When you are starting out, the language can be confusing. An egg donor, a surrogate, a gestational carrier, an IVF cycle. People often arrive at my door asking for one thing and need another, or need both. Here is a simple way to think about it.
This is general information, not medical advice. Your fertility doctor will tell you what is right for you.
What each one does
- An egg donor provides the eggs. If you cannot use your own eggs, a donor's eggs are used to create embryos.
- A surrogate carries the pregnancy. If you cannot carry a pregnancy safely or at all, a surrogate does it for you.
- Both are needed when you need donor eggs and also cannot carry.
Common situations
| Your situation | What you may need | |---|---| | You have eggs but cannot carry a pregnancy (for example, no uterus, a medical condition, or repeated losses) | A surrogate | | You cannot use your own eggs but can carry | An egg donor | | You cannot use your own eggs and cannot carry | An egg donor and a surrogate | | Gay male couple | An egg donor and a surrogate | | Single man | An egg donor and a surrogate | | Single woman or couple who needs donor sperm but can carry | A sperm donor, not a surrogate |
Questions to ask yourself
- Can I carry a pregnancy, according to my doctor?
- Do I have eggs that are likely to create healthy embryos?
- Do I already have embryos in storage?
- Is there a known person (friend or relative) who may want to help?
The order matters
Things move in parallel more than most people realise. If you need both, the egg donor process and the surrogate matching process can be happening at the same time, which saves time. We run both Canadian Surrogacy Options and Little Miracles, our egg donation company, so we can plan the two together.
Costs to think about
- Egg donation: see our guide to egg donation costs in Canada
- Surrogacy: see our guide to what surrogacy costs in Canada
Where to start
Start with a consult at a fertility clinic and a conversation with us. You do not need to know the answer before you call. That is what the call is for.
Book a free consultation at calendly.com/cso-robyn
From hope to heartbeat to home.