WHOSE EGGS ARE USED IN SURROGACY?

One of the first questions many first-time intended parents ask is “whose eggs are used in surrogacy?”. It is a common point of confusion, as the general assumption is that the surrogate uses her own eggs. This often leads to misunderstandings about genetics and parentage.

In gestational surrogacy, the most common type of surrogacy today, the surrogate has no genetic link to the baby. Instead, the embryo is created using eggs from the intended mother or an egg donor, and the sperm from the intended father or a donor. The surrogate, in turn, carries and cares for the pregnancy. Though she plays a significant role, she is not genetically related to the baby.

Understanding this distinction helps you, as an intended parent, make informed decisions about your family-building journey and feel confident in the science and care behind the process.

The Role of Eggs in the Surrogacy Process

In gestational surrogacy, the journey begins with the creation of embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This process involves retrieving eggs from either the intended mother or an egg donor. These are then fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a donor in a specialized laboratory setting.

It is important to understand that the surrogate does not use her own eggs in gestational surrogacy. She has no relationship with the baby she carries. Her role is to provide a healthy and nurturing environment for the pregnancy. The donors provide the genetic material and, when applicable, intended parents.

Understanding how embryos are created in gestational surrogacy can also help intended parents feel more informed and empowered as they explore their fertility options. Whether you are using your own eggs, sperm, or working with a donor, each path offers an opportunity to build your family.

At Growing Generations, our team guides you through every step of this process with clarity, compassion, and respect for your unique journey to parenthood.

Using the Intended Mother’s Eggs

For intended parents who plan to use their own eggs to have a child, the process includes the following steps:

1. Ovarian stimulation: The intended mother takes a series of hormone-based medications (usually over 10–14 days) to stimulate the ovaries and encourage the production of multiple mature eggs in a single cycle. Producing more eggs increases the likelihood of creating high-quality embryos. Throughout stimulation, their doctors perform frequent ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor follicle growth and hormone levels. When the eggs reach optimal maturity, a “trigger shot” is administered to prepare for retrieval at precisely the right time.

2. Egg retrieval: About 36 hours after the shot, the eggs are collected through a brief, minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Using ultrasound guidance, the doctor retrieves the eggs from the ovaries under light sedation. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two.

3. Fertilization: The retrieved eggs are combined with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor in the IVF lab. Fertilization occurs either naturally in a dish or through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg to improve success rates. Over the next few days, embryologists monitor the fertilized eggs as they grow into embryos. The healthiest embryos are selected for potential transfer, and additional viable embryos can be frozen for future use.

4. Embryo transfer: A carefully selected embryo is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus in a simple, non-surgical procedure. The surrogate then carries the pregnancy and delivers the baby on behalf of the intended parents.

For many intended mothers, using a surrogate allows them to have a child that carries their own genetic legacy while navigating the journey to parenthood safely. It offers the opportunity to experience the profound connection of sharing their DNA with their child, while entrusting the pregnancy to someone who can carry it to term.

For many, this approach combines the joy of genetic parenthood with the reassurance of a safe and supported pregnancy, making their dream of starting a family both meaningful and achievable.

When and Why Egg Donors Are Used

There are many reasons intended parents may choose to use an egg donor in their surrogacy journey. Some intended mothers may face challenges related to age, genetics, or medical conditions. Others, such as same-sex couples, rely on an egg donor to create embryos. In every case, the goal is the same: to help someone build a family who cannot do so on their own.

At Growing Generations, we take great care in guiding parents through the donor selection process. Our egg donors are among the top 1% of applicants and come from all over the world. Before applying to be an egg donor, potential applicants must meet health, lifestyle, and family history requirements. All potential egg donors complete a thorough selection and screening process, which includes a video consultation and completion of medical and psychological screening.

We make the process of selecting your egg donor seamless. Your first step is to sign up for a free account to begin browsing our egg donor profiles online. You can review detailed profiles, including background, education, physical traits, and personal motivations for donating, to help you connect with the right donor. Once you select the right donor, we will make sure to match your timeline to continue with the egg donation cycle.

We understand that choosing an egg donor is both a practical and emotional decision. Our team provides the utmost support and guidance throughout the process, ensuring you feel confident, respected, and emotionally supported as you take this important step toward building your family.

The Medical Process Step-by-Step

At Growing Generations, we believe that understanding the medical process helps you feel empowered and confident as you move closer to parenthood. Below is a step-by-step overview of how embryos are created and transferred. It includes insight into the differences between fresh and frozen eggs and the medical safeguards that protect everyone involved.

Step 1: Egg Retrieval

The process begins with ovarian stimulation and egg collection. An egg donor (or the intended mother) completes an ovarian stimulation protocol using hormone medications to encourage multiple eggs to mature. The fertility clinic closely monitors follicle growth through ultrasounds and bloodwork, and once the eggs reach maturity, a brief outpatient procedure retrieves them under light sedation.

Step 2: Fertilization

When the retrieved eggs are combined in the lab with sperm from the intended father or a donor. Embryologists may use traditional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to increase the chance of fertilization.

Step 3: Embryo Development

The next step is embryo development, a critical stage where embryos are observed for several days as they grow. Embryologists assess their progress and grade them based on quality, selecting the healthiest embryos for transfer.

Step 4: Embryo Transfer

The final step is to transfer to the surrogate, whose uterus is prepared hormonally to receive the embryo. In a fresh cycle, this timing is carefully synchronized with egg retrieval and fertilization. The embryo transfer itself is a simple, non-surgical clinic procedure, followed by pregnancy testing and early prenatal care.

FRESH VS. FROZEN EGGS:

Fresh vs. frozen (vitrified) eggs each offer unique benefits. In a fresh cycle, eggs are retrieved, fertilized, and embryos transferred within the same stimulation cycle. This is ideal when the surrogate and egg donor are medically synchronized.

Frozen eggs, however, are rapidly vitrified and stored for later use, offering more flexibility with timing, opportunities for genetic testing, and reduced medical demands on the egg provider. With advancements in freezing technology, success rates for frozen embryos now match those of fresh transfers.

At every stage, Growing Generations prioritizes medical safeguards and ethical integrity. We partner only with clinics that meet the highest standards for medical screening, genetic testing, lab quality control, and informed consent.

All processes align with the ethical guidelines of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), ensuring the safety, autonomy, and well-being of donors, surrogates, and intended parents alike. Our role is to help you understand each step, feel supported throughout the process, and move forward with confidence as your journey to parenthood unfolds.

Legal and Emotional Considerations

No matter whose eggs are used, the legal establishment of parentage is a cornerstone of every surrogacy journey. Your attorney, working closely with your selected surrogacy agency and fertility clinic, prepares comprehensive contracts that outline everyone’s rights and responsibilities.

These agreements protect all parties involved and clearly define you as the intended parents. Before birth, a pre-birth order or similar legal document is typically issued by the court, ensuring that your names appear on the baby’s birth certificate. This process gives you peace of mind that your parentage is recognized and protected from the very start.

For intended mothers using donor eggs, this legal clarity often brings profound emotional comfort. Knowing that their parental rights are fully protected helps ease common worries about connection or identity. Many find reassurance in understanding that genetics do not define family; love, intention, and commitment do. 

The combination of strong legal safeguards and compassionate emotional support allows intended parents to embrace their journey with confidence. And when the moment comes to see their baby’s heartbeat or hold them for the first time, any lingering doubts are replaced by the joy of welcoming their baby.

Confidentiality and informed consent are also essential to maintaining trust throughout the process. Donor identities and personal details are handled with the highest level of privacy, following both legal and ethical standards.

Before any medical or legal steps are taken, every participant, including intended parents, donors, and surrogates, receives thorough counseling and documentation outlining their rights, responsibilities, and the implications of their choices. This transparency ensures that each decision is made with full understanding, respect, and care for everyone involved.

Choosing the Right Path with Growing Generations

At Growing Generations, we understand that every path to parenthood is unique. Whether you are using your own eggs, working with an egg donor, or exploring surrogacy for the first time, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

From your very first consultation to the moment you hold your baby, we walk beside you, helping you understand your medical options, navigate through emotional choices, and feel confident every step of this process. Our mission is to create a seamless surrogacy experience so you can focus on what matters most: building your family.