If you’re researching the difference between IVF vs surrogacy, chances are you’ve come across both terms often and may be wondering how they connect, and how your role fits into the bigger picture. Whether you’re exploring becoming a surrogate mother or simply curious about gestational surrogacy, understanding how in vitro fertilization and surrogacy work together is essential.
At Made in the USA Surrogacy, we support women who are interested in becoming gestational carriers. We work only with women in the United States and only within the scope of ethical, legal, and carefully guided gestational surrogacy. This blog will help you understand the IVF process, how gestational surrogacy differs from other forms of assisted reproduction, and why choosing surrogacy can be one of the most meaningful journeys of your life.
What Is IVF? Understanding In Vitro Fertilization
What Is IVF?
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a type of infertility treatment in which mature eggs are retrieved from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The sperm may come from a partner or a sperm donor. The eggs may be the woman’s own eggs or donor eggs. The resulting fertilized eggs, or embryos, are then transferred into a uterus in hopes of establishing a pregnancy. This is one of the most common forms of assisted reproduction and plays a critical role in gestational surrogacy.
How the IVF Process Works
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, where hormone replacement therapy is used to help the ovaries produce multiple mature eggs. These eggs are then collected in a process known as egg retrieval. Sperm, whether from a partner or a sperm donor sample, is used to fertilize the eggs in a lab setting.
After fertilization, embryologists closely monitor the embryos and choose one or more to be transferred into a uterus. In gestational surrogacy, that uterus belongs to the surrogate, not the genetic or biological mother.
IVF Typically Supports a Variety of Fertility Needs
IVF treatment supports individuals experiencing unexplained infertility, male infertility, or specific medical conditions that prevent a person from becoming pregnant or carrying a child. It is often recommended when couples cannot conceive naturally. IVF is also used in conjunction with egg donation or donor sperm to produce embryos when needed.
In the context of surrogacy, surrogacy and IVF work together. IVF creates embryos, and surrogacy offers the uterus in which those embryos grow into a healthy pregnancy.
What Is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a process in which a surrogate carries and delivers a baby on behalf of someone else. It is often used when someone cannot carry a pregnancy themselves, even with the help of fertility treatment. There are two main types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. Only gestational is practiced at Made in the USA Surrogacy.
Gestational Surrogacy: The Standard for Modern Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy is the process used by our surrogacy agency. In this arrangement, the surrogate has no genetic link to the child. Instead, a fertility clinic creates an embryo through IVF using an egg donor and donor sperm, or eggs and sperm from individuals outside of the surrogate herself. This embryo is then transferred into the surrogate’s uterus for pregnancy.
The surrogate mother is referred to as a gestational carrier because she carries a pregnancy without being the genetic mother of the child. Her role is to provide a healthy, safe womb for the baby to grow during gestation.
IVF vs Surrogacy: Key Differences Explained
Main Difference Between IVF and Surrogacy
The main difference between IVF and surrogacy lies in who carries the pregnancy. IVF refers to the process of fertilizing eggs and creating embryos, typically to be implanted into a person’s own uterus. Surrogacy, however, involves transferring the embryo into a healthy woman who has agreed to carry the pregnancy on behalf of someone else.
IVF and Surrogacy Work Together
It’s not IVF vs surrogacy in opposition, but rather IVF and surrogacy working together. IVF is used to produce embryos, and gestational surrogacy completes the process by ensuring those embryos have the best chance to grow into a healthy baby inside a surrogate’s uterus.
Legal Agreements in Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy involves legal agreements that are signed before embryo transfer occurs. These contracts outline the surrogate’s responsibilities, compensation, medical expectations, and other key components of the surrogacy journey. Legal protection is a core value of our agency, and every surrogate receives professional legal counsel to support her throughout the process.
The Surrogate’s Role in the IVF Process
How You Help Complete the IVF Cycle
A surrogate’s role begins after the embryo is created. Once the fertilization process is complete, the embryo is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. Without a gestational carrier, many IVF cycles would not lead to pregnancy.
The surrogate’s responsibility is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, attend regular medical appointments, and carry the pregnancy to term. Your commitment and care help ensure a safe and successful outcome.
Surrogates Make Parenthood Possible
While you are not genetically related to the child, your contribution is essential. Surrogates help bring life into the world for those who cannot do so themselves. It is a deeply personal, life-changing act that creates biological children for those who otherwise could not conceive naturally.
Who Should Consider Becoming a Surrogate?
Women Who’ve Had Healthy Pregnancies
Ideal candidates for gestational surrogacy are women who have already experienced pregnancy and childbirth without major medical complications. If you enjoyed pregnancy, recovered well, and are done growing your own family, surrogacy may be a perfect fit.
Emotionally and Physically Healthy Women
A good surrogate is someone who is both emotionally mature and physically healthy. Commitment, responsibility, compassion, and resilience are key traits of successful surrogates. If you’re organized, supportive, and excited about helping others, this path may be right for you.
Friends or Family Members Who Want to Help
Some surrogates choose to carry for a friend or family member. Even in these more personal arrangements, working through a professional surrogacy agency is critical. It ensures that legal, emotional, and medical support is in place throughout the surrogacy journey.
Surrogacy Costs and Compensation
IVF Treatment Costs (Context for Surrogates)
Although surrogates do not pay for IVF treatment, it’s helpful to understand the level of care and expense involved. Each IVF cycle may cost thousands of dollars and sometimes requires multiple attempts to achieve success.
Surrogacy Costs and What They Cover
Surrogacy costs include everything needed to support the surrogate throughout her journey. This includes medical screening, embryo transfer, pregnancy monitoring, legal representation, insurance, and financial compensation for the surrogate.
How Surrogates Are Paid
Surrogates receive base compensation plus additional allowances for medical appointments, travel, maternity clothing, lost wages, and other expenses. First-time surrogates often receive competitive compensation, while experienced surrogates may qualify for even higher rates.
Surrogacy as a Professional Journey
Some surrogates choose to complete more than one journey. Many feel fulfilled by helping multiple families and enjoy building strong relationships with their surrogacy agency and care team over time.
Myths About IVF and Surrogacy
Myth: Surrogates Use Their Own Eggs
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate does not use her own eggs and is not the genetic mother. Fertilized eggs come from outside sources such as donor eggs or another woman, and the surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
Myth: IVF and Surrogacy Are the Same Thing
While closely connected, the difference between IVF and surrogacy is clear. IVF is the medical process of fertilization. Surrogacy is the broader process involving embryo transfer, legal agreements, and pregnancy carried by a third party.
Myth: Surrogates Are Left Without Support
Made in the USA Surrogacy provides complete support for every surrogate. From application to delivery, you’ll have access to care coordinators, legal guidance, mental health resources, and ongoing communication with our team.
Becoming a Surrogate: The Process Step by Step
The Surrogacy Process Explained
- Apply Online: Complete a secure application on our website
- Initial Screening: We review your medical history and background
- Medical Evaluations: A fertility clinic confirms you’re physically ready
- Matching: We help you connect with a family in need of your help
- Legal Agreements: You receive your own attorney for contract negotiations
- Embryo Transfer: The IVF-created embryo is placed into your uterus
- Pregnancy and Birth: You carry the child with medical and emotional support
Why Choose Our Surrogacy Agency?
Our agency provides a highly personalized experience. We serve only women in the U.S., work only with gestational surrogacy, and prioritize ethical care. You’ll receive guidance, protection, and respect from professionals who truly understand your journey.
Frequently Asked IVF vs Surrogacy Questions
Do surrogates go through the IVF process?
Surrogates do not undergo ovarian stimulation or egg retrieval. Instead, they receive an embryo through transfer and focus on preparing their body to support a healthy pregnancy.
What is the surrogate’s connection to the baby?
Gestational carriers are not genetically related to the child they carry. The surrogate’s role is physical and emotional but not biological.
Can I carry a pregnancy for a family member?
Yes, some surrogates choose to carry for a family member. In these cases, a surrogacy agency can help manage legal, medical, and logistical matters to protect everyone involved.
Are there medical risks?
Every pregnancy carries risks. Our surrogacy agency works with licensed fertility specialists and ensures that every surrogate receives the best possible care and monitoring.
What is hormone replacement therapy used for?
Hormone therapy helps prepare the uterine wall to receive and support an embryo. This step increases the likelihood of a successful embryo transfer and pregnancy.
Conclusion: You Make IVF and Surrogacy Possible
IVF vs surrogacy isn’t about one option being better than the other. Instead, it’s about how IVF and surrogacy work together to make pregnancy possible for those who need support. As a surrogate, your role brings life, joy, and healing into the world.
You provide more than a service, you offer strength, stability, and care. If you’re ready to help someone experience the gift of parenthood, we’re ready to walk with you every step of the way.
