If you’re considering becoming a surrogate, you already know there many different paths to parenthood. One of the most common ways women have been able to achieve pregnancy is through artificial fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are advanced fertility treatments designed to assist couples facing infertility challenges. Some women who have used these treatments and experienced the difficulties of getting pregnant may want to become a surrogates to help others. If you’ve used IVF or IUI to conceive your previous pregnancies, there may be questions about your eligibility to become a surrogate.
Our guide can help you determine what is achievable as a surrogate who’s used IVF or IUI and whether surrogacy is right for you. Want to know more? Contact us today.
Becoming a Surrogate After Infertility
Many of the intended parents who choose surrogacy do so because of infertility. That’s why all of our surrogates are thoroughly screened to ensure they are physically, mentally and logistically capable of conceiving and carrying a pregnancy.
IVF and IUI are procedures commonly used by couples struggling to conceive due to infertility. If you used either of these methods in the past due to infertility, there are circumstances where you may not qualify to be a surrogate. One of the biggest determining factors is if the infertility you and your partner were experiencing was due to male and/or female infertility.
Male Infertility
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate after IUI or IVF, this may be possible if your fertility issues were linked to male infertility in your partner, as they will not be involved in the process of you becoming pregnant. Male infertility issues could consist of:
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Low sperm-count
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Low sperm motility
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Structural issues with reproductive organs
If you’ve used IUI or IVF because your partner is infertile but you are not, you may still be eligible to become a surrogate.
Female Infertility
If you’ve used IVF or IUI in the past due to infertility issues stemming from your reproductive system, there are situations where you may be able to become a surrogate. Such issues can include:
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Issues with your fallopian tubes
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Egg count and quality
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Irregular ovulation
In gestational surrogacy, your eggs won’t be used. An embryo is created from the intended mother’s egg or a donor egg and the intended father’s sperm and transferred to your uterus. Therefore, issues of your eggs and ovulation may not affect your ability to become a surrogate.
However, if your infertility is linked to uterine issues you may not be an ideal candidate for surrogacy. Such issues include:
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Polyps
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Fibroids
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Adhesions
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Endometriosis
While you may not need to use your own eggs for the surrogacy process, issues with the uterus can create an inhospitable environment for the embryo, which may diminish your ability to successfully conceive a pregnancy.
Our Medical Screening Process
There are several ways we determine whether or not someone is a good surrogate candidate. One of those is through the medical screening process. This will ultimately determine if you are physically capable of conceiving and sustaining a pregnancy. The medical screening includes:
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A review of social/medical history
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A pap smear and physical exam
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Infectious disease screening and bloodwork
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Hysteroscopy to determine the shape and size of the uterus
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And more.
If you have used IUI or IVF in the past as an infertility option, surrogacy may not be the best option for you. While you can relate to the difficulties of pursuing parenthood, becoming a surrogate after infertility could be difficult and even risky.
Can I Be a Surrogate If I Used IUI?
IUI involves placing sperm directly into the uterus during the woman's fertile window, enhancing the chances of fertilization. It is a less invasive option suitable for certain fertility issues. We do accept surrogates who have used IUI for previous pregnancies. The most important thing is that they have had healthy pregnancies and have not had any other major complications.
Can I Be a Surrogate If I Used IVF?
On the other hand, IVF is a more intricate procedure where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish, and then implanted into the uterus. IVF is often used during the surrogacy process for the parent who is using her eggs for the process. We do accept surrogates who have used IVF in the past. Again, we look more closely at whether or not they had a healthy pregnancy.
If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate after IVF or IUI, we want you to know that the path to surrogacy is possible. There will be steps to ensure you are healthy enough to go through the pregnancy along with ensuring you have the support needed to do so. If you are ready to get started, contact a surrogacy specialist today.