Surrogacy FAQ
What are the requirements for intended parents?
Surrogacy is only done if there is a medical reason that you cannot carry a child. If you are using your own eggs, the recommended age for intended parents is 42 or less. For patients using an egg donor, the surrogate must deliver before her 52nd birthday and she must be in good health to enter the program.
Women over 50 will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for suitability for the surrogacy (gestational carrier) program at our San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento centers. We recommend all intended mothers have a current annual physical with a pap smear, mammogram, and cholesterol test current within the year.
If I need a gestational carrier, how do I find out more about the program?
Call your local Kaiser Permanente Center for Reproductive Health to schedule a new patient appointment. If you are already an established patient, you will still need to call and schedule an appointment for a consultation with your provider to discuss if a gestational carrier cycle is the right option for you. Once you establish your care with our program, the Third-Party Coordinator will guide you through the initial phase of workup and testing.
The workup and preparation for a gestational carrier cycle, fresh or frozen, typically takes 6 to 9 months before a cycle can begin, but it can take longer depending on individual circumstances.
Please speak to a member of the IVF care team about any questions or concerns not addressed here.
Source: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Department, The Permanente Medical Group