Surrogacy is a process where a woman, known as a Surrogate, gives birth to a child for another individual or a couple, known as Intended Parents. Such a way to parenthood is usually chosen by those who cannot carry a pregnancy by themself due to medical, social, or individual reasons. There are two types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy, where the egg of a surrogate is fertilized with the sperm of the Intended father, making her the biological mother of the baby, and gestational surrogacy, where the sperm and the egg of the Intended Parents, or Donor, are used to create the embryo, and this embryo is transferred to the uterus of a Surrogate, she doesn’t have any genetic link to a child.
In gestational surrogacy, a Surrogate doesn't share her DNA with a baby. The eggs and sperm of the Intended Parents or Donor are used to create the embryo, which is transferred to the uterus of a Surrogate, and it means that she doesn't have any genetic link to the baby she carries. However, in traditional surrogacy, the egg of a surrogate is used for fertilization, and she shares her DNA with the baby she carries. This method is not very common, and in Ave Fertility, we are working only with gestational surrogacy.
The POA allows you to avoid a few visits before the baby’s birth and will enable us to act on your behalf in legal matters related to your surrogacy program. This includes signing necessary documents, handling contracts, and making decisions in your absence, which helps us prevent possible delays and ensure that all legal requirements are met promptly. It is important to note that any document signed under the Power of Attorney will be executed only after your explicit approval. Nothing will proceed without your consent.
At Ave Fertility, we have a thorough process to ensure that every Surrogate is carefully selected and matched to meet all specific needs of Intended Parents. We have a few qualification stages for a Surrogate. It covers medical check-ups, psychological checks, and social and criminal background checks. Only one in 10 women who apply to become a Surrogate meet all requirements and can be qualified for a process. We also take into consideration the specific needs and personal preferences of the Intended Parents. Once we have identified a Surrogate who aligns with all the preferences of the Intended Parents, we send them a profile with photos and relevant information about the Surrogate. If a couple feels connected and approves a candidate, we officially qualify her for a process.
While the selection of the egg donor (if needed) is totally on you, the surrogate selection is completely on the medical team and on the Dr in charge of your program. Why? Because they carefully study the anamnesis of the woman, undergo a series of tests (including a session with the Psychologist), blood work etc. Only after the qualification process is successfully accomplished and the woman is approved for the program, we send you her profile. Trust me, it is in everyone’s best interest to select the most qualified surrogate for your program as we aim to have a successful pregnancy from the first try!
It is a great question. The surrogates don’t tend to breastfeed. They are given medication to stop lactation right after the birth while being in the maternity hospital. Nevertheless, if you want to breastfeed your child, please inform us about it and we will take it into account while selecting the surrogate. But if this idea came to you after the pregnancy has been confirmed, surely, we will ask the surrogate about such a possibility but we will have to respect her decision.
We understand that surrogacy is a significant financial commitment, and we do not require Intended Parents to pay the program's total cost upfront. Instead, we have developed a reasonable and flexible payment plan tailored to each stage of the program.
The costs are divided into five payments, each corresponding to a specific milestone in the process when payments are due.
This stage-by-stage payment structure ensures transparency and allows Intended Parents to manage costs effectively throughout the journey.
Yes, Ave Fertility proudly offers surrogacy programs for LGBTQIA+ couples and single parents. As a global agency, we are committed to supporting diverse family-building journeys. For this purpose, we operate in Mexico and Guatemala, where the legal frameworks allow us to provide tailored surrogacy solutions for same-sex couples and single parents with full legal protections and transparent agreements.
At Ave Fertility, we recognize the emotional complexities involved in the surrogacy journey for both Intended Parents and Surrogates. We provide comprehensive emotional support to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved. Each Intended Parent is paired with a knowledgeable coordinator who offers guidance and emotional support throughout the process. Additionally, we provide access to professional counselors who specialize in fertility and surrogacy challenges to help address feelings of stress, uncertainty, or anxiety.
Surrogates also have regular check-ins with mental health professionals and coordinators throughout the pregnancy. After delivery, we offer emotional and psychological care to help surrogates process the transition and celebrate their contribution.
Both Intended Parents and Surrogates are central to the surrogacy journey, and our holistic approach ensures that their well-being is prioritized at every step.
At Ave Fertility, we believe in fostering positive and supportive relationships between Surrogates and Intended Parents, as open communication can create a healthy and encouraging environment for everyone involved. However, we also recognize the importance of setting appropriate boundaries to ensure emotional well-being.
The requirements for Intended Parents to participate in surrogacy vary depending on the destination country, as each location has specific legal and medical guidelines.
Our team at Ave Fertility ensures that Intended Parents meet the legal and medical requirements for their chosen destination while providing guidance and support throughout the process.
The duration of the surrogacy process can vary depending on factors such as the program's location, the time needed to match with a surrogate, and the specific medical or legal steps involved.
From the initial consultation to taking your baby home, the surrogacy process typically takes 12-18 months, although this may vary based on individual circumstances.
Our team works to ensure the process is as smooth and efficient as possible while prioritizing the well-being of everyone involved.
After your surrogate gives birth, the baby is “transferred” to you right away. It is an extremely important moment: you must be prepared emotionally. It is not just handing over the baby, this moment of transfer is filled with a lot of emotional and physical components. Don’t stress out, don’t be scared, the baby feels everything. We highly recommend a skin-to-skin contact between you and your child. You will have a comfortable room in the maternity hospital, the medical staff will help you during these days, will give recommendations about daily care routine, feeding etc. Your baby will have an Ear Screening Test, neonatologist examination and first vaccination (if applied).
Everything is much easier than you think! We have our Egg Donor Database and it is constantly increasing once the egg donor successfully accomplishes the qualification process. To access our full catalogue, we invite you to become an Ave Member by simply sending an email to us and we will register you. After registration you will have immediate access to the catalogue of frozen eggs and Egg Donors ready for fresh cycles. The database includes the Egg Donor profile with photos.
Not a chance! Such a lady doesn't stand a chance to be qualified as our surrogate. We run the multilevel selection process to avoid complications like that. We define candidate surrogates' motivation, readiness for the program, and emotional sustainability. Our experience helps us assess a candidate's fit by observing small signs, such as responsiveness, call return times, adherence to testing routines, and openness about their realities.
Last but not least, when a woman enters a surrogacy agreement, she is well-informed about her responsibility, including relevant contractual provisions. We proceed with the program only after we are sure that your surrogate understands her role in the process and recognizes that it is a long-lasting commitment.
The answer to this question is simple — the chances of twins are very low with us (statistically, it's 0.3% — which is the possibility of monochorionic twins), as we transfer only one embryo per cycle. The chance of triplet pregnancy is none.
Why do we transfer only one embryo? — First, this is in line with the latest recommendations of the leading fertility associations in Europe and the USA. On the other side, we do maximum to reduce the risks of complicated pregnancy and pre-term birth associated with twins or triplets.
Although we do our best, sometimes pregnancy needs extra medical attention. All our surrogates know that if anything bothers them, we are the first and immediate point of contact. We, in turn, address the relevant doctor or other specialist required to deal with the complication in the best way possible.
All our surrogates are monitored by physicians in reputable private clinics. If bed rest or hospitalization is needed, these wonderful ladies do not doubt to follow the doctor's instructions, and we help them to arrange things at home — get housekeeping help, call the babysitter for their children, or contact the person she indicated as her support group.
While your surrogate is in the hospital, we will take care of all the medications needed, meals, and transportation. However, if this is not covered by your program, we will charge you for that according to receipts
Great question! First, if this question arose in your mind even for a second, give yourself a break and think if you are ready for surrogacy for real. Having a baby is not something where you can have a second thought—because as soon as your surrogate is pregnant, there is no way back, no change of mind, no opting out. So before stepping onto this path, you must be 100% sure you are physically, emotionally, and financially ready.
However, there is a small window to change your mind—after you signed the contract before we made the embryos. Then you will be entitled to a partial refund (we will charge you for the work done by that moment and compensation for the egg donor if she started her protocol)—all the details are stated in the contract.
Yes, there can be differences in legal processes depending on the Intended Parents' nationality, but the surrogacy laws of the country where the program is conducted remain unchanged. Ave Fertility strictly follows the legal framework of the country where the program occurs. However, the nationality of the Intended Parents plays a significant role after the baby's birth, particularly in the home country of the Intended Parents. We strictly recommend consulting with a surrogacy lawyer familiar with your country's laws to comply with all specific legal requirements before starting your journey.
The cost of a surrogacy program can vary significantly based on such factors as the country where surrogacy is conducted, the specific medical procedures required, and whether the program is managed independently or through an agency. With an agency-managed surrogacy program, the cost typically includes all the services needed for a successful program. At Ave Fertility, the cost of a surrogacy program with one attempt starts from $40.000. Such a comprehensive program includes the selection and screening of a surrogate, medical process including IVF and Embryo Transfer, program coordination, and, of course, legal assistance to ensure your secure coming home with a baby.
This is a very serious question. As a matter of fact, it depends. If you do surrogacy with us - it is not human trafficing. As we do export people anywhere. We do not take advantage of their vulnerable state. And so on, and so forth...
But if someone offers you to take a surrogate mother from Ukraine, impregnate her somewhere in Cyprus, and then give birth somewhere in whatever: your country, Argentina, Mexico, Moon — yes, this is human trafficking. So don't be the part of the scheme.
As of now, surrogacy in Ukraine is supported only for married heterosexual couples. Thus, a single man can not become a father through surrogacy in Ukraine
Private (or independent) surrogacy refers to a surrogacy arrangement conducted independently, without the involvement of a surrogacy agency. In this model, the Intended Parents and the surrogate (also known as the gestational carrier) connect directly and manage the process on their own.
Affordable surrogacy and cheap surrogacy are not the same, and understanding this distinction is crucial for your well-being and your future child’s safety. Choosing cheap surrogacy can pose significant risks, as cutting corners often comes at the expense of proper care and essential services.
If pursuing surrogacy in the U.S. is financially challenging, opting for programs in countries like Mexico or Ukraine can be a viable choice. These countries maintain exceptionally high healthcare standards, and the lower costs are due to differences in salaries, surrogate and egg donor compensation, and private clinic fees—not a sacrifice in quality. This is what we mean when we describe surrogacy as "affordable." It allows you to reduce costs while maintaining high standards of care and professionalism.
However, pursuing "cheap" surrogacy in countries with limited regulations, inadequate healthcare systems, or even in places where surrogacy is prohibited can lead to questionable practices. Be cautious of programs that claim to offer “all-inclusive” surrogacy for drastically low prices, such as $35,000 or $40,000. These programs might skip essential health screenings for surrogates and egg donors, and surrogates may be forced into the process under dire financial circumstances, jeopardizing ethical practices and safety.
Surrogacy is a complex medical program that involves skilled professionals, advanced equipment, and expensive medication. It simply cannot be cheap without compromises. But if we speak about affordable options — they exist, that's for sure.
It depends on what type of surrogacy you choose. If you choose traditional surrogacy (when the baby is genetically related to a surrogate) there is a good chance that your baby will have the surrogate's traits in her appearance. If you opt for gestational surrogacy (when the baby is not genetically related to a surrogate), there is no chance that your baby will look like your surrogate — the only exception is when a family member is acting as a surrogate, then yes, some family resemblance may take place. For example, if a sister is carrying out a baby for a brother. Using donor egg makes it gestational surrogacy, but the baby is still genetically related to the surrogate, just through a different family line, as the baby would be the surrogate's niece or nephew.
Surrogacy is a complex process that involves careful consideration of numerous factors to ensure its success. Legal regulations, medical procedures, emotional preparedness, and ethical concerns all play crucial roles in shaping the surrogacy experience.
Surrogacy laws vary significantly across countries, and not all are equally inclusive for all Intended Parents. In Ukraine, for instance, surrogacy is only available to married heterosexual couples who can provide certified medical proof of the need for surrogacy. A genetic connection to at least one of the Intended Parents is also required. By contrast, in some U.S. states and in Mexico, surrogacy is considerably more inclusive and accessible to a wider range of Intended Parents. Meanwhile, in Georgia (the country, not the U.S. state), couples must demonstrate that they have lived together for over a year to qualify, whereas no such residency requirement exists in Guatemala.
The level of contact you can have with a surrogate, as well as your involvement in the matching process, varies widely depending on the country. In places like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada—where only altruistic surrogacy is permitted—finding a surrogate is largely your responsibility. Typically, the best support you can expect is being listed on a platform run by non-profit organizations, where you’ll wait in the hope that a surrogate selects your profile and that you both feel compatible. In other countries, however, communication with surrogates may be limited due to language barriers or cultural norms, making direct interaction more challenging.
Choosing the country with an advanced healthcare system will directly influence your program, as surrogacy involves the use of advanced medical techniques and procedures, including genetic testing, controlled hormonal stimulation, egg retrieval, IVF, ICSI, embryo culture, vitrification, and PGT-A, among others.
Finally, let’s talk about financial considerations. If you’re looking for a surrogacy program where every step is meticulously documented with receipts, contracts, consents, or legal opinions, the United States offers a highly structured and reliable option. However, be prepared for the costs, as the price reflects the extensive documentation, administrative efforts, and fees from numerous service providers. On the other hand, if you prefer a more cost-effective, all-inclusive surrogacy solution, countries like Ukraine, Mexico, or Georgia are excellent options to consider. Many providers, including us, offer birth-guaranteed comprehensive programs at fixed prices. That said, these destinations may come with certain trade-offs, such as less open communication with surrogates and specific legal requirements, like the necessity of a genetic link to at least one parent.
