When I am talking to surrogates about the type of intended parents they would want to work with, they commonly ask “but if I work with a single mom, would we use my egg?” The answer is no. Pearl Surrogacy only facilitates gestational surrogacy arrangements, which means the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the baby she carries- it’s not her egg.
There are lots of terms floating around to describe surrogacy – gestational surrogacy, gestational carrier, traditional surrogacy. These terms more precisely describe different types of surrogacy arrangements.
Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate’s egg is used and she is the biological mother of the child. Pregnancy is often attempted by insemination. There are a limited number of states that will honor a traditional surrogacy contract, making these arrangements legally complex. Pearl Surrogacy does not work with traditional surrogates. If you are considering a traditional surrogacy arrangement, it is very important to consult with an attorney knowledgeable about assisted reproductive law about your plans.
Gestational surrogacy (frequently abbreviated GS) and gestational carrier (frequently abbreviated GC) both describe surrogacy arrangements when the embryo is not genetically related to the surrogate, which means it is not the surrogate’s egg. In gestational surrogacy arrangements, the egg could be from the intended mother or from an egg donor, but it is never from the surrogate. The embryo is created through IVF. The surrogate takes medications to get her uterus ready and then the embryo is transferred into the surrogate. While many more states recognize gestational surrogacy arrangements than traditional surrogacy arrangements, there are still some states where any kind of surrogacy arrangement is not permitted. All surrogate arrangements have a lot of moving parts. No matter where you are in the process, Pearl Surrogacy is happy to answer your questions and guide you through your surrogacy journey!