13 steps to Surrogacy

After making futile efforts to conceive, surrogacy is one unimaginable gift that a couple can have. The desire to become parents is possible with surrogacy arrangement. Below are the steps of how to go about surrogacy in India,

1. Contact surrogacy clinics in India

Visit websites, write emails and establish a personal contact with the doctor for reliability.

2. Clear your doubts and do not hesitate to ask questions –

From the qualifications of the fertility doctor to history of international clients, you should feel free to ask questions.

3. Read and re-read India laws of surrogacy

4. Calculate and review the costs of surrogacy in India

Typically, the cost of surrogacy depends on the policies and services offered by various clinics. You need to be sure about cost incur including the additional costs, which might be changed on unexpected situations like neonatal intensive care costs if the baby is born pre-mature.

5. Confirm the total cost of medication and treatment

Considering that surrogacy in India is cheaper, you may choose to do the entire IVF cycle in India, thereby spending more time in India, but spending less money.

6. Decide between traditional and gestational surrogacy –

Depending upon the priorities, you need to be clear whether you are looking at using donor eggs or using your own. Also, if you decide sending your embryos to India then you need to be sure about the assistance provided by clinic.

7. Gather all your medical records and forward it to the doctor –

This might include sperm analysis and a STD screen. If you decide to send embryos, you need to forward the reports of a STD screen.

8. Schedule a time to begin your treatment -

If you are using your own eggs, it is likely that some of your treatment can occur at home, with egg collection in India. If you are using donor eggs, then your treatment time frame will be guided by when egg collection happens for your egg donor.

9. Plan your travel to India -

First you need to apply for medical VISA. The number of days you need to spend in India depends on whether you are using donor eggs, or sending embryos from your home country. If you are using your own eggs, you will spend 5- 15 days in India and if you have sent your embryos then you will only need to spend 3- 5 day in India.

10. Meet the doctor and discuss

It is important to establish a transparent communication medium between the couple and doctor. Tell the doctor about number of embryos you want to transfer. While this can increases the odds of a successful pregnancy, it also increases the odds of a multiple pregnancy.

11. On the day of egg collection, if you are using your own eggs, you will have minor surgery. Don't plan on doing much else that day - it is a relatively short procedure that does not require an overnight hospital stay. If you are using donor eggs, you may be required to supply a fresh sperm sample.

12. Going home with your baby -

By the time this has happened, you should be aware of what the requirements are for your particular country and embassy to get citizenship and a passport for your baby. For most countries this requires a DNA test to confirm the genetic link to one parent by a DNA service approved by your Embassy. Irrespective of whether you use your own genetic material or donor eggs, both parents’ names will be on the birth certificate. 

Dr Neeraj Pahlajani