

  • Bronchiolitis
  • Pneumonia
  • And more

If your child has any of the following symptoms, you should contact your pediatrician immediately:

  • Fast, labored breathing
  • Discolored skin, lips or nails
  • Dehydration
  • Symptoms worsen or do not improve after 10 days

In the most severe cases, hospitalized patients may require oxygen, IV fluids and/or mechanical ventilation. Most improve with this type of supportive care and are discharged in a few days.

For pregnant women, RSV infection may pose a substantial risk for hospitalization and further complications, and the infection is likely worsened in the setting of baseline pulmonary diseases, such as asthma and tobacco use.

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Talk to your healthcare provider today If your child is at high risk for severe RSV disease. For more information regarding the late stages of the surrogacy process, you can contact an American Surrogacy specialist now. Get started today and grow your family through surrogacy.

3 Inspiring Celebrity Surrogacy Stories

If you’re wondering if surrogacy is the right choice for you, we get it. That’s why we’ve compiled three different but equally beautiful celebrity surrogacy stories to help inspire you to start the process.

If you’re considering growing your family via surrogacy, reading about others’ experiences can help you determine if it’s the right family-building option. And some of the most inspiring surrogacy experiences that are easily accessible come from Hollywood.

Contact one of our surrogacy professionals today if you’re ready to start your surrogacy journey.

But, continue reading to discover three motivational celebrity surrogacy stories.

1. Elton John

After initially trying to adopt, husbands Elton John and David Furnish worked with the same gestational surrogate for the birth of their two children, Elijah and Zachery.

John noted that the surrogate they worked with “is a wonderful, kind and loving woman” and allowed him and his husband to witness both of their sons’ births in the delivery room.

“We tried to create a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere,” John said to People. “We were as excited at the prospect of Elijah’s birth as we were at the prospect of Zachary’s—but much less nervous.”

“The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way,” John said while reflecting on his second child’s birth. “It is difficult to fully express how we are feeling at this time; we are just overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.”

2. Nicole Kidman

Before Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban worked with a gestational carrier to have Faith, their second child, in 2010, the couple had Sunday, their first daughter, in 2008.

Kidman is one of the many women who have struggled to conceive after a successful pregnancy.

“Anyone that’s been in the place of wanting another child or wanting a child knows the disappointment, the pain, and the loss that you go through trying and struggling with fertility,” Kidman said on 60 Minutes Australia in 2011, according to BuzzFeed. “Fertility is such a big thing, and it’s not something I’ve ever run away from talking about.”

The couple kept their surrogacy private and released a statement after Faith’s birth, singing the praises of their gestational carrier:

“No words can adequately convey the incredible gratitude that we feel for everyone who was so supportive throughout this process, in particular our gestational carrier.”

Kidman also has two children via adoption with her ex-husband Tom Cruise. 

3. Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett and her spouse Courtney B. Vance struggled with infertility for years.

People reports that the couple tried fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization (IVF) before pursuing surrogacy.

“I was devastated when it didn’t happen [again and again],” Bassett told Oprah in 2007. “The more we learned about surrogacy, the more we began to think that perhaps this was an answer for us.”

In 2006, Bassett and Vance welcomed twins Slater and Bronwyn via surrogate.

Upon meeting their children, the couple felt immense joy. “Just standing there together, holding each other, with the realization that this is the moment that we’ve been working toward, praying for … [it’s a dream come true].”

Why You Should Work With American Surrogacy

If these successful surrogacy stories have inspired you to start your surrogacy journey, we want to tell you that your family is in good hands if you choose to work with American Surrogacy.

The Benefits of American Surrogacy

American Surrogacy is one of the most established full-service national surrogacy agencies that help families grow in the United States.

American Surrogacy will provide you (the intended parents) with the following essential surrogacy services during your journey:

Fast Surrogate Match-Making

American Surrogacy only works with pre-screened women ready to start the surrogacy journey with your family. This means you have the opportunity to match with a surrogate quickly.

For example, while market research shows that the average wait time at most surrogacy agencies is 12 to 18 months, our average wait time for intended parents is only 30 to 90 days.

Financial Protection and Fixed Fees

Surrogacy costs can vary significantly, and market research shows that the average cost of surrogacy is $100,000 to $250,000.

Here at American Surrogacy, we follow a fixed-free structure to ensure you’re aware of all surrogacy costs we can predict upfront so you can confidently move forward.

If you choose to work with our agency for your surrogacy, you’ll pay $129,900 for the surrogacy process. The following services are included in this cost:

  • Agency and case management fees
  • Gestational carrier fees
  • Medical fees
  • Legal fees

A Dedicated Surrogacy Specialist

American Surrogacy’s surrogacy specialists are licensed social workers, so you can be sure they are dedicated to making your surrogacy journey go smoothly.

Your surrogacy specialist will:

  • Help you through every step of your surrogacy journey
  • Ensure you receive all the practical and emotional support your family needs, like infertility counseling
  • Help you craft the right surrogacy plan for your family
  • Coordinate legal and medical services
  • Contact mediation

Start Your Journey With American Surrogacy Today

Successful surrogacies aren’t just for celebrities. With the help of an American Surrogacy specialist, you can also grow your family through surrogacy.

What You Need to Know about Known Donors

Anonymity in surrogacy is changing. So, as an intended parent, here’s what you need to know about known donors.

Just like anything in life, the field of surrogacy changes over time. In recent years, one of the most significant changes in surrogacy has been its anonymity.

With the rise of popular genealogy companies like 23andMe and Ancestry, complete anonymity in surrogacy is becoming rarer by the minute. It’s becoming more difficult to remain anonymous because children and intended parents are finding genetic links through these platforms. So, what exactly does this mean for you as an intended parent?

That’s what this article will help you out with. You’ll learn all that you need to know about known donors and anonymity in this detailed guide. You can also get more free information now when you contact us online. We’re happy to help you in whatever way we can.

What You Need to Know about Known Donors

With known donors becoming much more common in the world of surrogacy, some agencies these days are more open about the benefits of a known gamete donor. At-home DNA kits and genealogy websites have rendered anonymity unrealistic. Before then, anonymity was fairly ordinary. But that’s not quite the case anymore.

Today, some children conceived through anonymous surrogacy contact these donors, often without their consent. Because of this, plenty of donor clinics work exclusively with known gamete donors. Although you might be worried about working with a known donor, there are some things you should know that may ease your mind.

Benefits of Working with a Known Donor

To put any potential worries to rest, it could be helpful to outline some of the benefits of known donors. Family lineage remains a popular hobby for people, but it can also play a really important role in the surrogacy world. It provides a crucial piece of the larger puzzle for several reasons.

As a result, working with a known donor has a handful of benefits that you should be aware of:

  • You have better access to your child’s medical history
  • You already know the donor and feel comfortable with them
  • Your child can develop a stronger sense of identity

When you use a known gamete donor, it can be much easier for your child to ask questions and get the answers they need. For instance, they might be able to trace their genetic connections to half-siblings or cousins and build a relationship with them. Or, they could be curious to learn more about their biological history and surrogacy story.

Working with an anonymous donor will make it significantly more difficult for your child to get the direct answers they’re looking for. It’s similar to how scientific research underlies the benefits of open adoption for adoptees, whereas closed adoptions lead to plenty of unknowns and potential insecurities.

That same idea applies to surrogacy, too. Your child will likely have many questions about who they’re biologically related to, especially as they grow older. Working with a known donor can guarantee easier access to the information your child will understandably be curious about.

Understanding Donor Contracts with a Known Donor

One fear some intended parents have is that a donor will change their mind. They’re afraid that the donor will end up wanting to parent the child themselves. But there’s no need to worry. Whether the donor is known or unknown, they will have already signed a donor contract with their clinic.

In the case of using a known gamete donor, they will sign the donor contract with your surrogacy attorney. Your attorney will guarantee that the entire process is fair, legal and ethical. Keep in mind that surrogacy laws will vary depending on what state you live in. So, be sure to do some research beforehand and make sure your attorney understands your local laws like the back of their hand.

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Surrogacy can be a confusing, technical process, so we understand if you have some more questions about using known donors. That’s why our trusted staff is here to help you at any time.

To get more surrogacy information now, you can fill out our online contact form today. We would be more than happy to help you out!

What Is My First Step? The Agency or the Clinic?

What is my first step as an intended parent? Do I l find a fertility clinic or surrogacy agency? This guide explains what to do.

What is your first step as an intended parent? Do you locate a clinic for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment or try to find a surrogacy agency? We’re here to answer that question for you.

If you want to get free surrogacy information now, then you can contact us online whenever you need us. Our trusted team is always here to support you. In the meantime, though, we’ve put together this guide that explains what your first step should be as an intended parent.

Your First Step in Choosing Surrogacy [What You Need to Know]

You know surrogacy is the right path toward building your family and making your dreams of parenthood a reality. But, what you don’t know is how you begin the surrogacy process. What is that important first step, exactly? When you’re ready to get started, you’ll want to contact a reputable agency like American Surrogacy.

Our agency’s experienced professionals can answer all your questions. We will also determine your needs and preferences for matching with a prospective surrogate. Before you seek out a fertility clinic to undergo the IVF process, you should first work with American Surrogacy and go through our matching services. After all, how would you start IVF without a surrogate? That’s where we come in to help.

Finding a Surrogate Mother with Our Agency

As you might imagine, finding a prospective surrogate alone can be stressful. Fortunately, American Surrogacy has an extensive surrogacy screening process that ensures they are 100% committed to carrying a baby for you. For instance, we require all surrogates who work with us to:

  • Complete thorough background checks
  • Visit an obstetrician to confirm their fertility
  • Fill out social and medical history forms
  • Undergo a home assessment from a licensed social worker
  • Receive a psychosocial evaluation from a licensed psychologist

In other words, you can rest assured that all our prospective surrogates are dedicated to this journey. Before you match with a surrogate, our media specialists will help you create your intended parent profile. This profile showcases who you are. When prospective surrogates view them, they’ll learn about your hobbies and interests, family traditions, why you’ve chosen surrogacy, and so much more.

After they view your profile, you can begin getting to know the surrogate a bit better. Your American Surrogacy professional can arrange a video chat for you all. Here, you can ask them any questions you have and learn more about them as a person.

Also, your professional will mediate this call, and they’ll inform you of any topics to avoid before you speak with the surrogate mother. If you’re ready to move forward and feel like this is the right choice, then let your specialist know! It’s time to move to the next step.

What to Look for in a Surrogacy Clinic

Once you’ve matched with a prospective surrogate mother, your professional will refer you to a fertility clinic. Still, it is ultimately your choice as you decide which surrogacy clinic you’d like to work with.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to research which clinics meet your needs and preferences. No two surrogacy journeys are the same, so it’s important to find a surrogacy clinic that’s best for you. To give you a solid starting point, we’ve listed some key services below that you should keep an eye out for:

When you reach out to these clinics, be sure to ask them all your questions. Their answers will help you determine if the clinic you’re interested in meets your surrogacy needs.

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There’s no doubt that surrogacy is a complex topic, so we completely understand if you have some more questions. American Surrogacy is here for you whenever you need us. To get more free information now, you can fill out our online contact form today. We would love to hear from you!

The Process of Choosing a Surrogacy Professional

When it comes to choosing the right surrogacy professional, it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s why we’ve prepared this helpful guide just for you.

As you begin your search for surrogacy agencies to work with, it can be difficult to know where to start. Finding the professional that’s right for you is one of the most important steps of the surrogacy process. So, how do you know what’s best for you? American Surrogacy is here to help you out with that.

If you want more free information now, then you can contact us online at any time. But, you can continue reading to learn everything you need to know about the process of searching for the best surrogacy agencies.

The Process of Choosing a Surrogacy Professional

In many cases, intended parents and prospective surrogates choose local and smaller surrogacy agencies because they are in their own community. There is an automatic familiarity associated with them. However, local surrogacy professionals often don’t have the resources, skills or knowledge to manage cases effectively.

Typically, a local gestational surrogacy agency will match a prospective surrogate and intended parents, then send them on their way. After this point, they don’t help them anymore, and that’s if they even match an intended parent and surrogate in the first place. This also leads to drastically longer wait times.

On the other hand, American Surrogacy has the knowledge, resources and incredible level of social work experience to manage your case. We can guide you through the process with a commitment to completion. This gives us the lowest wait times and the best chance of matching qualified surrogates and intended parents.

If you want to find “surrogacy agencies near me,” then it’s also worth mentioning that, as a national surrogacy agency, we are licensed to complete the surrogacy process in your state. This also means that we have a national reach, so we provide you with the best possible chance of finding the absolute perfect match for your preferences and needs.

Surrogacy Resources and Services to Look for

While you look for the right gestational surrogacy agency for you, keep in mind that there are essential services and resources that you need. Here at American Surrogacy, we understand what intended parents have been through. Many have struggled with infertility or other issues, and this can be a significant emotional challenge. That’s why we want to help you to the best of our abilities.

On a similar note, we also understand that prospective surrogates want to help intended parents. Our trusted team at American Surrogacy can provide the resources and professional experience to help you achieve your goals. With that in mind, here is how we can help:

  • All intended parents and prospective surrogates who work with us undergo our extensive screening process.
  • We provide emotional support and guidance through each step of your surrogacy journey.
  • Our national outreach efforts give you the best chance to find the perfect match.
  • We act as your case manager throughout the entire surrogacy experience.
  • We refer you to reputable legal and medical professionals to guarantee a legal and ethical process.

We know that surrogacy can be complex and difficult to understand, so that’s why we want to be your guiding hand every step of the way.

Although there are many different surrogacy agencies out there, especially for gestational surrogacy, deciding which one is best for you will require researching and talking to them. Whenever you feel you’re ready to begin the surrogacy process, American Surrogacy is here for you.

Our team of experienced professionals can supply you with all the resources that you need for as smooth and stress-free of a surrogacy journey as possible. To get free surrogacy information now, you can fill out our online contact form today. We are ready to help you out at any time.

Surrogacy for HIV-Positive Couples

If you’re an intended parent with HIV, then can you still have a child through surrogacy? Fortunately, surrogacy for HIV-positive couples is possible.

If you’re an intended parent living with HIV, then you may have some concerns about passing the virus to your child. Maybe you have assumed that you can’t have a biological child, whether through surrogacy or not. Fortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

To learn more about how you can start your surrogacy journey today, fill out our online contact form and get more free information now. In the meantime, though, you can learn all you need to know about the logistics of surrogacy for HIV-positive couples. American Surrogacy is always here to help you out.

HIV and Surrogacy [What You Need to Know]

You know that HIV is transmitted through unprotected sex and various bodily fluids. Because of this, you may think that any form of conception, whether that’s through intercourse or surrogacy, is impossible. However, that is not the case. Advances in medicine have made it possible. Also, if you are HIV-positive, surrogacy is still an option for you.

The surrogacy process does not involve unprotected sex. In gestational surrogacy, the prospective surrogate is not related to the baby they carry. Either using a gamete donor or the intended parents’ eggs and/or sperm, a fertility clinic will create an embryo using those gametes. Once an embryo is created, it will then be transferred to the prospective surrogate’s uterus. This is also known as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In traditional surrogacy, the prospective surrogate is biologically related to the baby they’re carrying. Through intrauterine insemination (IUI), the prospective surrogate’s own eggs are fertilized using a sperm donor or the intended father’s sperm. So, surrogacy for HIV-positive couples is still possible, whether you want to pursue gestational or traditional surrogacy.

HIV-Positive Surrogacy and Medical Advances

Still, you might be wondering if the baby can catch HIV through your genetics. Fortunately, a medical technique called “sperm washing” has made it possible for you not to transmit HIV to your baby. This is when a medical professional, such as a fertility clinic, collect sperm from an HIV-positive person and separates the sperm from infected cells in seminal fluid. This allows them to use only the sperm cells for the IVF process.

HIV is not transmitted through the sperm itself. Rather, it’s spread through the seminal fluid. A 2016 study found zero transmissions of HIV from 11,585 sperm washing procedures before IVF or IUI in nearly 4,000 women. For maximum safety, your fertility clinic may also require your prospective surrogate to take antiviral medication before the embryo transfer.

Requirements for Surrogacy for HIV-Positive Couples

To ensure that your HIV-positive surrogacy is as safe as possible, you will need to be non-infectious. In other words, you should:

  • Follow your HIV treatment protocols
  • Take medication as directed
  • Have an undetectable viral load for a set number of months (usually six or more)
  • Undergo testing for STDs
  • Speak with your primary care physician

When it comes to creating the embryo for IVF, you will usually provide two or three semen samples for washing. If you need an egg donor, then you can work with your fertility clinic or a gamete bank to find one.

 If you’re married or in a relationship with the intended mother and want to use their eggs, then they will need to undergo egg harvesting to create the embryo.

To work with American Surrogacy, in particular, you will need to meet a specific set of surrogacy requirements. This includes making the necessary emotional and financial preparations in advance.

We would love to help you start your surrogacy journey whenever you’re ready. Surrogacy for HIV-positive couples is possible, and our trusted team would be more than happy to guide you every step of the way. To get more surrogacy information now, you can contact us online at any time. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Women Empowering Women Through Surrogacy

If you’re thinking about pursuing surrogacy, you likely know how the experience will change your life. But, the process also often empowers the women involved. Read on to hear three empowering surrogacy stories.

Surrogacy can help intended parents build their families and surrogates fulfill their financial goals. But, it’s also important to reflect on how surrogacy helps women empower other women.

A recent BBC article touched on this sometimes overlooked part of surrogacy. The moving stories in the piece inspired us to share some of American Surrogacy’s clients’ empowering stories.

When you work with American Surrogacy, the intended parents and surrogate get to choose to help each other, so you’ll have the opportunity of empowering each other’s lives in distinct ways, too. Contact us if you’re ready to start that journey today. But, continue reading to hear a few empowering surrogacy stories. 

Why People Choose Surrogacy

People choose surrogacy for diverse reasons. Generally, though, intended parents choose surrogacy to have the opportunity to raise a child of their own. And although many surrogates decide to pursue commercial surrogacy to receive fair compensation for their time and service, they also do so to help a person become a parent.

The following stories are kind, loving reminders about how the surrogacy process helps women empower each other to fulfill their family-building goals.

Fran and Gina’s Story

Fran, a mother of two girls through surrogacy, met Gina, the surrogate who delivered her children, on a UK surrogacy Facebook group Gina runs. Gina became a surrogate to help create “a family for someone else” and started the social media group to help women grow their families through surrogacy independently.

In September 2021, Gina noted that her surrogacy Facebook group had more than 1,000 members and that in 2019, independent groups helped intended families have 40 babies.

Empowering Women Through Surrogacy

Fran chose to pursue surrogacy after finding out her cervical cancer treatment affected her ability to carry a pregnancy to term.

“My consultant told me about a woman like me who was now a mum and she was my goal,” Fran said to the BBC. “I want to put my story out there to show others that normal real-life women get through this and take their own baby home.

“I can’t think of a better way of women empowering women.”

Read all of Fran and Gina’s story here.

More Stories of Women Helping Women

The following stories come from women (and their partners) who have worked with American Surrogacy. 

“It Felt More Like a Friendship”

Although Chelsea felt that her family was complete, she loved being pregnant. “I guess that’s where surrogacy started to come into mind,” she said.

Chelsea was excited when she matched with Dave and Melissa and couldn’t wait to get to know them. “We met for the first time through video chat, and we just hit it off so well,” she said.

“You could tell how badly they wanted a baby, and they deserved that. It just felt like a family connection, and it still feels that way.”

Chelsea said her favorite part of the surrogacy experience was seeing the intended parents’ joy.

“I would say my favorite part was seeing how happy Dave and Melissa were when they got to see the ultrasounds of Alden, video chat during doctor’s appointments, hearing his heartbeat, and watching him move around. As a parent, those are really special moments, and I was happy that I got to share that with them.”

“Families are created in different ways,” Melissa added. “To create ours, we had a lot of doctors and a special lady named Chelsea.”

Read all of Chelsea’s story here and Dave and Melissa’s story here.

“Anything That I Wanted, She Wanted”

Lindsey and Shiloh started considering surrogacy after adopting Quinn, their first daughter and then experiencing two adoption disruptions.

They ended up having three embryos left over from their infertility treatments and started to tentatively research surrogacy.

“I was just looking to see what surrogates were available in Kansas, if there were any,” Lindsey said. “I got online and saw that there was a surrogate very close to where my husband and I are both from, and I emailed her, and the rest is history.”

One of the first things that Megan, Lindsey’s surrogate, said to her was: “I’m not in this for the money.”

“When she said that to me, and I knew it was about the connection and giving somebody the gift of life, we had an instant connection.”

Megan added that her surrogacy experience was more than getting pregnant for someone else; it was life-changing.

“I didn’t just have babies for somebody else; I gained an entire family through the whole process,” Megan said. “It was the most rewarding thing in the entire world. I would do it all over again.” 

Read all of Lindsey and Shiloh’s story hereand Megan’s story here.

Ready to Start Your Surrogacy Journey?

Our surrogacy specialists are here to answer any questions you may have about matching with intended parents or a surrogate. And, if you want to hear from someone who has completed a surrogacy journey and understands how empowering it is, contact Alicia today.

How We Reduce Surrogacy Wait Times [In 2 Valuable Ways]

Although gestational surrogacy wait times are increasing at some surrogacy agencies, American Surrogacy’s stayed the same. Continue reading to find out how our agency completes successful surrogacies quickly.

Although surrogacy wait times have increased in recent years, American Surrogacy has maintained our 30 to 120-day intended parent waiting period.

We’re proud that we’ve continued to help families grow quickly and safely by providing care and assistance throughout the surrogacy process for intended parents.

Continue reading to discover why surrogacy wait times exist and how American Surrogacy maintains its predictable intended parents’ surrogacy waiting period. But, you can contact us today if you think you’re ready to start talking to a surrogacy specialist about starting your gestational surrogacy journey.

Why Surrogacy Wait Times Exist

Waiting for anything you’re excited about is challenging. And waiting to start the surrogacy process – and successfully complete a surrogacy agreement – is no different. But, intended parents’ surrogacy wait times are necessary.

Generally, most surrogacy wait times are due to the surrogacy medical process.

The Gestational Surrogacy Medical Process

To better understand the overall length of the surrogacy process, let’s take a deeper look into the steps of the medical process.

Pre-Medical Process Steps

You and the surrogate will undergo thorough screenings to ensure you’re ready for surrogacy and can safely experience pregnancy again. These screenings take time but are routine, so don’t worry too much.

Common surrogacy screenings include:

  • Physical
  • Psychological
  • Medical

Once these screenings are complete, you’ll match with a surrogate. Your surrogacy attorney will then help finalize a surrogacy contract.

Intended Parent Medical Steps

When you reach the medical portion of your gestational surrogacy with our agency, your surrogacy specialist will prepare you for the common medical steps all intended parents go through. Again, try not to stress too much about this process – you will receive support from your care team to ensure everything goes smoothly.

  1. Egg production stimulation: If you or your partner’s eggs are used, you’ll start to take medications to stimulate egg production. Once the fertility clinic determines its time, a minor egg retrieval process will happen.
  2. Fertilization: After eggs are retrieved from you (or your partner or a donor), they are fertilized using sperm from the intended father or sperm donor.
  3. Incubation: After fertilization, the embryos are incubated and assessed for development before being transferred to the gestational carrier.
  4. Pregnancy: After the transfer occurs, a clinic will confirm if there’s a pregnancy. You’ll continue to support the surrogate and share the pregnancy experience.

Surrogate Mother Steps

The gestational carrier naturally has a few more medical procedures to go through. This ensures she and the baby remain safe and healthy throughout the pregnancy.

  1. Fertility medications: These medications increase the chances of a successful embryo transfer.
  2. Embryo transfer: This quick and painless procedure requires a few days of rest post-appointment.
  3. Pregnancy confirmation: A fertility clinic will confirm a pregnancy a few weeks post-transfer.
  4. Prenatal care: This entails OBGYN appointments, medications, and routine procedures to ensure the pregnancy is progressing normally.
  5. Delivery: After the surrogate delivers your baby, you go home as a family to start your parenthood journey.

How We Reduce Surrogacy Wait Times

Although challenging global factors like the pandemic have caused the average intended parents’ surrogacy wait times to increase and the number of surrogates to decrease, our agency’s wait times have held steady.

Because American Surrogacy can provide all the surrogacy services you need in-house, you get to experience a shorter overall surrogacy wait time.

A few of those key services that support shorter wait times are:

1. Matching Services

In addition to having an extensive network of prospective surrogates who live across the United States, we also offer comprehensive matching services.

Our matching services reduce gestational surrogacy wait times by ensuring:

  • Unlimited matching: We provide unlimited re-matching if you experience a surrogacy setback (like an unsuccessful pregnancy or surrogacy interruption). This allows you to restart your surrogacy journey quickly.
  • Smaller surrogate-intended-parent ratios: Our agency has a 1:1 ratio of intended parents to gestational carriers.
  • Pre-match surrogate screenings: All of our prospective surrogates are screened before becoming active. This allows us to present you with a trusted surrogate on day one.
  • Match with someone who holds similar values: You will have the opportunity to match with a surrogate with all the qualities you admire.
  • An extensive network of surrogates: Our surrogates live across the country. We attract many surrogates because of our resources, compensation rates, and more.

2. Surrogacy Resources

Our agency has multiple resources that help reduce surrogacy wait times, too.

These resources include:

  • Nationwide marketing: Our advertising efforts reach surrogates throughout the country.
  • Personal support: Because our agency provides support throughout the entire process, we can find and retain surrogates who are prepared and dedicated to the surrogacy journey.
  • Professional references: Our agency partners with licensed and qualified legal counsel to ensure all aspects of your surrogacy journey are 100% legal and quickly executed.

Start Your Successful Surrogacy Journey Today

Contact us today to find out how we can make your surrogacy dreams a reality.

About the Qualifications for Surrogacy

If you’re wondering about the qualifications for surrogacy, then we’ve got you covered. Here’s all you need to know about becoming a surrogate.

Most surrogates truly want to experience something special. They simply want to help intended parents see their dream of parenting become a reality. If you’re a prospective surrogate, then it’s normal to be curious about the qualifications for surrogacy. So, how do you become a surrogate? And, what do you need to do if don’t meet those requirements at first?

You can work with American Surrogacy to find out exactly what is needed to continue to pursue surrogacy even if you are initially declined. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you out. Whenever you need us, you can contact us online to get free surrogacy information now.

Becoming a Surrogate [and Making Lifestyle Changes]

As a prospective surrogate, meeting the necessary qualifications is important. But, what happens if you don’t meet them? In certain cases, people can make the needed changes in their lifestyles to become a surrogate. For example, if you are a smoker or have been taking a flagged medication, you can quit either one and, after a specific amount of time, become a surrogate.

In other words, you can still become a surrogate. You are not locked out of this path for good. That’s why it’s crucial to speak with a trusted surrogacy specialist at American Surrogacy to see what your options are. Maybe you’ll find out that, with the proper changes in lifestyle or in general, you can help other people build their family.

The Screening Process [What It Entails]

When you decide to become a surrogate, you will have to go through the surrogacy screening process. We understand that this may sound overwhelming, so we’ll break it down for you below. Even if you’re worried that you may not qualify, that doesn’t mean you can’t give it another go after some time has passed and you’ve made some changes in your life.

Social and Medical History Forms

Following the initial surrogacy application, you will complete the social and medical history forms. On top of these forms, you will also need to provide:

  • A letter of approval from your OB/GYN
  • A copy of your driver’s license
  • Your insurance card and a PDF of your policy manual

Keep in mind that our trusted specialists at American Surrogacy are here to walk you through each and every step of your journey. When you work with us, you are never alone.

Home Evaluation

To make sure that your living environment is healthy for both you and the baby, you will need to undergo an in-home assessment. A licensed social worker will come to your home, ask you some questions and take a look at the house to ensure its safety. They’ll need to speak with all adults living in the home, too. To give you a better idea of what you’ll talk about with them, you’ll cover topics such as:

  • Why you’re pursuing surrogacy
  • Any concerns you have about the process
  • How you’ll look after yourself and your pregnancy

It’s normal to feel stressed out about this step, as it can seem intense at first glance. Your social worker will understand if you’re feeling nervous.  They’re simply making sure that you are prepared and that your surrogacy goes according to plan.

Medical Assessment

As you may have guessed, you will also have to complete a medical evaluation. This is to ensure your physical safety and readiness for the pregnancy and the embryo transfer. Here at American Surrogacy, we abide by the recommendations from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). These guidelines include:

  • Lab testing for blood and urine
  • A letter of approval from your primary care physician
  • A review of your sexual history
  • A physical exam that includes saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS)
  • And more

Remember, if you are concerned that you may not meet the qualifications of surrogacy at first, you can make some alterations in your lifestyle. Once you have waited a certain amount of time, you can try again. If you have any more questions about this, then you can fill out our online contact form to get more free information now. We would be more than happy to help you out.