IVF and surrogacy are two options you might consider if you’re facing infertility, can’t carry a pregnancy, or both. The right path depends on your reproductive health and circumstances.
For some people, IVF solves the problem on its own. For others, surrogacy is the better option because they can’t conceive or safely carry a pregnancy to term. And for some, it takes a combination of both to build a family.
In this article, we’ll break down how IVF and surrogacy work, the differences between the two, and help you figure out which one is right for you.
Key Takeaways
What Is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment where eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus. It’s for women who can carry a pregnancy but are having trouble getting or staying pregnant, often due to ovulation issues in the woman, though the cause can lie with either partner.
IVF works by taking over the ovulation process. You will be placed on fertility medications to encourage your follicles to grow, so that multiple eggs can be harvested during retrieval. The mature eggs are then mixed with sperm to form an embryo(s). When it’s time for implantation, the doctor will pick the healthiest embryos for transfer into your womb or the surrogate’s.
Once the embryos are implanted, you’re pregnant and have overcome most of the fertility hurdles faced by women with ovulation problems. Immediately after egg retrieval, you will start progesterone therapy to build up the uterine lining, facilitate implantation, and prevent miscarriage.
IVF also treats blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, low sperm count or motility, and unexplained infertility. Same-sex female couples sometimes choose reciprocal IVF, where one partner donates the egg and her partner carries the pregnancy.
What Is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is when another woman carries and delivers a baby for women who cannot carry a child to term. This includes women with no uterus or an abnormal uterus, but also women with a condition or disease that makes it difficult to carry a pregnancy to term.
Often, after a severe illness like cancer, a woman finds she can’t sustain a pregnancy. Women who get pregnant but have multiple miscarriages are also good candidates for surrogacy. Surrogacy is an option for these women, since they likely have viable eggs and can conceive, but something prevents them from carrying to term.
It’s also the starting point for intended parents who never needed IVF to solve a fertility problem. These include same-sex male couples, single parents by choice, or anyone without a uterus.
Gestational vs. Traditional Surrogacy
There are two types of surrogacy: gestational and traditional. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby. In traditional surrogacy, she uses her own egg, so she’s the baby’s genetic mother. Most surrogacies today are gestational.
IVF vs Surrogacy: Key Differences
What Are the Success Rates With IVF vs Surrogacy?
Success rates depend on age, egg quality, and the underlying cause of infertility. But the most important factor that determines IVF outcomes is age.
IVF Live Birth Rate Per Cycle, by Age
According to CDC ART data, live birth rates per cycle decline steadily with age.
Surrogacy also has strong outcomes, though it helps to know what’s actually being measured. The live birth rate per embryo transfer typically runs 50% to 80%, depending mainly on the age of the egg used and whether the embryo was genetically tested beforehand (PGT-A). Once a surrogate’s pregnancy is confirmed, though, roughly 95% go on to result in a live birth.
Which Costs More: IVF or Surrogacy?
The average cost of IVF runs $15,000 to $30,000 or more per cycle, depending on the clinic, medications, and any extra testing like PGT-A. Since more than one cycle is often needed, the total can climb well past that first quote.
A complete surrogacy journey typically costs $150,000 to $220,000 or more today. This figure usually already includes the IVF cycle needed to create the embryo, along with the surrogate’s compensation, agency fees, legal work, and her medical care, rather than being a separate cost stacked on top.
Typical Total Cost Range
Surrogacy figures typically already include the IVF cycle needed to create the embryo. Based on midpoint values of each range.
If cost is a concern for you, ask the agency or clinic for a full breakdown of every cost instead of one total number. This will help you budget properly and avoid hidden fees along the way.
How Long Do IVF and Surrogacy Take?
IVF is quicker. One cycle of IVF usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks, but many people need more than one cycle before achieving pregnancy.
Surrogacy takes much longer. You’ll need to find and match with a surrogate, screen her, and put legal contracts in place, on top of the IVF portion and then the pregnancy itself. Most families are looking at 12 to 18 months from start to finish.
Typical Timeline
Surrogacy timeline includes matching, screening, legal contracts, the IVF cycle, and the pregnancy itself. Based on midpoint values of each range.
What Are the Legal Considerations?
IVF has few legal steps. You’ll mostly sign medical consent forms with your clinic, since the intended mother is the baby’s genetic and legal parent from the start.
Surrogacy involves more paperwork. The intended parents are usually named on the birth certificate, and a good agency handles this before the birth so there are no delays after delivery. This includes a surrogacy contract, screening for the surrogate, and, depending on your state, a court order naming you as the legal parents. So, it’s best to work with a surrogacy lawyer and your agency, since parentage laws vary by state.
Can You Do IVF and Surrogacy Together?
Yes, this is how most surrogacies happen. Gestational surrogacy always starts with an IVF cycle, since the embryo has to be made in a lab before it goes into the surrogate’s uterus.
Should You Choose IVF or Surrogacy?
Only you and your doctor can decide what course of infertility treatment is right for you. As a general guide:
IVF usually makes sense first if:
- You can carry a pregnancy safely
- Your issues are tied to ovulation, egg or sperm quality, or unexplained infertility
Surrogacy may be the better route if:
- You don’t have a uterus
- You have a health condition that makes pregnancy unsafe
- You’ve had repeated pregnancy loss
- You’re part of a same-sex male couple or single parent by choice building a biological family
Frequently Asked Questions
Is surrogacy the same as IVF?+
Is surrogacy more successful than IVF?+
Is surrogacy more expensive than IVF?+
Can I use my own egg with a surrogate?+
How long does surrogacy take compared to IVF?+
Conclusion
There’s no single answer to whether you should pursue IVF or surrogacy. The right path depends on your body, your budget, and your timeline. If you can carry a pregnancy but you’re struggling to conceive, IVF is usually the first step. But if carrying a pregnancy isn’t possible or safe for you, surrogacy may be worth considering instead.
If you’re weighing your options, our fertility specialists can walk you through both paths and help you figure out what’s right for your situation.
Not sure whether IVF or surrogacy is right for you?
Talk with an RSMC fertility specialist in San Diego to walk through both paths and find the right fit for your situation.
Table of Contents
- What Is IVF?
- What Is Surrogacy?
- IVF vs Surrogacy: Key Differences
- What Are the Success Rates With IVF vs Surrogacy?
- Which Costs More: IVF or Surrogacy?
- How Long Do IVF and Surrogacy Take?
- What Are the Legal Considerations?
- Can You Do IVF and Surrogacy Together?
- Should You Choose IVF or Surrogacy?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
