Frequently Asked Questions
No. Medical health and maternity insurance for your surrogate is not included in the Fixed-Cost Surrogacy Program Fee.
Yes. Legal fees for surrogate and intended parent(s) are included in our Unlimited Surrogacy Program Fee.
No. Fertility center expenses are not included in our Unlimited Surrogacy Program Fee. (i.e., creation of embryos, embryo transfers, medications, etc.) Please check with your fertility center to determine these additional costs.
Prosper Healthcare Lending is the premier financing company in the fertility and surrogacy industries
With more than 250,000 people empowered by over $3 billion in funded loans, this is a name and financing program you can trust.
Some of the benefits of using Prosper Healthcare Lending for financing your fertility or surrogacy include:
- Financing ANY fertility or surrogacy-related expenses, including medication and travel
- Loan amounts go up to $100,000 and terms out to 84 months
- Instant decision without affecting your credit on loans under $35,000*
- Convenient- you can apply through your provider’s website in less than 2 minutes
Apply through the provider link above, or find us at www.patientfinancing.com
Family Source Consultants – Provider #006834
*Only for loan inquiries submitted through the Standard Credit Program.
We accept agency fee payments via major cards (American Express, Visa, Master Card, and Discover), personal/bank check, or wire.
If you currently have a non-hormonal IUD, like Paragard, you do not need to have it removed in order to become an egg donor.
If you currently have a hormonal IUD, like Mirena, it will need to be removed before proceeding with the egg donation process.
Family Source Consultants provide a non-biased liaison service for Intended Parents and Surrogates/Egg Donors.
Our goal is to encourage communication throughout the process and ensure a positive and healthy relationship between all parties involved. In order to make certain the journey is gratifying for all parties involved, we will oversee each step of the process in a supportive and proficient manner.
A first time Egg Donor with TeamFSC can expect to receive a minimum compensation of $10,000. An experienced Egg Donor may receive additional. In addition, all expenses (travel, attorney, medical costs) incurred by the Egg Donor during the process will be covered by the recipient parents.
100% Chinese and Taiwanese Donors receive $12,000 as a first-time Donor.
Family Source Consultants complies with SART guidelines which state that Donors will not be paid compensation over $10,000 under any circumstance.
No. There is no biological reason that donating eggs would cause infertility. Women are born with about 2 million eggs. Each month, a group of eggs begin to mature, but only one egg is released during ovulation. The rest are absorbed
by the body. Fertility medications hasten the maturity rate of of these excess eggs so that they can be retrieved, instead of being reabsorbed by the body.
The egg donation process from treatment start to retrieval takes approximately one month. The egg retrieval itself takes minutes. This timeline does not include the matching and screening process, which will vary in length from donor to donor.
Absolutely! Many single mothers make wonderful Surrogates. However, you will need to have a reliable, trusted group of family members and/or friends who would be able to assist you throughout the surrogacy process.
There are many types of people who use Donor Eggs to conceive.
Some common situations which may require the use of donor eggs are:
(1) Older women with age related fertility decline
(2) Younger women with early ovarian failure or ovarian insufficiency
(3) Same sex male couples or single males
(4) Certain rare genetic conditions may require donor eggs
Many overweight women think they may be too large to become a surrogate. This is often not the case! Most fertility clinics do require a body mass index of 33 or lower. If you are interested in our Surrogacy program, please contact us, even if you are unsure if you meet this requirement.
If your height and weight fall within the parameters on the chart below, your BMI is under 33.
Gestational Surrogates are required to be in a financially stable living situation. There are strict laws about reporting income when you are on government assistance and any compensation you may receive as a surrogate could disqualify you from receiving further benefits. Therefore, we are unable to accept applicants who are enrolled in certain government programs such as cash assistance, welfare, public housing, and Section 8 housing.
All candidates for our Surrogacy program must meet the following requirements:
• Be a resident of the United States
• Be between the ages of 21-42
• Be healthy overall
• Be height-weight proportionate with BMI of 33 or less
• Have at least one child and be raising (or have raised) that child
• Have experienced a full-term pregnancy and delivery
• Be in a stable living situation
• Have the support of your spouse or partner (when applicable)
• Never have been convicted of a crime
• Have a minimum of a high school education
• Be willing to take medications via injection
• Not smoke or take illegal drugs
• Be willing to refrain from alcohol throughout the pregnancy
• Be willing to keep caffeine intake to a minimum for the duration of the pregnancy
• Not have any sexually transmitted diseases
• Not have any psychiatric illness
• Have reliable transportation
Absolutely! Making a great match is of the highest priority at Family Source. Our team will provide profiles of Intended Parents (IPs) who match your requirements for you to review. Once you find a potential match, you’ll ‘meet’ the IPs (usually via Skype) so you can both determine if you’d like to continue your journey together.
An attorney who specializes in Third Party Reproduction will be provided for you. They will review the Direct Agreement to make sure all verbiage is included to ensure that your rights are well protected. This agreement will need to be signed by all parties prior to you beginning any injectable medication in preparation for the embryo transfer.
It is not a requirement, but is preferred. If you do have a health insurance policy, our team will review the benefits for a “surrogacy exclusion”. If no exclusion is listed, your insurance will be utilized once you are released from the fertility center and seeing your OB. Intended Parents are responsible for the cost of all co-pays and deductibles.
FSC does not withhold taxes or issue 1099 forms for compensation received as a Surrogate or Egg Donor.
Family Source Consultants ensures that all Surrogates who choose to work with us receive an optimal compensation package. While there is a great deal of altruism involved in becoming a surrogate, there is also an expectation of compensation in return for the sacrifices that you will make as a Surrogate. Rest assured that you will be fully compensated for your time, effort, and commitment to your Intended Parents’ mission, and for any inconveniences that you and/or your family members may experience as a result of your pregnancy as a Gestational Surrogate.
We pride ourselves in offering generous compensation packages to our surrogates with base compensation of $50,000+.
Whether you are an Egg Donor or Recipient Parents, we know that determining the type of egg donation with which you are comfortable is an important and personal decision. Our staff has first-hand knowledge of the pros and cons surrounding the different types of egg donation relationships, and we are happy to discuss our own personal experiences with you.
Closed Donation – The Recipient Parent/s will typically choose an Egg Donor who has similar physical and personal characteristics or perhaps particular traits that are appealing for various reasons. The Donor’s identity will be kept confidential; any information identifying her will not be given to the Recipient/s. The Recipient/s will, however, be able to view all pertinent information including medical and genetic history, physical description, photographs of the potential Donor, and photographs of her child/ren if she’s willing to share them. In an anonymous donation, the Recipient(s) will have important information about you, but you will never meet or know each other’s names. Many Recipient Parents and Egg Donors choose the anonymous route because they are most comfortable with this type of arrangement for many valid reasons.
Semi-Open Donation – This is an alternative that offers somewhat of a middle-ground solution in choosing anonymous vs. open egg donation. Oftentimes, Recipient Parents do not feel comfortable with anonymous donation because they would prefer to have the option of contacting the woman who shared her genetics with their child/ren. Additionally, many Recipient Parents would not feel comfortable with a totally open donation. With a semi-open relationship, the Recipient Parent/s have been given the Donor’s profile information, but do not necessarily know her last name, address and other detailed information. Similarly, the Egg Donor will be given basic information about the Recipient Parents, but will not necessarily know more specific information as she would in an open donation situation. The Recipient/s and the Egg Donor may decide to chat via telephone or e-mail, for example, but there will not necessarily be a commitment to stay in touch after the egg donation has occurred. The benefit to semi-known vs. anonymous, however, is that enough general information is exchanged so that the Recipient Parent/s know their Egg Donor (and vice versa) on a basic level, and can contact her if they have any questions and such. With a semi-open donation, the Egg Donor will most likely be informed about the results of the egg retrieval and whether or not a pregnancy occurs.
Open Donation – In an open donation arrangement, all parties have agreed to completely disclose information about each other, including last names, addresses, occupations, etc. The Recipient Parents and the Egg Donor, in this case, will sometimes decide to meet in person before the egg retrieval takes place, and if not possible due to logistics (location or scheduling conflicts) there will at least be conversations via email and/or telephone. In this type of arrangement, everyone is mutually interested in maintaining contact—potentially throughout the life of the child/ren born via the donation. An open donation may also occur because the Recipient Parents have a friend, a sister, or another relative who has offered to help them. Regardless of whether the Egg Donor is known previously, or whether she is someone the Recipient Parents have been matched with via Family Source, it is most important that all parties have discussed their long-term expectations of the relationship. For example, the Donor and Recipient Parent/s should discuss who they plan to tell and when. Additionally, and even more importantly, everyone must be on the same page in regards to what the Donor’s future relationship will be with the child/ren. There are certainly many issues to consider when going the open donation route, but open (or open/known) egg donation can be a wonderfully positive experience for the Recipient Parent/s, the Egg Donor, and any future children that may result.
Surrogacy and adoption are both beautiful ways to create or add to your family.
There are many reasons people may choose surrogacy instead of adoption. We hope this information will help you determine the best route for you.
One of the major benefits of surrogacy is that, in most cases, at least one of the parents has the opportunity to be biologically related to their future child.
With gestational surrogacy, the intended mother may use her eggs, and the intended father may use his sperm. Thus the baby created is the genetic offspring of both parents. Even when an egg donor or sperm donor is used, at least one of the parents will pass on their genetics to the child conceived.
Even if both donor eggs AND donor sperm are used, the advantage of surrogacy is that intended parents can choose the genetic material they are passing along to their potential children. With adoption, there is no choice.
For many Intended Parents, it is desirable to have a genetic link, and surrogacy provides them with this opportunity.
Children conceived via surrogacy are done so with intent. Women who choose to become Surrogates are fertile—they have their own children and can have more if they so choose. They have made a conscious and well-thought-out decision to become Surrogates. They have endured doctor appointments, medications, poking and prodding, and probably some personal inconveniences because they want to help someone else achieve their family-building dream.
On the other hand, in adoption, it is not unusual for the birth mother to change her mind—even when she has already agreed to give up her baby to the adoptive parents. While this is entirely understandable, it can be devastating to potential adoptive parents.
Finally, in a surrogacy arrangement, the intended parents may have the opportunity to be fully involved in the pregnancy and birth experience, depending on their relationship with their surrogate.
Of course, what matters most of all is the child, not the pregnancy; however, for some women, especially those who have had their fertility taken away from them, or for some men, who truly are interested in “going through a pregnancy” from beginning to end, this is certainly an added bonus.
We are grateful that we live in a world today where we have so many choices! Domestic adoption, international adoption, surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, and embryo adoption are all potential options.
We encourage you to explore all of your options to determine the one with which you are most comfortable.
Family Source only accepts Surrogates into our program who reside in the United States. There currently is not a nationwide law regarding surrogacy in the United States; rather, each state has its’ own surrogacy laws. Fortunately, our agency has offices in the MOST surrogacy-friendly states in the United States. Keep in mind, even if Intended Parents live in a state or country where surrogacy or “paid surrogacy” is considered illegal (or the laws are undefined) this does not mean they cannot pursue surrogacy to build their family. It simply means that Intended Parents will be matched with a Surrogate who lives and will deliver in a “surrogacy-friendly” state. Surrogacy laws in the United States and around the world are ever-changing; Family Source is happy to recommend Intended Parents to a reputable collaborative reproduction attorney who can provide them with professional legal counsel.
* Family Source can help you determine what the surrogacy laws are in your particular state; however, because we are not attorneys, we cannot advise you legally. When working with our agency, you will be referred to a reputable collaborative reproduction attorney who can provide you with professional legal counsel.
If you match with a Surrogate or Egg Donor and she decides not to go forward before the egg retrieval or transfer has taken place (although, due to our intense pre-screening process it’s unlikely this will occur)—or if, during medical or psychological screening it is determined there is a problem that disqualifies her from becoming a Surrogate or Egg Donor— will match you with another Surrogate or Egg Donor.
This is a decision Intended Parents will need to make depending on your own level of comfort. Some Intended Parents prefer a lot of contact throughout the pregnancy; i.e., regular updates via e-mail and/or phone, and the expectation to attend many of the doctor appointments (RE and OB) with their Surrogate. It may be highly important to the Intended Parents to be “included” in the pregnancy. Similarly, Surrogates may also like the prospect of a close relationship with their Intended Parents. Surrogates and Intended Parents oftentimes have a life-long friendship—even after the birth of the baby/ies—and in many cases, this is a completely realistic notion.
A percentage of Intended Parents and Surrogates commit to a fairly low level of contact—perhaps occasional updates or phone calls—but do not necessarily want or need a close relationship throughout the pregnancy and post delivery. This may be viewed by some as a “business relationship” of sorts. The Intended Parent/s may not be able to (or may choose not to) attend doctor appointments and may not meet the Surrogate throughout the pregnancy until time of delivery. Surrogates may be comfortable with this type of relationship because, although they are fulfilled in helping someone else have children, it isn’t crucial to them that they develop a strong relationship with their Intended Parent/s. Of course there are many degrees of what constitutes a “close” relationship, and there are many scenarios that are somewhere in between the different ends of the spectrum mentioned above. Family Source believes that it is most important that, regardless of the expectations you have of your Intended Parent-Surrogate relationship, you agree during the matching process and when entering into a contract together to make every effort to follow through with expectations.
This can vary on all different aspects. The reproductive endocrinologist will guide you in making a well-informed decision, based on several factors, one of which is embryo quality. Typically, if the embryos are considered to be of very good or excellent quality, the reproductive endocrinologist will recommend that one embryo is transferred. The Intended Parents and Surrogate will need to agree (and this will be in the contract) how many embryos the Surrogate is willing to transfer.
* We are not medical professionals and do not claim to have the medical knowledge you need to make the important decisions you will make throughout the process. When working with our agency, you will be referred to a reputable infertility clinic (reproductive endocrinologist) that will provide you with professional medical advice.
Family Source is happy to recommend successful fertility centers to you.
Absolutely. We do not discriminate against any person based on marital status.
There are basically two groups of people who need Surrogates and/or Egg Donors to help in their family building endeavors (in the event they choose not to adopt). The first group (discussed below) includes infertile women or couples. The second group includes gay or single males. For obvious reasons, gay or single men who are interested in becoming fathers, but who choose not to pursue adoption, will need to find a woman to carry a baby/ies for them. In this case, they will need to determine whether they are interested in pursuing Traditional Surrogacy or Gestational Surrogacy with an Egg Donor. Since, as mentioned above, it is clear why gay or single males who want to be fathers need to turn to surrogacy, below we will concentrate on addressing some of the reasons infertile women (or heterosexual couples) may need the services of a Surrogate and/or an Egg Donor.
There are many potential reasons a woman may not be able to carry a baby (creating the need for a Surrogate), and a variety of conditions that could prohibit a woman from using her own eggs to conceive (creating the need for an Egg Donor). It’s also fairly commonplace, in terms of assisted reproduction, to need both the services of a Surrogate and an Egg Donor—thus, a Gestational Surrogate would carry the baby/ies created by an Egg Donor’s eggs and the Intended Father’s (or Sperm Donor’s) sperm. This is a subject that can be discussed in great length; however, we would just like to touch on a few of the most typical reasons a couple/individual may need to turn to Surrogacy and/or Egg Donation to create or add to their family.
The need for a Surrogate may exist when a woman does not have a uterus, due to a gynecological cancer for example, or when she has a syndrome known as MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome), in which she is born without a uterus (or with an under-developed uterus), and in many instances, without a vagina (or with an under-developed vagina). A large percentage of women with MRKH have perfectly functioning ovaries; therefore, Surrogacy has provided a wonderful solution in allowing them to use their own eggs and pass on their genetics to their future child/ren.
Even when a woman’s uterus and all of her other gynecologic organs are in tact, there are still many potential conditions that could prevent her from getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy. Some factors that may cause infertility are fibroids (benign tumors of the uterus), endometriosis (when endometrial cells form outside the uterus), blockage or scarring of the fallopian tubes, and cervical incompetence. About 10% of infertile women have unexplained infertility, in which a cause is really never determined, and another portion of the infertile community suffers from the devastating loss of recurrent miscarriage, defined as three or more consecutive miscarriages before twenty weeks gestation.
Finally, even when a woman is be able to carry a pregnancy, from a physical standpoint, there are many possible health reasons (for example, heart conditions, lupus, other autoimmune diseases, etc.) that make it inadvisable for her to become pregnant, because it could be potentially harmful to herself or the baby she would be carrying.
The reasons for needing an Egg Donor are different, on many levels, than those pertaining to the need for a Surrogate. In the case where the Recipient Mother is carrying the baby, the issue may be directly related to her egg quality or a problem with her genetics (for example, a chromosomal abnormality that she could pass on to her children). She may have had her ovaries removed (or had a full hysterectomy) due to cancer or another serious gynecologic problem. Other reasons to need the assistance of an Egg Donor are premature menopause, under-developed or malfunctioning ovaries, or poor egg quality in general due to age or other various causes. Recipient Mothers can achieve pregnancy and carry a baby successfully, but they need another woman’s eggs (genetic material) to make this a possibility.
We at Family Source are not medical professionals; however, we are familiar with most of the typically used medications for IVF protocols. In addition to reading through the general protocol in our sections on this website addressing the Surrogate process and the Egg Donor process please review this list of the most commonly used medications for IVF protocols.
It is important to note, women respond differently to these medications: In most cases, very few side effects, if any, are experienced, but it is possible that more adverse reactions may occur among some patients. Some potential side effects are: mild bruising and/or soreness from shots, headaches, mood swings, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, functional cysts (approx. 15% of IVF patients will develop), and in extreme cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a condition which, fortunately, is pretty rare. It is most important to work with a reputable infertility clinic that 1) has a good track record of avoiding ovarian hyperstimulation among its patients and 2) has the expertise needed to treat the syndrome if it should occur. Your reproductive endocrinologist will answer any additional questions you have in regards medications and their possible side effects.
A Gestational Surrogate has no genetic link to the child/ren she is carrying. A Gestational Surrogate becomes pregnant through the IVF procedure, in which the eggs of the Intended Mother (or Egg Donor) and the sperm of the Intended Father (or a Sperm Donor) are combined to create embryos, which are then implanted into the womb of the Surrogate.
Yes. With the IVF procedure, the embryos will be implanted directly into your uterus; therefore, having your tubes tied does not affect your ability to be a Surrogate.
Usually the reproductive endocrinologist will not recommend more than six (6) donations in a life-time.
The most common reason women become Egg Donors is they have a genuine altruistic wish to help infertile women/couples get pregnant. Like Surrogates, some Egg Donors report being inspired by empathy for a friend, co-worker or relative they have witnessed going through infertility or pregnancy loss. Other Egg Donors do not necessarily “know” anyone personally who has had reproductive issues, but still have a desire, once exposed to the concept of egg donation, to assist someone else in this remarkable way. Oftentimes, women who become Egg Donors have an internal personally characteristic—a particularly strong sense of compassion—that drives them to help others in general.
In addition to having a genuine desire to assist a couple or individual in family building, a woman considering egg donation should be healthy, of above average intelligence, and familiar with her family’s physical/mental health history (or be able to access this information). As far as physical appearance is concerned, there is more of a likelihood that an Egg Donor will be chosen if she is considered average looking or above; however, each potential Recipient Parent/s will have their own version of what constitutes physically attractiveness. In addition to physical description requirements, many Recipient Parents will choose Egg Donors based on their personality traits, hobbies, interests and/or intellect. Egg Donors usually receive compensation, and this is clearly an added incentive for them and their spouses/partners (when applicable); however, we at Family Source believe strongly that the financial aspect should definitely not be the #1 motivator.
In a nutshell, personal gratification and financial compensation are the primary benefits to egg donation for women who: do not view their eggs as their offspring from a maternal aspect (i.e., they recognize they are passing on their genetics, but do not consider themselves to be the “mother” to any resulting children from their egg donation); are healthy overall and have attractive mental and/or physical traits, are willing to follow a fairly intense medication protocol (which will likely include injections); and who have support from either a spouse/partner, friend or family member with whom they can share thoughts and feelings with as they go through their egg donation experience.
There are many potential “reasons” the idea to become a Surrogate is sparked; however, the main reason stated by Surrogates is they are sympathetic to those unable to have children on their own. Oftentimes, for instance, women are driven by their compassion for a friend, co-worker, or relative who they have watched go through infertility or pregnancy loss. A number of Surrogates report feeling empathy for gay/lesbian friends or family members who need the help of a third party to have children, and may have experienced prejudices from certain adoption agencies. Many times, even after the fore mentioned become parents, the seed has been planted, so to speak, and a woman contemplating surrogacy or egg donation feels compelled to find someone in a similar predicament to help.
Surrogates typically have a history of uncomplicated and pleasant pregnancies. They value the gift of parenthood and have a healthy and supportive relationship with their spouse or partner (when applicable). They are oftentimes women who have a desire to help others in general, and they may consider this to be an opportunity to help somebody else in one of the most important and meaningful ways possible. Surrogates usually receive compensation, which certainly is an added incentive for them and their spouses/partners (when applicable); however, we at Family Source believe strongly that the financial aspect should definitely not be the #1 motivator.
In a nutshell, personal gratification and financial compensation tend to be the primary benefits to Surrogacy for women who: enjoy being pregnant and are ready to deal with the physical and mental repercussions that accompany pregnancy/childbirth, are certain they will not form a “maternal” attachment to the baby/ies they are carrying; are willing to follow a fairly intense medication protocol (which will likely include injections); and who have a stable and supportive home environment.