Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Surrogacy Program?
- Intended parents 22 years old and up are eligible to apply for the Surrogacy Program in Ukraine
- Couples are eligible for all types of gestational surrogacy and embryo adoption.
- Single men are eligible for gestational surrogacy with egg donor
- Single women are eligible to apply for our Embryo adoption program in which they will be provided with an egg donor and sperm donor, or with a frozen embryo.
Can I choose the gender of my child?
Indeed you can! Our clinics are able to examine the embryo in order to determine the gender of the child prior to implantation.
Do I pay all fees upfront?
No. All fees are paid in installments throughout the course of the program. Many are due at the time services are performed or provided. Please refer to the fee schedule found on our website for fees and refund information.
What kind of legal assistance will we have overseas?
International Surrogacy Partners’ program is designed to ensure that you are provided full legal representation in Ukraine throughout your international surrogacy process. ISP together, with our partner, International Agency Assisted Motherhood, will assist families throughout the legal part of the surrogacy process. This includes help and guidance during the signing of the contract between the family and the surrogate/egg donor as well as obtaining the birth certificate and other documents required to secure a U.S. passport for the baby.
What sort of assistance will we have during our trips to Ukraine?
We will provide you with daily, unlimited full service assistance. This includes logistic support, including translators, drivers, hotels and assistance with living arrangements. We provide you with guidance throughout the process, including arrangement of all medical consultations, visits and procedures, meetings with potential surrogates, follow-up, and delivery. Following the birth of your child we will provide arrangements for an apartment, medical check-ups for the baby, shopping assistance, and help with the day-to-day needs of caring for your new baby.
How do we bring the child back to our home?
We obtain the birth certificate and new American passport for your newest family member to be able to return to the U.S. with you. Please remember that your child is automatically an American citizen!
How long does it take to find an egg donor and surrogate mother?
We have an exclusive arrangement that allows our families to go through the process in an expedited manner. You will be able to meet and interview potential surrogate mother and finalize your selection of egg donor during your first trip.
How do I select a surrogate mother?
Your family’s wishes will be presented to the surrogate center prior to your travel. During your first trip, you will have the opportunity to meet with 2 or 3 surrogate mothers.
Surrogacy Terms
Antibody |
A protein found in the blood that is produced in response to foreign substances (e.g. bacteria or viruses) invading the body. Antibodies protect the body from disease by binding to these organisms and destroying them. |
APGAR score |
The APGAR score is a measurement of a newborn's response to birth and life outside the womb. Ratings are based on the following factors: Appearance (color); Pulse, Grimace (reflex), Activity and Respiration. A high score is 10 and the low end is 1. |
Artificial insemination |
Is placing sperm into the female reproductive tract. |
Basal body temperature |
A woman's base body temperature, measured at the same time each day, upon first waking up in the morning, before getting out of bed. Used in fertility charting. |
Beta hCG test |
A blood test used to detect very early pregnancy and evaluate development. |
Biochemical pregnancy |
When the patient’s pregnancy test is positive but no pregnancy is visible on ultrasound scan. |
Biopsy |
The removal of a piece of tissue for microscopic examination. |
Blastocyst transfer |
The transfer of one or more embryos at the blastocyst stage into the uterine cavity. |
BPM |
"Beats per minute," referring to the fetal heart. A normal fetal heart rate ranges from 120 to 160 BPM. There is no correlation between fetal heart rate and the baby's gender, despite common myths. |
Cesarean |
Also known as a "c-section"; the delivery of a baby via an abdominal surgical incision. Most common is a transverse (or "bikini") incision that is performed along the top of the pubic hairline. Vertical ("classical") incisions are less common but may be required in certain circumstances. |
Chemical pregnancy |
Pregnancy documented by a blood or urine test that shows a rise in the level of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone without the presence of a fetus. |
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) |
A procedure that involves taking a biopsy from the placenta to test the fetus for genetic abnormalities. It is usually carried out under ultrasound scan at about eleven weeks of pregnancy. The placenta has the same genetic make-up as the baby. There is a 2-3% risk of the procedure causing a miscarriage. |
Clinical |
A pregnancy confirmed by increasing levels of hCG and the presence of a gestational sac detected by ultrasound scan but no fetus is present. |
Clomiphene (clomid) |
A fertility drug (anti estrogen tablet) used to stimulate ovulation. |
D & C |
Dilatation and Curettage. It is the dilatation of the cervical canal followed by the scrapping of the uterine lining. |
Egg collection/ |
The procedure by which eggs are collected from the woman's ovaries. |
Egg Donor |
A woman who donates her eggs. |
Egg Recipient |
A woman who receives embryos created with donor eggs. |
Embryo |
A fertilized egg up to eight weeks of development. |
Embryo |
The replacement of one or more embryos into the uterine cavity. |
Fetus |
The term used for an embryo after the eighth week of development until birth. |
Gamete |
A reproductive cell, either a sperm or an egg. |
Gestational Surrogate |
A woman who carries a baby that is not biologically related to her for a person or couple. Pregnancy is achieved via In Vitro Fertilization, whereby embryos created from egg s of the “Intended Mother” or an egg donor and the sperm of the “Intended Father” or sperm donor. |
Gestation |
The period of development of the embryo/fetus from the time of conception until birth. |
Intended |
A couple who choose to have a baby with the assistance of an egg donor and/or surrogate mother. |
IVF |
In Vitro Fertilization. A procedure that involves removing eggs from a woman's ovaries and fertilizing them in the laboratory. The resulting embryos are then transferred into the woman's (or surrogate’s) uterus through the cervix. |
Male factor |
Deficiencies in sperm quantity, function, or motility (ability to move) that make it difficult for a sperm to fertilize an egg under normal conditions. |
Natural |
Generally refers to childbirth without pain relief (anesthesia or analgesia); may alternatively be used to indicate a vaginal delivery rather than a cesarean birth. |
Surrogate |
A woman who bears a child for another person or couple. Pregnancy is achieved either through artificial insemination (Traditional Surrogacy) or by carrying until birth another woman's implanted fertilized egg (Gestational Surrogacy). |
Trimester |
Three separate terms of pregnancy, each lasting approximately three months: |
Twins, identical |
Identical (monozygotic) twins are formed when a single egg (ovum), fertilized by a single sperm, divides (often after implantation in the uterus). |
Twins, fraternal |
Fraternal (dizygotic) twins are the result when two different eggs (ova) are fertilized by two different sperm. |
Ultrasound |
A technique used for visualizing internal organs, assessing their sizes and shapes by using high-frequency sound waves. |
Umbilical |
The lifeline for your baby, it is the connection between the fetus at its abdomen and the placenta, giving passage to the umbilical blood vessels. The placenta transports oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby. There are normally three vessels in the umbilical cord, two arteries and one vein. |
Surrogacy Acronyms
DE |
Donor Eggs |
DPR |
Days Post-Retrieval |
DPT |
Days Post-Transfer |
E2 |
Estradiol |
ED |
Egg Donor |
ET |
Embryo Transfer |
FET |
Frozen Embryo Transfer |
FRED |
First Response Early Detection |
HPT |
Home Pregnancy Test |
ICSI |
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection |
IPs |
Intended Parents |
IUI |
Intrauterine Insemination |
IVF |
In Vitro Fertilization |
LAP |
Laparoscopy |
MC, m/c |
Miscarriage |
OB |
Obstetrician |
OC |
Oral Contraceptives |
OPK |
Ovulation Predictor Kit |
P4 |
Progesterone |
PET |
Post-embryo transfer |
PGD |
Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis |
PMS |
Pre-menstrual Syndrome |
RE |
Reproductive Endocrinologist |
SA |
Semen Analysis |
SM |
Surrogate Mother |
S/S |
Signs/Symptoms |
STD |
Sexually Transmitted Disease |
SubQ |
Subcutaneous injection |
US, u/s |
Ultrasound |
ZIFT |
Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer |