IVF, in-vitro fertilization, is a process in which an egg is fertilized with a sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is then implanted into a woman’s uterus. The procedure can take up to several months to complete. The time frame varies for different people: for some, IVF works on the first attempt, and for others, the process requires several cycles.
For women facing fertility issues, the IVF procedure starts with hormone therapy, which is used to promote the development of eggs in their ovaries. During this process, women should be kept under medical observation with proper medication. After a woman produces eggs, they are removed and combined with sperm inside a lab. While the eggs and sperm are kept in the lab, the inner lining of a woman’s womb is prepared for pregnancy by hormone therapy.
The resulting embryos should be carefully examined, and one or two good ones are then transferred to the fallopian tube. If the procedure is successful, pregnancy takes place. The whole process is complex and requires prospective parents’ patience.
In some cases, IVF allows a prospective mother to carry a child on her own, but not always.
When fertility treatments are not successful, some intended parents turn to surrogacy. In the case of surrogacy, the intended parents’ or donors’ eggs and sperm are used to create embryos in a lab, which are then transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. The surrogacy process also involves fertility treatments and medical screenings for both intended parents and their surrogates.
More about IVF with WCOB here.
IVF vs Surrogacy: Success Rate
Surrogacy has a higher success rate than regular IVF, but this can vary depending on several aspects. The IVF success rate can be as high as 60-65% with healthy embryos. The success rate is majorly dependent on the age of the carrier: women under 35 have a higher success rate than women over 40.
Whereas surrogacy is successful in 75% of cases and increases up to 95% with the surrogate being pregnant. With surrogacy, several factors affect successful pregnancy and childbirth, such as the surrogate’s age, health, lifestyle, etc. That’s why choosing a surrogate that meets all the requirements of a healthy carrier is crucial.
Other factors that can affect the success rate of both IVF and surrogacy include infertility diagnosis, history of pregnancies or miscarriages, and medical and genetic factors.
Before choosing between surrogacy and IVF, seek expert advice and consult surrogacy specialists to determine what would be the best option in your unique situation. In-vitro fertilization with a donor egg has a high success rate, but this rate is even higher when working with a surrogate.
Often, prospective parents go through several IVF cycles that end unsuccessfully. This puts a significant physical and emotional strain on the family. With surrogacy, you can try as many times as you want. If IVF does not work with one surrogate, intended parents can be matched with a better fit for them. Practice shows that this scenario has worked great for many families, allowing them to have children.
IVF vs Surrogacy: Cost
The average cost of a traditional IVF cycle in the US is between $14,000 and $20,000 but can vary depending on the clinic, location, and other procedures. IVF costs include medications, monitoring appointments, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. Surrogacy costs include IVF, the surrogate's compensation, legal and medical fees, and other expenses.
The surrogacy process involves several steps that you can pay for gradually:
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First, intended parents decide whether they will use help from a surrogacy agency. There are advantages to inviting an experienced team into the process. Well-established agencies have a quality surrogate database and provide matching and legal coordination.
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The second sizable expense is surrogate compensation. By paying a surrogate, you reward her time, effort, and physical toll on her health. Surrogate fees usually total up to 35%. If the surrogate works, they may require compensation for lost wages and ask the intended parents to pay for life insurance. You should also cover travel, maternity clothing, and additional expenses for the surrogate, which might add another 5% of the cost.
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Medical expenses are usually 45% of the price, including IVF treatments, medications, surrogate screening, and prenatal care. Fertility tests and treatments for a surrogate ensure that the surrogate is physically capable of carrying a pregnancy and reduce the risk of complications. These tests typically involve assessing the surrogate's reproductive health, including hormone levels, ovarian function, and uterus condition.
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The legal process to secure parental rights typically takes 20%, depending on the country's law.
Check out the costs with WCOB here.
Is IVF Necessary for Surrogacy?
IVF is often required for gestational surrogacy but not for traditional surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy can be completed via intrauterine insemination or IUI. IUI is a less complicated and less expensive procedure. However, traditional surrogacy is forbidden by law in most countries and is less preferred by intended parents as it makes a surrogate genetically related to a child.
Gestational surrogacy is legalized in several countries and, if intended parents don’t use donors’ material, allows both of them to be genetically related to the child. The IVF process can be done before or at the same time as finding a surrogate. Because it can take time to find a surrogate, some people choose to create and freeze embryos first. The process involves multiple medical procedures, such as ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and embryo implantation. This might increase the cost of treatment, though most intended parents have success with gestational surrogacy.
Learn more about types of surrogacy here.
To Conclude
IVF is a process in which an egg is fertilized with a sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is then implanted into the uterus. This procedure is also used in the surrogacy process when the intended parents choose a surrogate to carry a baby for them. Surrogacy has a higher success rate than regular IVF on average, but this can vary depending on several aspects, including the carrier’s age, health, and lifestyle. Surrogacy is also more expensive, including the cost of IVF, the surrogate's compensation, legal and medical fees, and other expenses.
IVF is often required for gestational surrogacy but not for traditional surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy is legalized in several countries and allows one or both parents to be genetically related to the child, whereas the surrogate does not have any genetic connection.
If you are trying to decide whether IVF or surrogacy is the right path in your situation, feel free to contact us for assessment and guidance.
