Gestational Surrogacy on Long Island

The Gestational Surrogacy Program at RMA of New York – Long Island

Although RMA of New York – Long Island does not play a role in the matching, financial, and legal processes of surrogacy, we handle the entire medical aspect of surrogacy, from start to finish. We also provide our patients with a vast range of resources, advice, and guidance to help them navigate all other aspects of the surrogacy process.

• Agency Selection

  Our team will refer you to a list of surrogacy agencies to choose from. Surrogacy agencies are responsible for finding potential surrogates and conducting comprehensive evaluations of their physical health (including general medical and reproductive health history), mental health, and background (e.g. home visits, criminal background check, financial check, etc.). While every agency's approach is different, their main goal is to get to know you, your situation, and your values so that they can identify a compatible surrogate.

  Once you’ve picked a surrogacy agency and connected with them directly, the agency will provide you with profiles of their available surrogates, as well as referrals to reproductive law attorneys for legal representation. They will review the details of your case and write up a contract that takes into account your unique scenario. They will also manage all financial aspects of the surrogacy process.

• Surrogate Selection

  Before becoming surrogates, candidates must have certain qualifications in order to be considered. Surrogacy agencies may have slightly different requirements, but for the most part, the requirements are very similar regardless of which agency you work with. Requirements to become a surrogate typically include:

  • Having given birth to at least one biological child without complications
  • Being between the ages of 21-45
  • Having a healthy BMI (generally, no higher than 35)
  • Being a non-smoker
  • Having a stable home environment and support system

  Even if you choose to work with a surrogate who you know personally, the surrogate must still fulfill these qualifications, as they ensure the physical, emotional, and mental wellness of everyone involved.

• The Surrogacy Contract

  The surrogacy contract must be finalized and signed by both the intended parent(s) and the surrogate before starting any medical procedures. This legally-binding contract ensures that the rights, responsibilities, and interests of all parties are clearly defined and protected throughout the surrogacy process. This includes details such as surrogate compensation, liabilities, responsibilities of the surrogate during pregnancy, conditions for pregnancy reduction or termination, and a list of people who are allowed to attend appointments and the birth.

• Surrogate Screening

  After the contract has been finalized and signed by all parties, the surrogate undergoes a thorough screening to make sure that they are able to go through the surrogacy process. If applicable, the surrogate’s intimate partner will also be screened for certain factors. The screenings performed by RMA of New York – Long Island are all in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). These screenings include:

  • Testing for infectious diseases in both the surrogate and partner (if applicable)
  • Urine drug screening for both the surrogate and partner (if applicable)
  • Physical exam of the surrogate, including a saline sonogram to evaluate the surrogate’s uterine cavity and general blood work
  • Psychological screening

• Identify Egg and Sperm Sources

  In gestational surrogacy, the eggs and sperm used to produce the embryo are typically provided by the intended parents. However, in some cases, the intended parent(s) may need to also find an egg donor, a sperm donor, or both. Whatever your needs are, it’s important to note that gestational surrogates do not donate their own eggs as part of the surrogacy arrangement. Known as traditional surrogacy, the practice of having a gestational surrogate also be the genetic mother of the baby is generally not pursued anymore due to legal and emotional complications.

  If your gestational surrogacy journey requires donated eggs or sperm, the team at RMA of New York – Long Island will be there to help you find everything you need to achieve your family-building goals and coordinate all medical aspects of third-party reproduction. We have a database of egg donors to choose from or we can refer you to an outside egg donor agency or bank. We can also refer you to an accredited sperm banking facility.

• Preimplantation Genetic Testing of Embryos

  When working with a surrogate, we strongly recommend having your embryos undergo preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) before embryo transfer. PGT involves taking a small biopsy of cells from the embryo’s outer layer (that later develops into the placenta) to test for genetic and chromosomal abnormalities before being transferred into the uterus. Learn More

• Embryo Transfer

  Once the surrogate has been medically cleared and the embryos have been tested (if utilizing PGT), the surrogate will be prepped to undergo embryo transfer. This generally involves medications that help prepare the uterus for implantation and pregnancy. Once the uterine lining has reached the optimal state, the embryo that was produced earlier in the process is transferred to the surrogate’s uterus for implantation.

• Confirming Pregnancy and Post-RMA

  One to two weeks after embryo implantation, the surrogate will come to RMA of New York – Long Island to take a pregnancy test. If the surrogacy cycle has been successful and the pregnancy test yields a positive result, our team will continue to administer care to the surrogate for approximately the first nine weeks of pregnancy. This is around the time that the baby’s heartbeat can be detected by ultrasound. At this point, RMA of New York – Long Island will transfer the surrogate’s prenatal care over to their OB-GYN.