Frequently asked questions about surrogacy and egg donation

In most cases, 5–7 days are sufficient, which includes the following steps:

• Medical consultation and examination;
• Collection of biological material;
• Signing of legal documents.

The minimum stay is 15–18 days, which includes the following steps:

• Medical consultation and examination;
• Ovulation stimulation (usually 11–13 days);
• Collection of biological material;
• Signing of legal documents;
• Follicle puncture.

Donor selection is an important and individual process that occurs in several stages:

1. Access to donor database: The agency provides access to a database of donors with profiles that include key parameters such as age, height, weight, eye and hair color, education, interests, and nationality.
2. Medical examination: All donors undergo mandatory medical examinations, including blood tests, genetic testing, ultrasound, and specialist consultations. Psychological testing is also conducted.
3. Selection and reservation: Once you select a donor, the agency reserves her participation in the program and organizes ovulation stimulation for subsequent egg retrieval.
4. Anonymity: In most cases, egg donation is anonymous. This means that future parents cannot identify the donor, and the donor cannot identify the parents or the child.

An egg donor can be a healthy woman aged 18 to 32 without hereditary diseases or harmful habits. All donors undergo medical and psychological examinations.

In most cases, egg donation is completely anonymous. Personal meetings between the donor and intended parents are not allowed. Anonymity is ensured by medical protocols, protecting the rights of both the donor and the intended parents. All communication goes through the agency, which provides intended parents with information about the donor in the form of medical and psychological characteristics, photographs, and a profile, without revealing personal data. This approach maintains confidentiality and ensures a safe and transparent program for all parties.

No. The law clearly regulates this issue:

• The donor has no legal rights to a child born using their genetic material
• All donation programs are conducted anonymously (depending on the country where the program is held)
• Biological and legal parents are the individuals who signed the contract and consented to the IVF/surrogacy procedure

Thus, the donor cannot claim parental rights, and this is legally and medically protected.

A surrogate mother can be a woman aged 19 to 38, with her own healthy child, no harmful habits, a positive Rh factor, and no medical contraindications.

Surrogate mothers undergo a comprehensive medical examination, including blood and urine tests and other laboratory analyses to assess overall health. They also have pelvic ultrasounds, consultations with gynecologists and other specialists to ensure there are no medical contraindications. Additionally, mandatory psychological testing evaluates emotional readiness and suitability for the program. This approach ensures safety for both the surrogate mother and the baby and increases the program’s success rate.

Surrogacy programs are available not only for traditional heterosexual couples but also for LGBTQ+ couples and single individuals who wish to become parents but are not married or do not have a partner. This allows a wide range of people to realize their desire to have a child, ensuring individualized support and legal protection. Participation is possible under medical supervision by highly qualified reproductive specialists.

No, the surrogate mother has no genetic connection to the child. In countries where the program is conducted, only gestational surrogacy is used, where the embryo is created using the eggs and sperm of the biological parents or donors and transferred to the surrogate mother. This means:

• The surrogate mother does not participate in creating the embryo.
• She does not pass her genes to the child.
• Her role is to carry the pregnancy, not to have a genetic relationship.

In most countries where surrogacy programs are conducted, the legal parentage is determined by the laws of the country where the program takes place. In countries such as Ukraine and Georgia, the surrogate mother is not a legal parent. The child born through a surrogacy agreement legally belongs to the biological parents who signed the contract and consented to the program. Thus, the surrogate mother’s rights to the child are legally limited, ensuring protection for the biological parents and legal safety for the process.

No, the surrogate mother has no right to keep the child. This rule is strictly regulated by law and included in the contract to ensure legal protection for the biological parents and safeguard the child’s interests. Medical and legal protocols guarantee strict compliance and prevent any potential conflicts.

The surrogate mother may communicate with the child only with the mutual consent of all parties — the biological parents and the surrogate mother. In most cases, contact is not maintained to ensure confidentiality and psychological safety for the child and all participants. Agencies and clinics follow strict rules regarding information sharing and communication to prevent conflicts and protect the rights of each party. If desired, contact can be arranged under agency supervision.

This depends on the laws of the country where the program is conducted. In countries such as Ukraine and Georgia, the surrogate mother’s information is not included on the birth certificate. Only the biological parents who signed the contract and consented to the program are listed. Surrogate information may appear only in the medical birth certificate for internal hospital use.

Yes, intended parents can maintain contact with the surrogate mother, but all communication goes through the agency and must be pre-approved by both parties. This ensures proper control, confidentiality, and psychological comfort for the surrogate mother. Communication may include updates on health, pregnancy progress, medical test results, and organizational matters related to the program.

Deliveries are organized in maternity hospitals where the surrogate mother receives professional medical care at the highest level. Doctors and medical staff ensure a safe delivery and provide all necessary support to both the mother and the newborn. Deliveries are conducted with attention to the surrogate mother’s comfort, modern equipment, and 24/7 medical supervision.

It is recommended to arrive a few days before the estimated due date and be present for the child’s discharge. However, if the biological parents cannot arrive before delivery for personal reasons, the agency can arrange a nanny to care for the child, sending daily photo and video updates to the parents.