IVF and the Surrogacy Process
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a core part of every surrogacy journey. Depending on your path, you may use your own eggs to create embryos, or you may work with an egg donor. Either way, you'll need a fertility clinic and a financial plan in place before getting started. While Circle is not a fertility clinic that completes IVF, we coordinate everything around it, whether or not egg donation is part of your journey.
We have over 30 years of experience, and nearly 50% of our team have been a surrogate, intended parent, or egg donor, or have grown their families through surrogacy, IVF, or adoption. So, as a team who can say we’ve been in your shoes, we truly understand that the surrogacy embryo transfer process can seem complex. We’re ready to answer your questions, offer our support, and help you start your path to parenthood.
What Is IVF?
IVF is the process of creating an embryo outside of the body. Typically, the embryo is created using eggs and sperm from the intended parents or donor eggs or sperm. In some cases, both donor eggs and donor sperm are used. Once the embryo is created, it's placed in the surrogate's womb so she can carry and give birth to your baby.
IVF is what makes gestational surrogacy possible. Gestational surrogacy means that while the surrogate carries the pregnancy, she does not share a biological connection to your baby.
What to Expect From the IVF Process for Surrogacy
There are several steps leading up to the embryo transfer. Depending on whether you're using fresh or frozen eggs, your path may look a little different, but the destination is the same — bringing your baby home.
1
Choose Your Egg Donor
If you need an egg donor, our team will help you explore your options and find the right match for your family. You can browse our in-house database of carefully screened fresh donors, or we can connect you with one of our trusted partner clinics if frozen eggs are a better match for your timeline and goals. If you're using your own eggs, we'll coordinate with your fertility clinic to make sure everything is aligned from the start. We can also work with a clinic of your choice anywhere in the United States.
2
Egg Preparation and Retrieval
Are you using frozen donor eggs? They're already prepared, so you'll skip ahead to Step 3.
If you're working with a fresh egg donor, she'll be medically screened at your fertility clinic and then begin medications to prepare her body for egg retrieval. Once she's ready, her eggs are collected during a short visit. We coordinate between you, your donor, and your clinic throughout this step so everything stays on track.
3
Fertilization and Embryo Creation
Whether you're using fresh or frozen eggs, your fertility clinic brings the eggs and sperm together to create your embryos. Since only one embryo is transferred at a time, the rest can be frozen and stored for future transfers. Your clinic handles the medical side, while our team stays close to support you through this milestone.
4
Surrogate Preparation
At this stage, your surrogate begins preparing for the embryo transfer. We coordinate the details, like organizing her available medical records for your fertility clinic, arranging travel, and setting up any outside monitoring she may need. She'll also start taking medications so her body is ready for the next step in the process.
5
Embryo Transfer
When her doctor decides she's ready, your surrogate will travel to your IVF clinic for the transfer. This is usually a 3 to 7 day trip for your surrogate and her travel companion, and it includes traveling time and the transfer. The procedure itself is brief. However, many intended parents attend the embryo transfer and then spend time with their surrogate, and you’re welcome to do the same.
6
The Pregnancy Test
About 10 days after the transfer, your surrogate will get a blood test at her outside monitoring clinic. If the results are positive, she'll receive an ultrasound around six weeks to confirm the heartbeat. This is when Circle considers you officially pregnant!
How Do Intended Parents Transition From Fertility Treatment to Surrogacy?
For many intended parents, surrogacy becomes the next step after fertility treatment. Navigating surrogacy can feel like a big change, but the process is more structured and supported than most people expect.
With us, it all starts with a consultation where we'll talk through your history, your family-building goals, and what the surrogacy process actually looks like from start to finish. We'll make sure you have a clear understanding of what the experience entails, so you can decide if it's the right path for you and your family.
If you choose to begin your surrogacy journey with us, we'll match you with a screened surrogate through our proprietary MatchMade™ process — a personalized approach that pairs you with a surrogate based on your preferences, values, and goals for the journey.
Once you're matched, our team (including program coordinators, mental health professionals, lawyers, and accountants) walks you through every milestone, from signing legal contracts to the embryo transfer. Plus, we work with nearly 400 clinic partners across the country, with our top 10 clinic partnerships averaging over a decade. This means that whether you already have a fertility clinic you trust or need help finding the right one, we can step right in.
The average cost of IVF per cycle generally ranges from $15,000 to $30,000, though costs vary by clinic. If you need to work with an egg donor, this will add roughly $25,000 to $50,000 or more to the process. We recommend speaking directly with your clinic about its costs, so you can better prepare for the journey ahead.
Although our Journey Protection™ Program covers agency fees, surrogate base pay, legal, and insurance costs, it doesn't include the cost of IVF or an egg donor program. Intended parents are responsible for paying these costs directly to their clinic.
Some insurance plans may cover part of the IVF process when you're using your own eggs and sperm, which can help offset costs. However, coverage varies significantly depending on your state, your employer, and your specific plan. We recommend checking with your insurance company early in the journey to understand what may or may not be covered.
The success rate can be as high as 70% for a single embryo transfer by pairing a gestational surrogate with a high-quality, genetically tested embryo known as a euploid. While it may take more than one transfer to achieve a successful pregnancy, our Journey Protection™ Program is designed to support you through every step. The program includes unlimited embryo transfers and covers key expenses for your surrogate, such as travel costs and lost wages. If, for any reason, a journey with your matched surrogate is unable to continue, the program also covers the cost of screening and matching you with a new surrogate.
This level of comprehensive support, combined with our deep expertise in surrogacy and the shared commitment of intended parents and surrogates, is why 99.2% of our parents go home with a baby.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends that only one embryo be transferred per cycle. A single embryo transfer supports a healthier pregnancy and a smoother journey for your surrogate and your growing family.
The whole IVF process, which includes everything from your surrogate's medical screening to confirming pregnancy, takes up to 4 months. The IVF cycle itself is usually 4 weeks long. This cycle includes your surrogate taking medication to prepare her body for the transfer, attending monitoring appointments, and the embryo transfer itself. Every journey is unique, and your timeline may look a little different depending on your surrogate's response to medication and your clinic's approach.
Absolutely! Many of our intended parents come to surrogacy with embryos they've already created through previous IVF cycles. That's why we have a Gestational Surrogacy Only program, designed for intended parents who have embryos but need help finding a surrogate and managing the journey. If that's you, we'll match you with a compatible surrogate, coordinate the embryo transfer with your clinic, and support you through every milestone.
IVF for Surrogacy FAQs
We know there's a lot to think about when it comes to IVF for surrogacy, and we're here to help bring clarity to the process. Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most from intended parents.
We'll Be Right There With You
Whether you're just beginning to explore surrogacy or you've already created embryos, we're here for you every step of the way, from helping you find the right IVF clinic to supporting you emotionally as you welcome your baby home — and beyond. Contact our team today to take the first step toward becoming a parent.