What Is Gestational Surrogacy in Surrogacy?

Last updated: · · Based on data from 196+ surrogacy agency compensation packages

Gestational surrogacy is a surrogacy arrangement where the surrogate carries an embryo created from the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors — meaning she has no genetic connection to the baby she carries. This is the standard form of modern surrogacy.

Why Gestational Surrogacy Matters for Surrogates

Nearly all professional surrogacy in the United States today is gestational. The distinction matters legally: as a gestational carrier, you have no biological claim to the child you carry. This makes legal proceedings more straightforward and is why most agencies exclusively facilitate gestational arrangements.

How Gestational Surrogacy Works in Surrogacy

The process: intended parents (or donors) provide eggs and sperm → eggs are fertilized via IVF → resulting embryos are tested and frozen → the surrogate goes through a medical protocol to prepare her uterus → an embryo is transferred → if it implants, pregnancy proceeds as normal.

The surrogate contributes no genetic material. She provides her uterus, her body, and her care — not her DNA.

Real-World Example

A same-sex male couple might use one partner's sperm and a donor egg, creating embryos that are then transferred to a gestational carrier. The surrogate carries and delivers the baby but is not genetically related to the child in any way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gestational surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy is when a surrogate carries an embryo created from the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors — meaning she has no genetic connection to the baby. This is the standard form of modern surrogacy used by virtually all professional agencies in the United States.
How is gestational surrogacy different from traditional surrogacy?
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby — the embryo is created via IVF from the intended parents' or donors' genetic material. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate's own egg is used, making her the biological mother. Gestational surrogacy is far more common today.
How does gestational surrogacy work step by step?
The process: intended parents provide eggs/sperm (or use donors) → IVF creates embryos → surrogate takes medications to prepare her uterus → embryo is transferred → if implantation succeeds, pregnancy proceeds normally → surrogate delivers the baby → intended parents take custody as legal parents.
Who is the biological mother in gestational surrogacy?
The egg provider — either the intended mother or an egg donor — is the biological mother. The gestational surrogate contributes no genetic material. She provides her uterus and carries the pregnancy, but has no biological claim to the child.

Related Surrogacy Terms

Traditional Surrogacy IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) Embryo Transfer Gestational Carrier Pre-Birth Order
Learn more about becoming a gestational carrier →

Source: SurroScore's proprietary database of surrogate-reported compensation data and agency compensation packages, collected from direct agency outreach, public filings, and verified surrogate reviews. Data current as of March 2026.