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Build your family using a surrogate
There are many ways that couples and individuals can build their family today. Whether you're struggling with infertility or an LGBTQ+ person or couple, surrogacy is an option to consider along your journey to parenthood if you are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy yourselves.
What is surrogacy?
Surrogacy involves another person carrying and giving birth to a child that you'll become the legal parent of using a parental order.
In many cases, the surrogate may wish to use the eggs of a donor rather than their own; this is called gestational surrogacy.
We have helped many same-sex male couples create their family with the help of the surrogate, however, heterosexual couples and individuals may too consider using a surrogate if the female partner is unable to carry a pregnancy. This includes those without a womb, or suffering from recurrent miscarriages or repeat IVF implantation failures.
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How much does surrogacy cost in the UK?
It is illegal to pay a surrogate in the UK. The only financial responsibility you have towards the surrogate is reimbursing them for any reasonable expenses which may occur during her pregnancy, such as travel expenses to appointments and any loss of potential earnings.
Although the expenses will vary depending on personal circumstances, it is estimated that the cost of using a surrogate in the UK is typically around £10,000 – £15,000. If you are considering surrogacy, it is important to keep potential costs in mind and note that extra expenses may apply if your surrogate is having twins.
How does surrogacy work?
The type of surrogacy arrangement you choose depends on your personal circumstances. There are two options:
Full surrogacy: This is also known as host or gestational surrogacy and is when the eggs used for conception are those from a donor or an intended parent. This means there is no genetic link between the baby and the surrogate and is why many people prefer full surrogacy.
Partial Surrogacy: This involves fertilising the surrogate’s egg with the intended father’s sperm. As a result, the surrogate will be the biological mother of the child. If you choose partial surrogacy as a way to start or grow your family, it is important that all fertility treatment is carried out at a licensed UK fertility clinic.
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What does UK law say about surrogacy?
Often times, we're asked by our patients if surrogacy is legal in the UK. Simply, the answer is 'yes', however, it is important to note that if you make a surrogate agreement it cannot be enforced by law.
There can be complicated legal issues involved in any surrogacy agreement which is why we strongly advise that you seek independent legal advice before proceeding with a surrogate agreement.
Surrogacy FAQs
Who will be the legal parent at the birth?
When the child is born through surrogacy, the surrogate will be the child’s legal parent at birth until this right is transferred to the chosen parents-to-be by parental order or adoption after the child is born.
However, surrogacy law states that in the unlikely event of a disagreement at the child’s birth as to who the legal parents should be, the courts will decide what is best in the interests of the child.
Are there any risks with surrogacy?
If conception is taking place using your own eggs or sperm, the main risk to be aware of is the possibility of transferring infectious diseases to the surrogate. At TFP Fertility, we have a stringent screening process before treatment begins to ensure that any infections or conditions are not passed onto either the surrogate or the baby at the time of conception or during pregnancy.
These processes are place for our donor programme as well, so that you have complete peace of mind when creating your family using donated eggs or sperm.
Who can surrogacy help?
From those struggling with infertility to LGBTQ+ people, surrogacy offers the chance of starting a family to those who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves.
Surrogacy can offer hope to those with a medical condition that makes it dangerous or impossible to conceive naturally. This includes:
Recurrent pregnancy loss
Absence or malformation of the womb
Repeated IVF implantation failures
Individuals with a genetic defect or health condition that they don’t want to pass onto their child
Life-threatening illness that prevents pregnancy
Surrogacy offers a main route to parenthood for same-sex male intended parents. In many cases, this would be with the addition of an egg donor, either through a licensed fertility clinic or a known donor.
Likewise, you may consider surrogacy if you are a single individual unable to conceive naturally either because of your gender or a medical reason.
How successful is fertility treatment using a surrogate?
Surrogacy success rates depend on many factors, including:
The surrogate’s ability to get pregnant
The quality of the intended male parent's or donor's sperm
The success of the IUI, IVF or ICSI treatment
The age of the woman whose eggs are being used
When it comes to fertility success, the age of the egg provider is the most important factor as it greatly affects the chances of successful conception and successful pregnancy.
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The benefits of using a surrogate
Surrogacy offers many hopeful parents the opportunity to have the family they have dreamed off. It's main benefits include:
Allowing people to have a family who would otherwise have been unable to
with gestational surrogacy one or both parents can genetically related to their child
Intended parents have the opportunity to raise a child from birth
Success with conceiving and carrying a pregnancy are usually high as surrogates have typically carried other pregnancies
Intended parents have the unique opportunity to form a relationship with the surrogate and their family
Intended parents are generally involved throughout the pregnancy and are often able to be present for many of the key milestones
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Let's talk surrogacy
There is a lot to consider when it comes to using a surrogate. Our expert team is here to help you along your surrogate journey and can answer any questions you may have. Get in touch and we'll help you decide if surrogacy is the right option for you.
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Who can help with surrogate arrangements?
Couples or individuals are not allowed to advertise for surrogates, nor are surrogates allowed to advertise their services. However, there are introduction agencies who can help with practical advice and support:
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Pre-treatment requirements
Before beginning the surrogacy process, several pre-treatment requirements must be met to ensure a successful and secure journey for everyone involved:
Counselling
Discussions with a counsellor are required for you, your surrogate, and you and your surrogate together. There are lots of emotional and practical issues surrounding surrogacy for all parties, and couples have indicated that counselling is very helpful in identifying potential issues that they hadn’t previously considered. The joint session for you and your surrogate will include discussions around the agreement between the surrogate and intended parents.
Legal advice
It is highly recommended that independent legal advice is taken by all surrogacy parties to fully explore their individual circumstances and the issues explained above.
Screening tests
All parties must undergo screening tests. They help to ensure that infection risks are minimised and that some common genetic risks are identified if they’re present. Overall, these tests are undertaken to protect the welfare of everyone involved in the surrogacy arrangements and importantly any child that may be born. For details of the tests required for surrogacy arrangements, please contact the clinic. An individualised requirement table will be provided at surrogacy consultation appointments.
Welfare of the child check
The background and health of the intended parents are considered in an assessment of a future child’s welfare. This is a requirement set by the HFEA.
Quarantine of sperm
Donor sperm must be quarantined for a minimum of 180 days, after which repeat serological testing is required. If the blood sample taken at the time of donation is additionally tested by the nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT) for HIV, HBV and HCV, the donor sperm must be quarantined for a minimum of three months, after which a further donor blood sample should be taken and subjected to repeat serological and NAT testing.
Why I’ve donated my eggs three times
As a single woman in her late 20s, Rachel had a great life: a home of her own, a successful career and plenty of family and friends around her.
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I really didn’t want the pressure of trying to find a partner just so I could have a child with them."
Rachel
Egg Donation
Oxford, UK
This data compares the number of fresh and frozen embryos transferred into surrogates with the number of resulting pregnancies from IVF and ICSI cycles.
National average
TFP Fertility
17/
23*
17/23*
39
%
36
%
<35
6/
10*
6/10*
55
%
30
%
35-37
2/
7*
2/7*
25
%
23
%
38-39
5/
7*
5/7*
56
%
17
%
40-42
0/
0*
0/0*
0
%
15
%
43-44
Pregnancies January — December 2023
Source: HFEA.gov.uk
Since they haven't verified data more recent than 2019 for UK fertility clinics, you won't find it on their website. Contact us for our latest success data.
17/
23*
17/23*
39
%
36
%
<35
6/
10*
6/10*
55
%
30
%
35-37
2/
7*
2/7*
25
%
23
%
38-39
5/
7*
5/7*
56
%
17
%
40-42
0/
0*
0/0*
0
%
15
%
43-44
Our surrogacy resources
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Ready to start your fertility journey? We're here for you
Speak to our patient support team for advice about your options and to book your first consultation with a fertility expert.