Gestational carrier basics
In gestational surrogacy, the person who carries the pregnancy is not genetically related to the child. Embryos are created through IVF using the intended parents' gametes, donor gametes, or a combination, and then transferred to the gestational carrier's uterus. This is the standard model in modern practice; traditional surrogacy — where the carrier is also the egg source — is uncommon and is generally not recommended.
When it is considered
A gestational carrier is part of the plan when carrying a pregnancy would be medically unsafe, when a patient does not have a uterus, when repeated pregnancy losses or failed transfers suggest a uterine factor that cannot be corrected, and for two-father families and single fathers by choice.
Matching and screening
Most families work with an experienced agency to identify a carrier. Screening covers medical and obstetric history, mental-health evaluation, and lifestyle and support factors. Intended parents are also evaluated and counseled before matching so that expectations, communication, and boundaries are clear.
Legal and financial planning
Independent legal counsel — one attorney for the intended parents, another for the carrier — drafts the gestational carrier agreement before any medical steps begin. The agreement covers compensation, insurance, medical decision-making, and parentage. State law varies significantly; your attorneys will advise on where and how parentage is established.
The medical timeline
Once matched and cleared, the carrier prepares the uterus for transfer while embryos are ready in the lab. A single embryo transfer is standard practice for most cycles. Early pregnancy monitoring is coordinated with the carrier's obstetric team before care transitions to her regular OB.