How does the gestational surrogacy IVF cycle work?
As a surrogate, you may have had an easy time getting pregnant. So this in vitro fertilization (IVF) process may be new to you. Don’t worry--we are here to demystify the process for you.
In the most basic terms, IVF means the egg and the sperm are combined together in the laboratory, resulting in a batch of embryos. The embryos are frozen for later use. When the time comes, one of these embryos is thawed and then placed into a woman’s uterus. Then, we all cross our fingers hoping the embryo implants into the uterus, just like in a spontaneous pregnancy. The woman getting pregnant via IVF is usually the prospective mother, but it also can be a gestational surrogate. The embryo transfer procedure works the same in both instances.
A woman’s body needs to be prepared to be receptive to accepting an embryo. This happens with the use of hormonal medications, which can be in the form of pills, vaginal inserts, skin patches, and injections. None of us enjoy the injections but they are a necessary part of the process. You may be lucky and your reproductive endocrinologist, i.e., the IVF doctor, may not use injections as part of her treatment protocol.
The purpose of the hormones is to shut down your ovaries (because they can interfere with the process) and to build up a nice thick, triple-striped lining in your uterus that will accept the embryo and allow it to implant. So to see if this is happening, you will go in for transvaginal ultrasounds and have your blood drawn a handful of times as you prepare for the embryo transfer date. These monitoring appointments will usually be done at a location close to your home.
When the doctor believes your body is ready, she will have you come in for an embryo transfer procedure. This appointment will take place at the IVF clinic where the embryos are located, so you may need to travel for this.
The embryo transfer procedure sounds like a scary thing, but it’s really easy and painless for most women. I would describe it as much, much easier than a pap smear. You will be asked to have a full bladder (OK, that part is not fun), and you will be awake for the transfer procedure. The doctor will slide a soft catheter into your vagina, and through your cervix, and then transfer the embryo through the catheter into your uterus. You may be asked to take it easy for a few days following the embryo transfer, and you will keep taking your hormone medications.
A couple of weeks later, you will have a blood test done to see if you have become pregnant. If the test is positive, you will keep taking medications and have a repeat blood test done to make sure your HCG levels are going up at the right rate. Then you will go in for an ultrasound to verify that the embryo implanted in your uterus (as opposed to having an ectopic pregnancy). Again, this ultrasound will be done transvaginally. This bloodwork and ultrasound generally take place at a doctor’s office located near your home.
The ultrasound will also look for a viable fetus with a strong heartbeat. Many surrogacy contracts start the surrogate’s compensation upon the detection of a heartbeat, so this is both a medically and legally important milestone. If everything looks good, you will be released to your OB/GYN for routine prenatal care, and your first compensation payment will be released from escrow.
So that’s it! IVF has been going on now for over 40 years in the United States. This means doctors are well-versed in how to do all of this and expectations are for a positive outcome following embryo transfer. A good surrogacy agency will handle all the little details for you, so that all you need to worry about is taking your medications as prescribed and showing up for your appointments. Less hassle for you so you can focus on the pregnancy and growing your relationship with the intended parents. Are you ready to talk to someone at New England Surrogacy about helping to grow another family? Contact us today to learn more from one of our experienced surrogates.