Embarking on a surrogacy journey can be both exciting and overwhelming. To help you navigate the process, we’ve compiled a “surrogacy cheat sheet” of key terms that every surrogate and intended parent should know. 

Understanding these terms will empower you to make confident decisions and communicate like a pro with your surrogacy team.

Key Surrogacy Terms

Gestational Carrier / Surrogate: A woman who carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple. The surrogate has no biological relationship with the child.

Intended Parents: The individual(s) who plan to become the legal parents of the child born through surrogacy.

Surrogacy Agency: A professional organization that provides comprehensive services for both intended parents and surrogates, including matching, screening, and coordination with medical and legal professionals.

Match: The process of pairing intended parents with a compatible surrogate, typically facilitated by a surrogacy agency. 

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): The process of creating embryos by fertilizing eggs with sperm outside the body.

Embryo Transfer: The medical procedure where an embryo is placed into the surrogate’s uterus.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): Medical procedures used to address infertility, including IVF and surrogacy.

ART Attorney: A lawyer specializing in assisted reproductive technology law, including surrogacy agreements.

Surrogacy Contract / Gestational Surrogacy Agreement: A legal document outlining the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties involved in the surrogacy arrangement.

Monitoring Clinic: A medical facility that oversees the surrogate’s cycle when she is not local to the intended parents’ fertility clinic.

Pre-Birth Order: A legal document establishing the intended parents as the child’s legal parents before birth, ensuring their names appear on the birth certificate.

Understanding these terms will help you navigate your surrogacy journey with confidence. Remember, Surrogate Parenting Services (SPS) is here to support you every step of the way, ensuring a positive and successful experience for all parties involved!

Learn More About Becoming a Surrogate with Surrogate Parenting Services 

Surrogate Parenting Services is proud to celebrate over 30 years of helping to bring dreams to life! Founded in 1990, Surrogate Parenting Services (SPS) is a full-service surrogacy agency that offers both parties an exceptionally supportive environment throughout the surrogacy relationship. We’re passionate about creating ideal matches between surrogates and intended parents, so the journey is fulfilling for both sides and the future child is brought into this world in the best possible circumstances.   

Interested in becoming a surrogate? Learn more about our Surrogacy Program online or by calling (949) 363-9525.