Below are the surrogacy questions for intended parents we hear most often. If you do not see yours, reach out and we will answer it directly.
There are many people involved in a surrogacy journey, and that can feel overwhelming. Our job as an agency is a bit like conducting an orchestra, bringing all the players together into one coordinated journey.Besides the gestational carrier and the Intended Parents, there is the fertility clinic that performs the medical cycle, along with many other professionals, including attorneys who draw up contracts between all parties, mental health professionals who explore the motivations and readiness of everyone involved, and escrow companies that hold all funds to be paid to the gestational carrier in a safe, secure account.At the Surrogacy Center of Philadelphia, our 15+ years of experience helps you navigate this process with confidence.
Not every agency is familiar with the complexities of international surrogacy. We are proud to have guided many journeys with Intended Parents who live outside of the United States. Our team provides online consultations and facilitated video matching sessions, working closely with your home-country attorney to make sure all legal documents are properly recognized. Post-delivery support is highly personal too, from helping you obtain passports to go home, to providing baby supplies, to making your family's stay here as comfortable as possible.
A gestational carrier carries embryos created through IVF. Before the embryo transfer, she takes cycling medications. These are hormones that control and suppress ovulation and build up the uterine lining so her body is ready to receive the embryo. The hormones are given as injections.The gestational carrier visits the clinic regularly so the team can monitor her hormone levels and measure the thickness of her uterine lining through blood work and ultrasounds. At the right time, the doctor transfers the embryo into her uterus through a tiny catheter. It is a short, painless procedure. She then rests for a day or two before returning to normal activities.
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. Our role is to keep every piece moving in the right order so you do not have to.
Gestational surrogacy is a way to have a child for individuals and couples. Intended Parents work with a gestational carrier who becomes pregnant using embryos created with the intended mother's egg or a donor egg, and the intended father's sperm or donor sperm. The gestational carrier has no genetic relationship to the baby. You can read more in our guide to gestational surrogacy.
Intended Parents complete intake forms and build a private matching profile in our system. When a surrogate completes our comprehensive medical, psychological, and background screening, she builds a profile too, which lets us capture her preferences for matching. Our team presents both parties with pre-screened candidates who fit their preferences. If interest is mutual, we facilitate meetings between everyone before anyone commits to moving forward.
Good communication is the foundation of a healthy relationship. We will never match you with a gestational carrier whose values or preferences on important issues, like communication, differ from yours. We encourage Intended Parents and Surrogates to communicate directly, and your case manager is always available to help facilitate conversations when needed.
Absolutely. We have worked with many single parents. We can refer you to outstanding local donor programs and clinics to create your embryos, then help you find a wonderful surrogate to complete your family.
We believe in clear, upfront costs and affordability. Our agency will provide a detailed cost estimate based on your circumstances and the clinic you choose. Our agency fee is $24,000, divided into four manageable payments across your journey. On average, a complete surrogacy journey costs around $105,000, including surrogate compensation, insurance, medical bills, and legal fees. We help clients fund their journeys through grants, discount programs, and other options. You can see a full breakdown on our surrogacy cost page.
Please complete our inquiry form below. We will send you an information packet about our program and set up a consultation. If our matching waitlist is open, we will have you complete our intake forms and matching profile so we can find you a great surrogate. We give our Intended Parents and Surrogates highly personalized care, so we limit the number of cases we take on each year.
