When you dream of becoming a parent through surrogacy, you’re not just thinking about science and statistics. You’re holding onto hope. Hope for a heartbeat. Hope for a healthy delivery. Hope for that magical moment when your baby is finally in your arms. In this blog, we’ll unpack what surrogacy success rates really mean, what impacts them, and how a compassionate, experienced surrogacy agency like Creative Love can help guide you toward the best possible outcome.
Key Takeaways
- Surrogacy success rates range from 50% to 75% per embryo transfer.
- Using donor eggs and PGT-A tested embryos can improve pregnancy outcomes.
- Gestational surrogacy is more common and offers higher success rates than traditional surrogacy.
- A qualified surrogate and a reputable fertility clinic are key to a healthy pregnancy.
- Surrogacy is rising due to increasing infertility rates and advances in assisted reproductive technology.
Why Surrogacy Is on the Rise
More and more hopeful parents are turning to surrogacy to start or grow their families and the numbers speak volumes.
In 2024, the United States led the North American surrogacy market, generating a revenue of $5.1 billion, up from $4 billion in 2023 [Source]. This incredible growth reflects the increasing need for fertility solutions across the country.
A key driver? Infertility. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 13.4% of women aged 15 to 49 struggle with impaired fertility, while 8.5% of married women in that group experience infertility [Source]. These numbers represent thousands of individuals and couples navigating heartbreak and uncertainty.
As infertility becomes more common, so does the demand for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gestational surrogacy. For many, surrogacy offers not just a solution, but a lifeline, a deeply meaningful way to grow the family they’ve always dreamed of.
What Are Surrogacy Success Rates, Really?
At its core, surrogacy success rates refer to the likelihood of a surrogate carrying a pregnancy to term and delivering a healthy baby.
But it’s not just one number, it’s a combination of science, screening, health, and heart.
When we talk about the gestational surrogacy success rate, we’re looking at how often a gestational carrier becomes pregnant through embryo transfer and carries the pregnancy to term.
Unlike traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate uses her own egg, gestational surrogacy involves no genetic link between the surrogate and the baby.
According to surrogacy statistics from leading IVF clinics, the success rates for gestational surrogacy can be as high as 70–80% per embryo transfer when donor eggs are used and the surrogate is medically qualified. More broadly, the success rate for a surrogate pregnancy per embryo transfer ranges from 50% to 75%, with the highest rates seen when using genetically tested embryos (through PGT-A testing). [Source]
Still, while those numbers are encouraging, they’re not guarantees. Behind every data point is a real human experience filled with emotion, risk, and resilience.
What Factors Impact Surrogacy Success Rates?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here are the biggest influences on the success rate of a surrogate mother and the overall surrogacy journey:
1. Egg Quality and Source
Whether you use your own egg or a donor egg, the quality of the egg is vital. Younger eggs, especially from donors, tend to result in higher success rates because they’re less likely to have genetic abnormalities. If the intended mother has a history of fertility challenges, using donor eggs can significantly increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
2. Sperm Quality
It takes two to make an embryo. Poor sperm quality can reduce embryo viability and lead to lower embryo transfer success. Testing and using high quality sperm early on can help create healthier embryos.
3. Surrogate’s Age and Health
The surrogate’s uterus needs to be healthy and ready to carry a pregnancy. At Creative Love, we carefully screen surrogate candidates for physical health, reproductive history, and emotional readiness. We only work with women who’ve previously delivered healthy babies, which greatly improves gestational surrogacy success rates.
4. Fertility Clinic and IVF Protocols
Not all IVF clinics are the same. Partnering with a clinic that has a proven track record in assisted reproductive technology (ART cycles) can impact everything from embryo development to live births. Factors like lab quality, medical protocols, and the use of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) make a real difference.
In fact, using PGT-A tested embryos increases success rates significantly, often pushing the chance of pregnancy per embryo transfer to the higher end of the 50% to 75% range.
5. Embryo Health
Healthy embryos, especially those tested through PGT, are more likely to implant and result in a healthy pregnancy. This step helps identify and avoid genetic abnormalities that could lead to miscarriage or failed implantation.
6. Emotional and Legal Support
Believe it or not, emotional well-being and legal considerations play an important role. When all parties feel supported, informed, and secure, the journey tends to be smoother, reducing stress and increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome.
How Creative Love Supports Your Surrogacy Success
At Creative Love, we don’t just focus on pregnancy. We focus on building families, with compassion, integrity, and heart.
Here’s how we help improve your chances of surrogacy success:
- We rigorously screen surrogates to ensure they’ve had uncomplicated, healthy pregnancies in the past.
- We partner with top-rated IVF clinics and help you make informed choices about egg donation, embryo creation, and transfer protocols.
- We provide legal guidance, counseling, and one-on-one support to reduce emotional stress and build trust between intended parents and surrogate candidates.
- We offer personalized care every step of the way, because every surrogacy journey is unique.
Surrogacy is an emotional experience. We’re here to walk that road with you, arm in arm, from the first consultation to the moment you meet your baby.
A Journey of Hope and Possibility
Surrogacy can feel overwhelming at times.
There are decisions, expenses, risks, and unknowns. But it’s also filled with moments of awe and joy. From hearing the heartbeat for the first time to holding your baby in your arms, there is nothing quite like it.
With infertility affecting millions and the success rates of IVF and gestational surrogacy continuing to rise, more families are choosing this path with confidence.
And thanks to supportive, ethical surrogacy agencies like Creative Love, the dream of healthy babies is becoming a beautiful reality for many.
Let’s Begin, Together
If you’re navigating infertility, exploring gestational surrogacy, or simply want to understand the road ahead, know this: you are not alone.
Creative Love is here to support, guide, and celebrate with you as you take the next step toward parenthood. With the right team, the right surrogate, and a lot of heart, your dream of family can come true.
Let’s start your surrogacy journey together.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose the right surrogate to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy?
Choosing the right surrogate involves more than just medical screening. At Creative Love, we ensure every surrogate candidate has a proven history of healthy pregnancies, meets strict emotional and psychological criteria, and is fully committed to the surrogacy journey. A strong match between intended parents and the surrogate helps create trust, which is vital to a positive outcome.
Does using an egg donor improve surrogacy success rates?
Yes, in many cases it does. Egg donation from a young, healthy donor can increase the gestational surrogacy success rate, especially if the intended mother has fertility challenges or is of advanced maternal age. Many families choose donor eggs to help reduce the risk of genetic abnormalities and improve embryo quality.
What happens if the first embryo transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy?
Failed pregnancies can be incredibly emotional, but they’re not uncommon. If the first embryo transfer doesn’t lead to a successful pregnancy, we work closely with your fertility clinic to review the cycle, adjust protocols, and prepare for another transfer. With each attempt, our team supports you emotionally and medically, keeping hope and communication front and center.
Are there risks involved for the surrogate during pregnancy?
Like any pregnancy, there are risks involved. That’s why we work only with medically qualified surrogate candidates who’ve previously delivered healthy babies and are closely monitored throughout the process. We also provide emotional and legal support to make sure every gestational carrier feels safe, valued, and respected during the journey.
Is there a difference in success rates between using my own egg and a donor egg?
Yes, surrogacy success rates can differ. Using your own egg may work well if you’re young and have good ovarian health. However, for many women facing fertility issues, egg donation significantly improves the chances of a healthy pregnancy. Your fertility clinic can help assess which path gives you the best chance at a successful outcome.
Wendy Arker entered the field of infertility with a huge heart and passion to guild others on their quest to grow their own family after her personal journey with infertility and turning to egg donation and sperm donation to create her own family. Being a single-mother-by-choice, Wendy understands firsthand the unique way families are built. Whether you’re a married couple, single, or LBGTQ, Creative Love is committed to assisting you.
