Gestational Surrogacy and Frozen Donor Eggs

For some families hoping for a child of their own, donor eggs may not be enough. Some couples need to also rely on a gestational surrogate for a successful pregnancy. A gestational surrogate is a woman who carries a pregnancy and delivers a baby for another family. This surrogate if often not related to the baby she carries; the pregnancy is achieved through IVF with another egg, which can be a donor egg.

So when is a gestational surrogate the best option, and how does it relate to the use of donor eggs — especially frozen donor eggs?

Surrogacy for Women Facing Infertility

A woman may have an issue with her uterus that prevents a pregnancy from being carried safely to term, this includes a missing uterus due to surgery or other health difficulties. At the same time, she may also have problems with her eggs due to age, ovarian health, or other genetic factors. The decision to use donor eggs, as well as a surrogate to carry the pregnancy, is a difficult decision. But for couples faced with these fertility problems, surrogacy with donor eggs represents their best chance at parenthood.

Surrogacy for Gay Males Couples Building Families

Male couples longing for their own children now have the option to use donor eggs with a surrogate. The definition of family is expanding, yet sometimes adoption can be a daunting process for male couples. Instead, surrogacy with donor eggs offers the chance to start their own family.

How Do Families Find a Surrogate?

Find a surrogate is not an easy process. Some couples go through agencies to find a healthy, screened young woman to act as a gestational surrogate. Some go through private channels to find one on their own. Both routes to find a gestational surrogate are emotionally and legally complicated, and take time, patience, and money.

What’s Involved with Using Donor Eggs and a Gestational Surrogate?

The steps involved with donated eggs and surrogacy are time-consuming and complex, especially if families decide to use fresh donor eggs from a live donor.

• Both women have to find time in their busy lives for what is, after all, a major commitment for both (but especially for the surrogate).
• Legal documents have to be signed.
• In-depth screening must be completed for donor and surrogate.
• Both women’s menstrual cycles have be synchronized through medication.
• There are also travel arrangements and expenses for the couple, the donor, and the surrogate.
• There’s no guarantee how the donor will respond to the medication, or how many eggs will be retrieved.

All the time and expense involved with a gestational surrogate can be very difficult for couples seeking a chance at parenthood through this method.

How Frozen Donor Eggs Can Help

Frozen donor eggs from a donor egg bank such as Fairfax EggBank have already been retrieved from rigorously screened donors, extraordinary women who have already taken the time and effort to donate their eggs. What does this mean for the surrogacy process?

• Less time. With frozen donor eggs, the screening and retrieval have already been completed.
• Less worry. Families only need to focus on the needs and scheduling of one special woman, the surrogate.
• Less expense. No travel and legal expenses for the egg donor are required with frozen eggs.
• Less surprise. When a couple purchases frozen donor eggs, the eggs are shipped in a cohort, or a set number of eggs. There’s no surprises about the number of eggs retrieved.

For couples hoping to build their families with the help of a gestational surrogate and donor eggs, frozen donor eggs can be a more affordable way to make their wishes come true. Please contact us if you have more questions about surrogacy with frozen eggs.