Below are the surrogate questions we hear most often from women considering the journey. If you do not see yours, reach out and we will answer it directly.
In gestational surrogacy, the intended parents' embryo is carried by a surrogate who has no genetic tie to the baby. The embryo can be created using the intended mother's eggs or donor eggs, and the intended father's sperm or donor sperm. The surrogate carries the baby to term and delivers, but she shares no genetic material with the child.
Of course. As a surrogate, you review detailed profiles of families who could be a good match for you. When one feels right, our team sets up a meeting and facilitates it. After that meeting and some follow-up conversations, you move forward together only if everyone agrees.
Two things set us apart: personal attention and fair pay. Our case managers answer your emails, texts, and calls quickly, and they advocate for you at every step. You will have one dedicated case manager from the start of your journey through delivery, along with nutritional and psychological support the whole way. Compensation is competitive and includes a base payment plus wellness bonuses, full medical insurance coverage, a maternity clothing allowance, lost wages, childcare and housekeeping, and more. Because most of our families live right here in the Greater Philadelphia area and work with local clinics, you travel far less than you would with a national agency. We even host playdates and lunches so surrogates and their families can connect.
A surrogacy journey brings several people together: the Intended Parents, the gestational carrier, the fertility clinic that handles the medical cycle, attorneys who draw up the contracts, a mental health professional who supports everyone involved, an escrow company that safely holds and disburses funds, and the agency that coordinates it all.
No. Intended parents cover all costs related to your surrogacy. That includes things like childcare expenses, co-payments for medical services, and insurance premiums. These are entirely separate from the compensation you receive for carrying their baby.
You won't have to travel far. Unlike most national agencies, the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia works with local clinics and Intended Parents, so it is rare for our surrogates to travel a long distance. Travel can be a real challenge, especially when you are caring for your own family at the same time. In the rare event that you do need to travel, all of your expenses are covered.
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. To become a gestational carrier, we ask that your BMI fall between 20 and 34. The hormone medications used during a surrogacy cycle work best within that range, and a healthy BMI also lowers the risk of pregnancy complications. If you are close and not sure where you land, reach out and we can talk it through.
Full medical coverage for your surrogacy is part of your compensation package. Some insurance policies cover surrogacy and some do not, so we review your policy carefully to make sure there are no surprise bills. Either way, the intended parents are responsible for all of your surrogacy-related costs. If you do not have insurance, or your policy is not surrogacy-friendly, a policy will be obtained and paid for by the parents.
Yes. Tubal ligation stops your own eggs from reaching the uterus, but it does not prevent you from carrying a baby. In surrogacy, the intended parents' embryo is transferred directly into your uterus, so your ovaries and fallopian tubes are not involved in the pregnancy.
Breastfeeding naturally delays ovulation and menstruation. Even once your cycle returns, the medications and hormones needed for an embryo transfer are not safe while breastfeeding. For that reason, we ask that you have weaned and had at least one menstrual cycle before we begin the medical part of your journey.
There are two kinds of surrogates, traditional and gestational. A traditional surrogate provides her own egg and carries the baby, so she is genetically related to the child. In gestational surrogacy, the intended parents create an embryo with their own or donor eggs and sperm, and it is transferred into the surrogate, who shares no genetic material with the baby. The Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia provides gestational surrogacy only.
