Not every family arrives at surrogacy with their own eggs and sperm, and that is more common than people think. Single parents, gay couples, families who have been through cancer or surgery, and people with long fertility histories all use donor gametes. I have worked with many of them, and you are in good company.
The four common combinations
1. Your own eggs and sperm. The clinic creates embryos through IVF, and the surrogate carries.
2. Donor eggs with your partner's or your own sperm. Common for gay male couples, single men and women who cannot use their own eggs.
3. Donor sperm with your own eggs. Common for single women or couples with male factor infertility.
4. Donated embryos. Embryos created by other people and donated, either through a clinic program or privately.
How it works
- You choose a donor (eggs or sperm), or you identify embryos to use.
- The clinic creates embryos if needed, and genetic testing may be offered.
- The embryos are frozen until your surrogate is ready for transfer.
- The surrogate's cycle is timed to the transfer.
These steps run alongside matching, so planning early saves time.
What is different with donor gametes
Legal
- Donor agreements, and in some cases donor independent legal advice, are required.
- Your lawyer will make sure the donor's rights and your parentage are clear.
- Rules for known donors differ from clinic-matched donors, so ask your lawyer early.
Medical
- Egg donor stimulation and retrieval is a separate medical process with its own timeline. See our guide on how egg donation works.
- Donor sperm is usually quarantined and screened according to Canadian regulation before use.
Emotional
Many families find it helpful to speak with a counsellor about how and when they will talk about donor conception with their child. Research and lived experience both suggest that being open from the start tends to go better than keeping it a secret.
Can I pay a donor?
No. In Canada, payment for eggs or sperm is not permitted. Donors can be reimbursed for documented expenses. See our egg donation costs guide for how that works.
Can I use embryos I already have?
Often yes. If you have embryos in storage, the clinic will confirm they are viable and arrange transfer to the surrogate's clinic if different. Embryos from another country may involve additional import steps, so ask early.
Planning checklist
- Decide which gametes you will use
- Choose a clinic and book a consult
- Consider counselling
- Speak with a reproductive lawyer about donor agreements
- Start matching in parallel to save time
Not sure what you need?
We run both Canadian Surrogacy Options and Little Miracles, our egg donation company, so we can help you plan donor eggs and a surrogate together.
Book a free consultation at calendly.com/cso-robyn
From hope to heartbeat to home.