Resources
Guidance and tools for the surrogacy journey
Surrogacy comes with a lot to learn, and you deserve to understand every part of it. We’ve gathered guidance, definitions, and resources here to help you feel informed and prepared, wherever you are on the path. Don’t see your question answered? Reach out anytime, or visit the Journal for more.
Resources
Guidance and tools for the surrogacy journey
Surrogacy comes with a lot to learn, and you deserve to understand every part of it. We’ve gathered guidance, definitions, and resources here to help you feel informed and prepared, wherever you are on the path. Don’t see your question answered? Reach out anytime, or visit the Journal for more.
Glossary of Terms
Plain-language definitions for the words you’ll hear along the way. Surrogacy and fertility come with a lot of acronyms and unfamiliar terms. Here are the ones you’re most likely to encounter, with the most important explained in full.
Gestational surrogacy: An arrangement where a surrogate carries a pregnancy for the intended parents using an embryo created through IVF. The surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
Gestational carrier (GC): Another term for a surrogate in gestational surrogacy.
Intended parents (IP): The person or people who will become the legal parents of the child and who are pursuing surrogacy to grow their family.
IVF (in vitro fertilization): A process where an egg is fertilized by sperm in a lab, creating an embryo that can be transferred to a surrogate.
Embryo transfer (ET): The medical procedure where an embryo is placed into the surrogate’s uterus.
Frozen embryo transfer (FET): An embryo transfer using an embryo that was previously frozen and then thawed.
Single embryo transfer (SET): Transferring one embryo at a time, often recommended to reduce the risks of a multiple pregnancy.
Match: The point at which an intended parent and a surrogate are paired to begin a journey together.
Surrogacy agreement: The legal contract between intended parents and a surrogate that outlines everyone’s rights, responsibilities, and expectations.
Medical clearance: Confirmation from a fertility clinic that a surrogate is medically ready to begin the process.
SEEDS: The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, a professional organization that sets ethical standards for agencies. We’re proud members.
ASRM: The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which issues medical and ethical guidelines for reproductive care.
Beta (hCG test): An early blood test that confirms and measures pregnancy.
EDD (estimated due date): The expected date of delivery.
Your Questions, Answered
Our most frequently asked questions.

