Best Frequently Asked Questions

The Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 787 “On Approval of the Procedure of Assisted Reproductive Technologies Application,” which was issued on September 9, 2013, expanded the options for those who need the services of a surrogate. As of now, only legally married couples can employ the services of a surrogate.

Ukraine is one of the few nations in the world where commercial gestational surrogacy is legal. As a result, Surrogacy Ukraine is pleased to provide surrogacy programs to foreign nationals residing both within and beyond Ukraine’s borders. Surrogacy programs for foreign citizens are no different from those for Ukrainian nationals. Our customers must be legally married couples. All of the information included below is also applicable to non-Ukrainian nationals.

To save money, we provide long-distance options for answering most of your queries about the surrogacy program’s implementation: you may contact us by phone, E-mail, or any messenger of your choosing. Ideally, you will need to go to Ukraine twice: (a) to sign the contract and supply a sample of your genetic material (oocytes and/or sperm), and (b) to pick up your newborn from the maternity hospital and to register the birth of your own child. We are well-prepared to handle any potential issues that may arise throughout the surrogacy program’s execution.

We are also willing to provide reasonable support in obtaining a visa, arranging a hotel, greeting you at the airport, and so on and so forth. Our clients frequently have queries concerning the procedure of registering them as the sole child’s legal parents. The legal and practical issues of working with consulates and embassies from diverse nations each have their own distinct characteristics. However, the overall procedure is as follows. We ensure that you acquire a normal birth certificate issued by a Ukrainian government office, on which you and your spouse are identified as the child’s parents. The birth certificate you get is a conventional document that makes no mention of the fact that the child was delivered via surrogacy.

On the basis of this document, you must then register your child at your country’s embassy or consulate. The procedure is comparable to that of a citizen of your nation giving birth while overseas (in this case, Ukraine).

We’d love to have you as our client!

Surrogacy is becoming a very common technique of assisted reproduction in Ukraine, although it is still not a widely available service. It is impossible to estimate the number of couples who have used surrogacy services. There have been slightly fewer than 28,600 cycles (IVF, ICSI, and frozen embryo transfers) according to the most recent data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, but there is no mention of the use of surrogates.

As a result, the number of IVF cycles performed in Ukraine each year does not always match the number of legally married couples that use surrogacy services. According to market experts, the number of children born through surrogacy services in Ukraine is around 1,500-1,800 annually, and this figure is continually increasing.

The legislative instruments of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health govern the key practical elements of surrogacy services. According to them, the following are the main indications for using such services:

• absence of the uterus (congenital or acquired),
• deformation of the uterine cavity or cervix as a result of congenital developmental defects or an illness,
• structural-morphological or anatomical changes of the endometrium that lead to loss of one receptivity, synechia of the uterine cavity, insusceptible to treatment,
• severe somatic diseases that are contraindicated for carrying a pregnancy but do not harm the unborn child’s health,
• repeated unsuccessful IFV attempts (4+ times) with numerous instances of obtaining good quality embryos, whose transfer did not result in pregnancy.

In reality, the list of medical indications for surrogacy is substantially longer. In each circumstance, a trained fertility specialist should make that decision.

Before we get into the effectiveness of a process, it’s worth noting that surrogacy is one of the reproductive treatment options where the ultimate outcome is determined by a variety of circumstances, including the patient’s age, the quality of their gametes, the IVF center’s technological facilities, and the credentials of the fertility specialists who work there. When discussing the surrogacy program, another element that should be considered is a surrogate’s health.

Nonetheless, even after a careful examination of all of these elements, no one, no matter how experienced or “brilliant”, will be able to forecast the ultimate outcome with certainty. Naturally, the conversation will return to particular meaning values: Our gestational surrogacy programs employing donor egg cells have a success rate of more than 78 percent every cycle; two high-quality embryos are implanted into a surrogate’s uterus with the purpose of establishing a pregnancy. Three repeated embryo transfers had a therapeutic efficiency of more than 99.5 percent.

Surrogacy in Ukraine benefits no single man. This is not permitted under Ukrainian law.

A surrogate is a Ukrainian woman who has consented to bear a child for a family who, due to medical reasons, is unable to become parents without her assistance. Candidates for the job of surrogate must meet the following requirements.

A surrogate must be between the ages of 22 and 34 when she enters the surrogacy program, she must have at least one child of her own, she must be psychologically prepared to hand over the child to the family following the birth, and she must be completely healthy, as evidenced by the results of extensive medical and psychological tests.

If a surrogate is a married woman, she must provide her husband’s notarized written consent for her participation in the surrogacy program. Because a surrogate is carrying another person’s child, the biological parents have the right to request that a surrogate adhere to the conditions that THEY (the biological parents) consider reasonable and proper. To ensure the quality of our services, we continue on the assumption that any reservations about a surrogate’s suitability are viewed as marks against her and represent grounds for ending our relationship.

Almost 80% of all potential surrogates that come to Surrogacy Ukraine are rejected. Throughout pregnancy, a surrogate must approach her work properly and seriously. She must fully comply with the directions and regimen recommended to her by the fertility specialist and the biological parents, both before and during pregnancy.

The baby will be borne by a woman that the biological parents believe is qualified to serve as a surrogate. There is no waiting list at Surrogacy Ukraine. The candidate we select in collaboration with you is ready to be assessed by the fertility specialist and begin participating in the program right away. If the fertility specialist is dissatisfied with a surrogate candidate for whatever reason, we are ready to provide another candidate straight away at no additional cost to you.

That is not the case. Surrogacy pregnancy is similar to any other traditional pregnancy. The main difference is that the child is conceived after the IVF treatment, and the resultant human embryo is put into the uterine cavity of a surrogate.

We will try to answer this question in basic and plain language, without resorting to technical or medical jargon. The first step is for a surrogate to go through the medical tests that are required by the fertility specialist to confirm that a surrogate is in excellent health. Along with a surrogate, the biological parents are subjected to medical examinations and testing. The procedure of “synchronizing” a surrogate’s and a biological mother’s (or, egg donor’s) menstrual cycles follows. The “synchronization” technique entails the fertility specialist using special medications to alter the women’s menstrual cycles so that they coincide with one another.

This is done because a female body is “ready” to get pregnant for just a limited period of time, known as the “implantation window” (usually from day 14 to day 18 of the menstrual cycle). Once the menstrual cycles of the two women have been “synchronized,” the biological mother begins taking medicines that stimulate her ovaries (in order to obtain the maximum possible number of oocytes; in her natural state, without the use of special medications, a woman produces one, or, less frequently, two oocytes, and that quantity may not be enough for IVF).

The fertility specialist begins preparing a surrogate for embryo transfer at the same time (after the “synchronization”). Special medications are used throughout the preparation procedure to enhance a surrogate’s endometrial structure (endometrium is the mucous uterine lining; endometrium is the organ where an embryo’s existence begins). The biological mother undertakes the oocyte aspiration operation known as “follicle puncture” for oocyte extraction around 10-12 days following the commencement of the “preparations.”

At an IVF facility, a follicle puncture is conducted under ultrasound guidance. All of the oocytes seen on the ultrasound “image” of the biological mother are aspirated. On the same day that the biological mother has a follicle puncture, her husband donates sperm at an IVF facility.

The fertility specialist now possesses both the woman’s oocytes and the man’s sperm. And it is at this point that he or she will execute the IVF (in vitro fertilization) process. The embryologists (doctors) develop (culture) the resultant embryos in special “mediums” and incubators for many days after the biological mother’s oocytes have been fertilized with her husband’s sperm. This is a very difficult procedure that necessitates tight temperature, humidity, and severe sterility conditions. Embryo culturing is typically done over a three to five-day period.

The transfer of the “ready” embryos is planned for the third or fifth (and occasionally the third and fifth) day following the follicle puncture operation. The embryo transfer is also done under ultrasound supervision. The embryos are “released” by the fertility specialist via a particularly thin catheter put into a surrogate’s uterus cavity. In Ukraine, two or, less commonly, three embryos are transferred at a time. Following the embryo transfer, the fertility specialist will prescribe specific medications to a surrogate to prepare her body for the pregnancy.

No, it does not. Women often administer the injections on their own or with the assistance of in-home medical staff. The most essential thing is to administer the injections at the same time every day, exactly as prescribed by their doctors.

It is suggested that a woman follow the follicle puncture surgery with a high protein diet and plenty of water (natural cranberry drink, for instance).

The egg retrieval is done under general anesthesia. Following the surgery, there may be some pain in the lower abdomen. You should pay closer attention to your health after the follicle puncture and contact the doctor who conducted the surgery if you have any issues.

We EXPLICITLY restrict surrogates from having sexual relations (of any sort), lifting or carrying heavy things, catching colds or virus illnesses (a high fever will “kill” the embryos), eating spicy cuisine, using alcohol, frequenting public baths or saunas, taking baths or standing in a hot shower (only a lukewarm shower).

To guarantee adherence to all of these requirements and constraints, we immediately begin observing a surrogate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while the process is being performed under the supervision and care of competent physicians.

The fertility doctor checks a surrogate’s blood for the presence of beta-hCG 12-14 days following the embryo transfer. This is the only way to identify pregnancy at this early stage. There are no accurate “pregnancy tests.”

If the test results are positive, a surrogate will have a normal pregnancy. We register a surrogate with a reputable paid medical facility, supervise her nutrition and lifestyle, and arrange for paid labor and delivery by the best specialists – in other words, we do everything necessary to assure a trouble-free pregnancy and birth for your child.

When the biological parents have ten embryos after fertilization and only two of them are delivered to a surrogate, the physicians can vitrify the remaining eight. In such a stage, the embryos may be kept for a very long period. They can also be unfrozen and utilized for further embryo transfers. Cryo-transfer differs from “live” embryo transfer in that only a surrogate is required to be prepped for the operation. It is not done with the consent of the biological parents.

ICSI is one technique of artificial oocyte insemination. This approach is typically utilized when the biological mother’s husband’s sperm indices are low or when only a limited number of oocytes are retrieved during the IVF treatment.

There is no genetic (parental) relationship between a surrogate and the child. A surrogate is just bearing the child of another person. Furthermore, under current regulations, a surrogate can not also be an oocyte donor, ensuring that there is no genetic relationship between a surrogate and the child.

Pregnancy in the surrogacy program is no different from a regular pregnancy; therefore, if any issues emerge during childbirth, they will be the same as during a regular pregnancy. In such cases, we are responsible for ensuring the survival and health of the future child and a surrogate.

We guarantee that a surrogate remains on bed rest at the smallest irregularity and, if required, admit her to the hospital to protect the pregnancy because this child is eagerly sought by its biological parents.

Surrogates in Surrogacy Ukraine adhere to the parameters established by the biological parents and ourselves, which include the best IVF facilities and fertility specialists in their fields. Families that engage with us are confident that their pregnancy is going normally and that their future child is safe.

Surrogacy Ukraine offers accommodations in Kyiv for a surrogate for the duration of her pregnancy, based on the consent of the biological parents.

Every case is unique. We may use an example: a surrogate visits the IVF clinic 5-7 times before the embryo transfer. We schedule a surrogate examinations every two weeks, beginning with the first week of pregnancy and continuing until week nine. From week 10 to week 30 of pregnancy, our surrogates go to the doctor once a month at most; from week 30 to week 39, they go once every 14 days.

Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks for a woman. Naturally, we’re referring to the obstetrical due date, which is determined by the first day of the previous menstrual cycle. If we calculate from the day of embryo transfer, a single gestation functional pregnancy will last 38 weeks. Obstetricians and gynecologists generally agree that normal “at term” deliveries occur between weeks 38 and 42 of pregnancy.

We contractually prohibit surrogates from engaging in any form of sexual interactions. This is due to the fact that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are relatively common in Ukraine, and these infections can have a severe negative impact on the developing child. Our surrogates understand that their sexual involvement will have unambiguously negative consequences, to the point of terminating their pregnancy without remuneration and adding their names to surrogates’ “black list.”

When it comes to delivery, we handle everything and select the best-paying maternity hospitals. We do not enable surrogates to choose their own maternity hospital since she is carrying your kid, not her own, and she will abide by our company’s and our clients’ terms and conditions, rather than dictating them to us.

No, it is not correct. The majority of surrogates birth on their own. Cesarean section, like ordinary pregnancies, is only performed when medically indicated. If there aren’t any, the biological parents can not insist on a cesarean section. However, if there are, the surrogate can not refuse them.

We are in charge of all legal support, including a surrogate’s drafting of the necessary paperwork. On the appointed day, you will need to come to the appropriate Registry Office with a set of documents that we will have prepared for you, and you will get a standard certificate of birth that lists you and your spouse as the child’s parents after following our instructions.

In terms of the child’s transfer to its biological parents, you will be able to interact with the child from the time it is born; the child’s biological parents will also pick up the child from the maternity hospital.

You may be confident that if you cooperate with Surrogacy Ukraine, this will not happen to you. Furthermore, Ukrainian law expressly prohibits a surrogate from suing the child’s biological parents for alimony.

Surrogacy Ukraine guarantees that such a situation will not occur and will completely safeguard your rights in this subject.

Prepare for your appointment with a surrogacy provider by gathering all accessible information about your counterparty. We recommend that you choose a company that has been in the surrogacy business for a long time and has a good reputation. First and foremost, this ensures a really professional attitude to business and understanding of all risks; second, it is a company assurance of their honesty – they will not jeopardize their reputation.

When you contact a surrogacy provider, you should find out what services are included in the contract price. If you do not receive a clear and explicit answer to your inquiries, you should decline the contract. The program contains some essential and probable charges; thus, it is vital to find out ahead of time from a surrogacy provider what services are included in the set fee. Another issue that must be addressed initially is whether a company has a surrogate waiting list. If a surrogacy provider you intend to employ can not offer you a surrogate right away but requires a down payment, it is extremely likely that such a surrogacy provider does not have its own database of surrogates.

Furthermore, even if they let you to view images of alleged surrogates, this does not imply that the candidates whose faces you viewed are actually employed by that provider. It’s more likely that once you’ve paid, they’ll start looking for a surrogate, primarily on the internet, with all of the associated costs and risks. If you decide to cooperate with Surrogacy Ukraine, we will first identify a candidate and offer her to both you and your fertility doctor, and you will make your payment only if your fertility doctor has approved a surrogate’s candidacy. Unfortunately, we are one of the very few Ukrainian surrogacy providers willing to ensure the quality and professionalism of its operations.