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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.

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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. 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.

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.

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 successful is fertility treatment using a surrogate

Your surrogacy journey

Depending on your circumstances, there are several treatment options to choose from for your surrogacy journey.

Fertility treatments for surrogacy

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

If your surrogate is not donating their eggs, you can have embryos created during IVF using either the intended parents' gametes or those from a donor. During IVF, eggs are mixed with sperm in a lab and left to fertilise naturally.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

If your surrogate is using their own eggs, IUI is a less invasive method for achieving a pregnancy. During IUI, either the intend parent's sperm or donor sperm is injected directly into the womb where it fertilises the egg.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

If the sperm being used is low-quality, for example, it is abnormally shaped or slow, ICSI is an add-on procedure during IVF that will help maximise the chances of fertilisation. It involves injecting a single healthy sperm directly into the egg.

Couple receiving emotional support and fertility counseling

Finding your surrogate

At TFP Fertility, we are unable to help you find your surrogate or negotiate a surrogacy agreement. However, there are many wonderful charities who specialise in surrogacy who can provide the guidance you need.

Helping with surrogate arrangements

TwoDads

Founded by Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis, TwoDads is dedicated to supporting gay intended fathers through surrogacy while challenging stigmas around same-sex parenting.

Brilliant Beginnings

A UK non-profit surrogacy agency that ensures ethical and safe surrogacy through strong relationships and comprehensive support for parents and surrogates.

COTS - Surrogacy in the UK

COTS (Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy) is a UK non-profit surrogacy agency, founded in 1988, providing guidance and support to surrogates and intended parents.

Surrogacy UK

Surrogacy UK is a not-for-profit founded in 2002, committed to ethical, altruistic surrogacy, guiding surrogates and intended parents with trust and support.

My Surrogacy Journey

Supporting individuals and couples through the surrogacy process with personalised care and expert guidance, ensuring a smooth and fulfilling experience.

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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. This includes:

Counselling

Counselling is required for you, your surrogate and you and your surrogate together. There are many emotional and practical issues surrounding surrogacy for all parties, and couples have indicated that counselling is helpful in identifying potential issues that they hadn’t previously considered. The joint session for you and your surrogate will allow you to discuss the surrogacy agreement.

Legal advice

We strongly recommend that each party seeks independent legal advice before entering into a surrogacy agreement. This is to ensure each party's interests are protected throughout the surrogacy.

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.

Welfare of the child check

Before treatment can begin, the HFEA requires that the background and health of the intended parents are considered in an assessment of a future child's welfare.