Surrogacy Vocabulary

Surrogate/Carrier/Surrogate Mother

Interchangeable terms to describe a woman who carries a child for intended parents who are unable to carry for themselves. There are two types of surrogates: gestation and traditional.

Intended Parents

Persons who become the parents of a child born of a surrogate.

Gestational Surrogacy

Pregnancy where the carrier is genetically unrelated to the child. The embryos are created using the eggs from the intended mother or a donor egg and sperm from the intended father or a donor sperm.

Traditional Surrogacy

Pregnancy where the carrier is genetically related to the child and becomes pregnant through artificial insemination with sperm from the intended father or a donor sperm.

In Vitro Fertilization

Process performed at a fertility clinic in which eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the womb in a controlled environment. This process is performed by a reproductive endocrinologist.

Frozen Embryo Transfer

Process performed where cryopreserved embryos are thawed and transferred to a surrogates womb.

Blastocyst

The final stage of development of an embryo must reach before being implanted into the womb. Around 40% of embryos reach this stage after five to six days of incubation.

Surrogacy Contract

A legal contract between a surrogate and intended parents outlining the terms of the agreement by both parties through their legal representation. Once signed by both parties, the terms of the contract govern the surrogacy process.

Pre-birth Order

A legal order issued by the court acquired before the birth of the child. This addresses issues such as parent names on birth certificates, hospital permissions, etc.

Post-birth Order

A legal order issued by the court acquired after the birth of the child. This addresses issues such as replacing the surrogate's name with the name(s) of the intended parents on the birth certificate, etc.