Starting a family doesn’t always follow the path we imagine, and for many people, that journey can come with questions, challenges, and hope all at once. Third-party reproduction offers another way to build your family when traditional conception isn’t possible or doesn’t match your circumstances. This can involve using donated eggs, sperm, or embryos, and sometimes working with a surrogate if needed. Each path has its own considerations and timing, and some intended parents explore more than one option to meet their goals. Regardless of your choice, the goal is the same: helping you create the family you dream of with care, support, and confidence. 

At Growing Generations, we guide intended parents through each step of this process, helping them understand their options and make informed decisions. 

What Is Third-Party Reproduction?

As a family-building option, third-party reproduction involves reproductive support from someone outside the intended parent or parents. This comes in the form of egg, sperm, or embryo donors, or through a surrogate who carries the pregnancy on your behalf.  

Families choose third-party reproduction for many different reasons. It can support single parents, same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples navigating fertility challenges or choosing this option for personal reasons. Whatever the circumstance, third-party reproduction expands access to parenthood, creating family-building opportunities for all. 

Why Intended Parents Choose Third Party Reproduction

As a family-building option, third-party reproduction involves reproductive support from someone outside the intended parent or parents. This comes in the form of egg, sperm, or embryo donors, or through a surrogate who carries the pregnancy on your behalf.  

Families choose third-party reproduction for many different reasons. It can support single parents, same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples navigating fertility challenges or choosing this option for personal reasons. Whatever the circumstance, third-party reproduction expands access to parenthood, creating family-building opportunities for all. 

This journey is not one-size-fits-all. Every path to parenthood is unique. What matters most is having the support and guidance to move forward with confidence in your family-building journey. 

Types of Third-Party Reproduction

There are several ways to build your family with third-party reproduction. Each is designed to support different family-building needs. These alternatives vary based on how genetic material is contributed, who carries the pregnancy, and the process involved. Understanding these options helps you identify the approach that is the best fit for you.  

Surrogacy / Gestational Carrier

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries the pregnancy on behalf of the intended parent(s). The surrogate does not have a genetic connection to the baby. Embryos are created through IVF using the intended parents’ egg and/or sperm, or with donor eggs and/or sperm, depending on your needs. 

Egg Donation

Egg donation involves the process of creating an embryo using eggs from a donor. The donated eggs are fertilized in a lab with sperm, either from an intended father or from a sperm donor, and the resulting embryo can then be transferred to a surrogate or, in some cases, to an intended parent who is able to carry. 

As an intended parent, you may select donors based on your personal preferences. Donor profiles typically include information such as medical history, physical characteristics, education, personality traits, and personal background, and even a short video, allowing you to make a decision that feels aligned with the family you’re building. 

There are several donor types available, including ID-release, open, and anonymous donation. Today, anonymous egg donation is rare. Most donors opt for ID-release donation type, which means identifying information may become available to your child once they reach adulthood, or open donation, where there may be the option for some level of communication over time. This allows for transparency and future access to information for your child. 

Sperm Donation

Sperm donation is the process of using sperm from a donor to achieve pregnancy. Donor sperm is used to fertilize an egg, either from an intended parent or an egg donor, as part of the process of building a family. 

In some journeys, donor sperm is used in IVF, where embryos are created in a lab and then transferred to a surrogate or an intended parent who will carry the pregnancy. In other cases, donor sperm is used through artificial insemination with intended parent, allowing pregnancy to occur without IVF. 

Sperm donation is an option for many family structures, including single intended parents and same-sex couples. When finding the right donor, intended parents have access to donor profiles that include medical and genetic history, physical characteristics, and personal background. This allows intended parents to select the donor that they feel is right for their family building journey.  

Embryo Donation

Embryo donation is the process by which you or your surrogate can become pregnant using an embryo that was created through IVF. An embryo is a fertilized egg that has already been combined with sperm and has begun early development before being frozen and stored at a fertility clinic. That embryo is donated to you and then transferred into the uterus of either an intended parent who can carry the pregnancy or a surrogate. 

It can be helpful to understand the difference between eggs and embryos. An egg is unfertilized and still needs sperm to create an embryo. Egg donation allows you to choose donor eggs and then fertilize them with sperm from an intended parent or a sperm donor to create embryos. An embryo, on the other hand, is already fertilized and created. 

In many cases, donated embryos come from families who previously went through IVF and created multiple embryos as part of their own journey. After they’ve completed their family-building, they may choose to donate their remaining embryos rather than discard them.  

Because the embryo already exists, embryo donation can sometimes involve a shorter timeline than starting IVF from the beginning. With the right guidance and support, embryo donation can be a beautiful way to build a family. 

How the Process Works for Intended Parents

• High-level overview of matching with donors or carriers.

• Mention IVF, screening, and coordination without going into medical detail. Keep it reader friendly for those new to this process and terminologies.

• Note that timelines vary depending on the type of donation or surrogacy.

While each third-party reproduction option has its own considerations, most journeys share several key stages. Intended parents typically begin by working with an experienced agency, such as Growing Generations, to explore their options, understand timelines, and determine which path best aligns with their family-building goals. From there, we guide you through matching with an egg donor, sperm donor or surrogate, prioritizing your needs and goals. 

Screening and coordination play an important role in the process. All donors and surrogates go through a comprehensive screening process. We work with fertility clinics to coordinate the IVF process and embryo transfer. Throughout each stage, Growing Generations helps coordinate communication between all parties, ensuring everyone understands next steps, responsibilities, and timing. 

Timelines vary based on the path you choose, donor or surrogate availability, medical readiness, and personal preferences. For many families, having a clear understanding of the process early on helps reduce uncertainty and allows the journey to feel seamless from start to finish. 

Legal Considerations in Third-Party Reproduction

When you’re building a family through third-party reproduction, the legal side can feel intimidating, especially when your focus is on the baby you’re hoping for, not paperwork. But legal guidance isn’t just a formality. It’s one of the most important ways to protect the parenthood journey you’re entering.  

Clear legal agreements protect everyone involved by defining expectations and establishing parental rights. For intended parents, they help protect your path to parenthood by outlining expectations, responsibilities, and the steps required to establish your legal rights as a parent. Just as importantly, these contracts also safeguard the donor or surrogates by clearly defining their role, protecting their interests, and ensuring they have their own rights supported throughout the process.  

Depending on the type of third-party reproduction you pursue, this may include a surrogacy agreement, an egg and/or sperm donor agreement, and parentage documentation that confirms legal parenthood. If your journey includes international considerations, legal planning can also help you navigate additional layers of documentation and coordination with greater clarity and confidence. 

At Growing Generations, we work closely with top surrogacy attorneys who specialize in these arrangements. They coordinate the legal process, ensuring contracts are properly drafted, reviewed, and executed in accordance with applicable laws. With experienced legal counsel and trusted agency support, you can move forward with confidence, knowing your rights and your future family are protected.

Begin Your Reproduction Journey with Confidence

Choosing third-party reproduction comes with questions about what comes next. With the right guidance, this path to parenthood is achievable. When you have a trusted team around you, the journey feels more manageable. Wherever you are in your family-building journey, Growing Generations is here to guide you every step of the way.