Frequently Asked Questions

How is fertility4life different to other surrogacy organisations in the UK?

Fertility4life has been set up to follow the American model of surrogacy which is based on providing a professional and commercially orientated service which will deliver surrogates to you within a set period usually no longer than three months before the commence medical treatment. Our surrogates are often advertised for on the web as our services are operated outside the UK this aspect is totally legal, we will also select the best country for the surrogate to give birth as this is again in order to make the process easier and more effective to our clients. We also provide all of the services required through our partner clinics and medical centres throughout the world this again avoids you having to enter in discussions with a number of clinics to secure treatment.

What is surrogacy?

A surrogate is a woman who agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person or couple, called the intended parent(s). Fertility4life conducts gestational surrogacy’s in which the carrier is implanted with an embryo created from either sperm and/or egg from the intended couple or a donor. The baby has no genetic relationship to the carrier, who is only responsible for gestating the baby until birth.

Why would someone choose surrogacy over adoption?

Adoption is a wonderful choice for many people. However surrogacy has a number of practical and medical advantages. When egg and/or sperm from the intended parents are used, there can be an actual genetic relationship to the child. In gestational surrogacy’s, embryos are created outside the womb through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a critically valuable innovation practiced at the more sophisticated medical centres. Before implantation occurs, PGD can detect certain chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo typically discovered mid-pregnancy. Also unlike in most adoptions, intended parents closely monitor the health and progress of the pregnancy and birth. The surrogates obligations and compensation are governed by contract, which provides a distinct measure of security to all involved.

How are surrogacy’s arranged?

A number of professionals work with the intended parents and carrier to create a successful outcome. Social workers, psychologists, physicians, and lawyers evaluate the carrier for suitability and make appropriate matches with intended parents. Counselling is provided throughout the process. Medical specialists are required for obtaining the eggs and sperm, implanting the embryo(s) in the carrier, monitoring the health of the pregnancy and delivering the baby. Solicitors are required to negotiate surrogacy agreements and prepare other legal documents beginning from before conception and extending until after the birth (if post-birth procedures are necessary).

Can the surrogate acquire legal custody to the child?

If the intended parents fulfil their contractual obligations, it would be virtually impossible for a gestational carrier to acquire legal custody after the birth. The surrogate has no biological relation to the child.

Is surrogacy legal everywhere?

Intended parents may live anywhere in the world, Fertility4life will work with intended parents we will off course select the most suitable country for the birth where surrogacy is legal and where we have excellent legal support for all of our clients. The status of the surrogacy agreement is determined by the country of birth of the baby.

Why would a woman choose to be a surrogate?

A surrogate provides a very special gift to a couple or individual incapable of bearing children on their own. The ideal carrier is married (or in a committed relationship), is raising at least one child, and does not desire any more children of her own, her family and friends are very supportive of her choice to be a carrier. All candidates are rigorously screened and many aspects of their background are thoroughly investigated. Our clients choose compatible carriers from the profiles we provide. The surrogate and intended parents meet in person before the surrogacy proceeds. All parties must feel completely comfortable with the arrangement before any medical procedures take place.

Where can the medical procedures and birth take place?

IVF procedures may take place at our partner clinics in Europe we can also arrange private care for the both of the baby these costs will be given to you at the commencement of the agreement

How long does the process take?

Because of the many variable components of the surrogacy arrangement, the duration of each one is different. Much depends on the availability of surrogates, the success of the medical procedures and a host of other factors. A general time frame of one to two years from the time you start with us to the time your baby is born would be an average.

Can single people or gay and lesbian couples/individuals use gestational carriers?

Yes. Fertility4life supports the right of all people to have the families they desire, irrespective of marital status or sexual orientation. In fact, in many cases surrogacy is the best option for single and gay couples we will off course select the country which gives us the most advantageous legal.