Gestational Carrier (Surrogacy)

What is a gestational carrier?

A gestational carrier (GC), commonly known as a surrogate, is a woman who carries a baby for another person. The GC is not genetically related to the baby and only acts as the ‘host womb’.

When to consider a gestational carrier

A Gestational carrier may be considered in the following situations:

• If the intended mother has any medical conditions where pregnancy would pose a risk to the mother or fetus
• If the intended mother does not have a uterus or has a uterus with physical abnormalities that prevents her from carrying a pregnancy
• If the endometrium (uterine wall) of the intended mother is too thin for embryo implantation
• For same-sex male couples intending to be parents
• For single males intending to be a parent

Process

The gestational carrier can either be someone you know, such as a family member or friend, or you can choose to work with an agency to introduce you to prospective surrogates. CReATe works with some agencies that can help you find the right gestational carrier. Agencies will also suggest lawyers who specialize in Canadian third-party law.

For this process, the intended mother or an egg donor (depending on the situation) will undergo a routine IVF cycle, including hormonal stimulation and egg retrieval. The eggs will be inseminated with the sperm from the intended father, or from a donor and the resulting embryos will be transferred into the uterus of the gestational carrier, who will then carry the pregnancy to term.