Frequently Asked Questions
Since 2010 same sex couples have been able to apply for a parental order – our percentage of same sex IPs has been rising and currently stands at:
Same sex couples 47.7%
To see how this has risen we have included the percentages year on year for comparison:
2011 8.1%
2012 15%
2013 31.6%
2014 22.5%
2015 20%
2016 32.5%
2017 38.6%
Any surrogacy agreement is not binding on the parties because you cannot create contracts for children. However, they are an excellent starting point for resolving and, ultimately, preventing disputes in the first place. In our experience, couples who have a thorough agreement and tackle even remote chances in an agreement can ensure that they have a better understanding of each other and foresight about problems. If you do encounter difficulties, the SurrogacyUK also have a dispute panel to help resolve matters amicably too.
To start with, a sense of worry, determination to make it work and fear of what might happen. After the birth it is a sense of achievement and absolute pride in your partner and your family for what you have achieved.
Some clinics do not have dedicated teams in place with the experience and expertise to work with surrogacy arrangements and surrogacy may also not be normal practice for these clinics and therefore, as the arrangements seem somewhat more complex and involve more administration and facilitation, some clinics may charge extra for surrogacy. It is often that finance departments that do not understand the process may be involved in putting in place costs and fees for specific services.
SurrogacyUK offer many benefits to our members which can be found here. We can accept membership to those looking for a surrogate, or to those who have already found a surrogate but are looking for guidance and support as a team. Whether you join SurrogacyUK or decide to go independent, you will still be welcome to attend our annual conference.
No, completing a family can be just as rewarding as creating a family and we have had a large number of sibling journeys happen within SurrogacyUK.
For a variety of different reasons. Sometimes it can be personal experience of infertility or watching someone close to them experiencing infertility, or it can be as simple as enjoying pregnancy but not wanting any more children.
Yes, the clinic can just screen the intended parent(s) (if they were the gamete providers) as donors, in retrospect and complete the required consents for this also. This is standard practice.
It depends on the surrogate but on the whole no – what matters more is the relationship between the IP and the surrogate.
It is very subjective as surrogates are looking for different things from their IPs, however in general all the surrogates at SurrogacyUK want a friendship with their IPs.
Yes. A surrogate’s care and the birth of a surrogate baby is covered by the NHS, however private rooms for IPs after birth may be charged for by some NHS Trusts.
SurrogacyUK advise that you create embryos in advance of meeting your surrogate so that you are prepared and able to get to know your surrogate and start treatment at a clinics soon after agreement stage.
There is no maximum age for a surrogate with SurrogacyUK as we look at each application on an individual basis. We do ask that older surrogates find a clinic that will be happy to work with them before becoming a member.
No, SurrogacyUK believe in altruistic surrogacy only – surrogacy should be a relationship, not a transaction.
Get involved in the organisation, and get to know other IPs. Peer support from someone who understands where you are is very important, and can provide hope. For an IPs perspective read Fee’s account on being an IP in waiting.
IPs should budget approximately £20k for straight surrogacy and £30k for host surrogacy – this includes all expenses for the surrogate, insurance, wills, and clinic costs (for host). A surrogates expenses can be from anywhere between £7k and £15k, depending on her personal circumstances eg loss of earnings, rate of childcare, no of children, distance from IPs etc.
There may be unforeseen circumstances such as bed rest, or medical issues that might mean a surrogates expense increase during pregnancy. If a surrogate needs to increase her expenses by over £1k during the pregnancy, then it is referred to the Board of Trustees so that it can be approved.
No. Unfortunately nothing can guarantee that you will meet the right surrogate for you. SurrogacyUK can provide the environment in which to meet your surrogate, and the more you are involved in the organisation and social events etc the more likely it will be that you will meet the right surrogate for you.
On the whole, yes. There are some uncomfortable times, and some tiring times but generally surrogates know that it is completely worth it.
No. Some surrogates prefer to work with same sex IPs.
Eggs should be frozen on the day that they are collected. Embryos however can be frozen at any stage until day 6. However, some studies show that embryos have better survival (thaw and freezing) if they are frozen at the blastocyst stage (day 5/6).
Yes – a surrogate can be from outside the UK, but it will important to ensure that you also comply with the local domestic laws in the country of her residence. In some circumstances these are stricter than UK rules, but in others that are clearer and more easily navigated. It would be prudent to obtain legal advice in that jurisdiction and not make any assumptions about the rights you obtain and your return to the UK with the child after birth.
£1,200 Joining fee
£200 non-refundable administration fee to be paid upfront, leaving the applicant to pay £1,000 once they reach the top of the waiting list.
£200 sibling fee
Only needed if the IPs are to team with a different surrogate (profile to be put back on the list). For same team siblings, there is no fee.
£50 Reactivation fee
If members have become non-members by not paying their renewal fee, this will be required on top of the renewal fee that is due.
£50 Annual renewal
For all active IP members (on list, GTK, TTC or pregnant).
£25 Annual Renewal – Lifetime membership
For those who have had a successful journey via SUK, this is a one-off payment after which annual renewals will cease.
NB: should the IPs then decide to go for project sibling, they will become active members again and their annual renewals will resume as before.
£25 Annual Renewal – Resting members.
NB: If they decide to become active members again, they would need to pay the difference of £25 before they are made active and their profile reinstated.