At SRM we offer gestational carrier services to assist patients in becoming parents. A gestational carrier, or surrogate, is a woman who carries a baby for the intended parent(s). The baby is not genetically related to the gestational carrier.
Gestational carriers will need to be just as involved as you (and your partner, if applicable) in the process, in order to ensure all FDA and legal requirements are met. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)—using eggs or sperm from the intended parent(s), or from egg or sperm donors—is a necessary part of this arrangement. Once fertilization occurs, the resulting embryo is transferred to the gestational carrier’s uterus.
Our specialized staff assists with all third-party reproduction patients. Establishing care with a SRM physician is your first step.
Screening
Our screening process takes at least six months to complete the screening and legal requirements, and is extremely complex. SRM complies with Washington State law, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines, and clinic policy for all Intended Parent (IP) and Gestational Carrier (GC) cycles. Intended and Gestational Carrier Requirements
Finding a Gestational Carrier
As of January 2019, it is legal to compensate a gestational carrier in Washington State. Intended parents can choose to work with the agency that best suits their needs. If you do not already have a gestational carrier identified, please contact our third party team to get a list of agency referrals.
Compassionate carrier cycles are also permitted at SRM. A compassionate carrier does not receive any financial compensation for the cycle. Most compassionate carriers are a friend or family member of the intended parent(s). The same screening requirements are required for compassionate carriers and the intended parent(s).
Legal
Washington State Law requires the Intended Parent(s) and Gestational Carrier to have separate, ongoing legal counsel throughout the surrogacy agreement. The legal confirmation letter from your attorney must be received before starting any treatment. SRM cannot accept a copy of the legal contract in place of the legal confirmation letter. Outside legal contracts and a legal clearance letter will need to be completed. Please let SRM know if you need a referral list of reproductive attorneys.
*Unique Circumstances:
- SRM will not provide surrogacy services if the potential GC has not experienced pregnancy, delivery, and parenting.
- Genetic Surrogacy, also known as Traditional Surrogacy, is when the surrogate is carrying a pregnancy that was created with her eggs. SRM does not provide this service.