Gestational Carriers

Third-Party Reproductive Care

Many individuals or couples may need a gestational carrier, or surrogate, to help grow their family for various reasons. This can include having uterine issues or health conditions that make pregnancy potentially dangerous, being part of the LGBTQ+ community, or desiring to be a single parent. Additionally, a gestational carrier may be a suitable option for those with a history of poor reproductive outcomes, such as recurrent miscarriages or preterm deliveries.

If you elect to use a gestational carrier, Aspire Houston Fertility Institute is prepared to assist in all phases of the surrogacy process.

About Gestational Carriers

Gestational carriers are women who carry and deliver babies for other individuals or couples, the intended parents. In our in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory, the egg cell of the intended mother or donor is fertilized by the sperm of the intended father or donor. The resulting embryo is placed into the uterus of the gestational carrier and proceeds normally like any spontaneously conceived pregnancy. The baby is the genetic offspring of the intended parents or their chosen donors and has no genetic relationship with the carrier.

The Gestational Surrogacy Process

If you are considering having a child through a surrogate, the important thing to consider is that the carrier has no genetic link to the fetus. Through IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), Aspire HFI physicians  can extract eggs from the intended mother or a donor and fertilize them outside of the body. This fertilization can be done with your partner’s sperm or that of a donor.

If you know of someone whom you would like to act as a gestational carrier, we can evaluate them and determine if they would be well-suited to carry your child. If you don’t have someone selected or if your carrier is not a good match for medical reasons, we can connect you with a reputable surrogacy agency that can pair you with someone who has been medically screened and deemed physically and mentally fit for surrogacy. Once you pick your gestational carrier, we can proceed with IVF.

Additionally,  we work with lawyers who specialize in third-party reproduction to help ensure not only the smoothest experience possible, but also protection of your legal rights as the intended parent.

Indications for Gestational Surrogacy

Unfortunately, not all women are able to carry and deliver a baby. Below are some indications for the use of a gestational carrier. If any of the below factors apply to you, we encourage you to consult with the experts at Aspire HFI.

• Medical conditions preclude you from carrying a child due to potential health risks, such as advanced heart disease, lupus, or diabetes.

• Significant injury or disease of the uterus

• No uterus

• In a cisgender male same-sex relationship or transgender relationship

• Are an aspiring single parent who cannot carry a child

If you decide third-party reproduction is right for you, we can review your options during your initial consultation and guide you through every step of the process following. We want our patients to be able to make informed decisions regarding their health and plans for creating a family.