Having a baby through IVF surrogacy
24 May 2017
An IVF surrogacy arrangement is when a woman (the host) agrees to bear a child for another couple. More information is available at our Pathways to Parenthood event.
Surrogacy may be appropriate if you have a medical condition that makes it impossible or dangerous to get pregnant and give birth, or in the case of a same-sex couple where a surrogate host is needed.
We offer IVF surrogacy treatment to heterosexual and same sex couples although fertility clinics are not allowed to find a host for you. However, you may already have someone who has agreed to be a host or alternatively there are a number of UK agencies working in this area and contact details are available on our useful websites page..
Bourn Hall has significant experience of this treatment. We were the first clinic to provide surrogacy with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and the first baby was born in 1989. We can offer an experienced and supportive team to guide you in this journey.
The commissioning couple cover the cost of treatment and would normally provide expenses to the host to cover loss of earnings and travel within the limits set by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on payment.
IVF Surrogacy
IVF treatment requires several outpatient visits to one of our clinics where our expert staff will look after both of you every step of the way. After the IVF treatment the surrogate would be referred back to her own doctor and care would continue as for any other pregnancy.
Surrogacy is a big step and needs careful consideration. Prior to undertaking treatment patients all have counselling and we strongly suggest all parties involved take advice, including legal advice from one of the surrogacy support organisations and from a solicitor with a specialism in surrogacy law .
If you would like to know more about surrogacy, further information is available on the HFEA website. You can also read a story about surrogacy on the Bourn Hall Clinic case studies page.
Dads achieve dream with surrogacy
Gary and his husband Matthew always wanted to be parents and received the ultimate gift when a family member offered to be their surrogate.
Gary explains: “It was Christmas time with my family, including my brother Jason and his wife Ollie, and we told them that after considering adoption we were going to take some time to reevaluate our options.”
The conversation made Ollie think about what family meant to her and in the New Year she contacted the couple and suggested being a surrogate for them.
Gary continues: “Ollie said that she and Jason had discussed the matter; that she’d be honoured to be a surrogate mother for us and happy to help if she could.”
Matthew adds: “We didn’t know how to react as it was such an amazing gift.”
Ollie’s offer meant that Gary and Matthew were a major step closer to their dream of having a family and they started researching clinics that would support them. Read more here.
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