Surrogacy FAQs
Your Guide to Surrogacy and Egg Donation with Creative Love
These surrogacy FAQs bring together the questions we hear most from intended parents, prospective surrogates, and prospective egg donors into one place. Whether you are exploring parenthood after a long road with infertility, considering a surrogate journey of your own, or thinking about donating your eggs to help another family, we want you to walk away with real answers. Creativ spent more than twenty years matching intended parents with surrogates and egg donors, and this page reflects the things people actually ask us on the phone, in our office, and during that very first consultation. Pick the tab below that fits you, and if your question is not here, we welcome you to reach out directly.
Your Guide to Surrogacy and Egg Donation with Creative Love
These surrogacy FAQs bring together the questions we hear most from intended parents, prospective surrogates, and prospective egg donors into one place. Whether you are exploring parenthood after a long road with infertility, considering a surrogate journey of your own, or thinking about donating your eggs to help another family, we want you to walk away with real answers. Creativ spent more than twenty years matching intended parents with surrogates and egg donors, and this page reflects the things people actually ask us on the phone, in our office, and during that very first consultation. Pick the tab below that fits you, and if your question is not here, we welcome you to reach out directly.
Gestational surrogacy is the type of surrogacy Creative Love provides, and it means the surrogate carries a pregnancy with no genetic connection to the baby. An embryo is created through in vitro fertilization using your egg and sperm, or eggs and sperm from a donor, and that embryo is transferred into the gestational surrogate’s uterus. Because at least one intended parent typically contributes genetically, most states recognize you as the legal parents from the start. Traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate uses her own egg, is far less common today and something Creative Love does not offer, largely because gestational arrangements carry fewer legal and emotional complications for everyone involved.
There is no single right answer here, and that is exactly what your complimentary consultation is for. Some intended parents come to us with viable embryos already created and simply need a gestational surrogate. Others need an egg donor because of age, ovarian reserve, or a medical history that makes using their own eggs unlikely to succeed, and some turn to donation after fertility treatment or egg freezing has not led to a successful pregnancy. Same sex male couples and single fathers by choice typically need both an egg donor and a surrogate. Wendy Arker and our team will walk through your medical history, your goals, and your budget with you so you can make the choice that fits your own family, not a generic template.
Your consultation is a no-cost, no-obligation conversation, whether it happens in our Fort Lauderdale office, over Zoom, or by phone. We will talk through the full surrogacy or egg donation process, walk you through realistic costs and timelines, and answer every question you bring with you. We will also start to get a sense of what brought you to us and what kind of journey feels right for you, since that shapes how we help you build your intended parent profile and later share it with potential surrogates or donors.
We take matching seriously because this relationship carries you through one of the most important years of your life. After your profile is complete, we compare your values, preferences, and practical needs against our pool of screened surrogates and share profiles that seem like a strong fit both ways. If you both feel good about moving forward, we set up an introductory meeting, in person or by video, before anyone commits to anything. Some intended parents want a close, ongoing relationship with their surrogate, while others prefer more distance, and we build the match around what actually works for you.
Most intended parents are matched with a gestational surrogate (https://cledp.com/becoming-a-gestational-carrier/) within several weeks to about three months. We never rush a match just to close a file faster, because a rushed match tends to create problems later in the journey. If your criteria are narrow, whether that is geography, a certain relationship style, or a particular medical history, the search can take a little longer, and we will always be honest with you about where things stand.
You are never obligated to move forward with a match that does not feel right. Surrogacy asks a lot of both sides, and we would rather you wait for the right fit than settle out of pressure or convenience. If a match does not work out after screening has already begun, we will talk you through your options for being matched again as part of your journey with us.
Nationally, total surrogacy costs, including agency fees, surrogate compensation, medical care, and legal work, commonly land between one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand dollars or more. Creative Love keeps this as clear as we can by offering one agency fee rather than a maze of add-on charges, and we walk you through every line item during your consultation before you commit to anything. Your surrogate’s compensation package (https://cledp.com/surrogate-compensation/), IVF clinic fees, legal representation for both parties, and escrow management each factor into your total, and we will show you a full fee breakdown (https://cledp.com/fees-and-costs/) so nothing catches you off guard later.
Your agency fee covers matching, case management from a dedicated cycle coordinator, coordination with your IVF clinic, and support through the legal contract phase and escrow setup. It also covers guidance through the entire pregnancy and delivery, not just the introduction. Separate costs like your surrogate’s compensation package, her health insurance, IVF clinic fees, and each party’s legal representation are itemized on top of the agency fee so you can see exactly where every dollar goes.
Egg donor compensation through Creative Love typically starts around ten thousand dollars for a first-time donor, with repeat donors often receiving more. On top of donor compensation, plan for the agency fee, the donor’s legal representation and screening costs, and your IVF clinic’s own fees for the retrieval and embryo work. If you are already working with us on a surrogacy journey, we discount our egg donation agency fee by twenty-five percent, since we know combining both processes already asks a lot financially.
We know that surrogacy and egg donation represent a major financial commitment on top of an already emotional decision, and we talk about financing openly rather than treating it as an afterthought. During your consultation we can walk through the full picture of what a complete journey costs and discuss options that other intended parents have used to manage the expense over time. We would rather you understand your finances clearly upfront than run into surprises halfway through your journey.
In most cases, yes, though the exact process depends on the laws of the state where your surrogate delivers. Florida allows intended parents to establish their legal parental status through a pre-birth order, which is a court order confirming your parentage before your baby arrives, so your name goes directly on the original birth certificate without an adoption process. Surrogacy laws vary considerably from state to state and country to country, so your attorney will confirm exactly how parentage works based on where your surrogate lives and delivers.
Yes, and your surrogate needs her own separate attorney as well. Reproductive law attorneys draft the surrogacy contract that outlines compensation, parental rights, medical decision-making, and what happens in different scenarios along the way, and having independent counsel on each side protects everyone. We refer intended parents to experienced reproductive law attorneys as part of your journey with us, and typically intended parents cover the surrogate’s legal fees as part of the overall agreement. Nothing here should be taken as legal advice, and we always encourage you to consult directly with your own attorney for guidance that fits your situation.
Absolutely, and it is not a side program for us. A large share of the intended parents we work with each year are gay individuals or couples, and our LGBTQ surrogacy program (https://cledp.com/same-sex-parenting/) is woven into everything we do rather than kept separate. We work with IVF clinics that share our values around LGBTQ+ family building, and our team can connect you with attorneys experienced in second-parent adoption and the parentage rules of your state.
Yes, single parents by choice are a meaningful part of who we serve, and Florida law supports single intended parents pursuing surrogacy. The medical and legal process looks largely the same as it does for couples, though your attorney will walk you through the exact parentage steps that apply when only one intended parent is party to the agreement.
We do, and international intended parents make up a real part of our practice, traveling to us from across Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Florida is one of the most established states in the country for international surrogacy, with favorable laws, strong fertility clinics, and no lengthy court proceedings once your baby is born. Our international surrogacy program (https://cledp.com/international-surrogacy-program/) helps coordinate travel, clinic scheduling, and the logistics of building your family from a distance.
Our team includes multilingual staff who can support you in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Hebrew, so language does not have to be one more barrier on top of everything else you are already sorting through. We want every intended parent to feel like they fully understand each step of their journey, not just the parts that get translated after the fact.
It depends entirely on your medical history and your family structure. Some intended parents only need a gestational surrogate because they already have viable embryos. Others need donor eggs (https://cledp.com/egg-donor-program/) because ovarian reserve testing suggests they may not produce eggs reliably enough for treatment, because prior IVF cycle results have made a successful outcome with their own eggs less likely, or because of prior cancer treatment, genetic concerns, or age related fertility decline, and same sex male couples and single fathers by choice typically need both third party reproduction options working together. Your fertility clinic will run diagnostic testing to help determine your path, and we coordinate closely with your reproductive endocrinologist throughout.
Before transfer, your surrogate takes estrogen and progesterone to prepare her uterine lining to receive the embryo, and the transfer may involve fresh embryos or frozen embryos depending on the clinic’s plan. A full IVF cycle on the clinic side typically takes about 2 to 3 weeks before transfer decisions are made. This process typically runs five to six weeks from the start of medication to transfer day. On transfer day, a thin catheter places one embryo into her uterus, a quick procedure that does not require anesthesia. About nine to fourteen days later she will have a blood test to check for pregnancy. Most fertility clinics today recommend transferring a single embryo when possible, since it supports a healthier pregnancy for both surrogate and baby.
Most complete surrogacy journeys run between fifteen and twenty-four months from your first application to the day your baby is born, though every family’s timeline looks a little different. Matching typically takes several weeks to a few months, medical screening and legal contracts add several more weeks, and then you are looking at a full pregnancy from embryo transfer to delivery. We will walk you through a realistic timeline at your surrogacy process (https://cledp.com/surrogacy-process/) consultation so you know what to expect at each stage.
Start by writing down what actually matters to you, whether that is a hands-on agency versus one that offers more basic matching services, a boutique caseload versus a larger volume agency, or working directly with the founder rather than rotating case managers. Ask any agency you are considering how long they have been operating, how they screen surrogates and donors, and whether you can speak with former clients. At Creative Love, you work directly with Wendy Arker and a dedicated cycle coordinator from your very first call through delivery, not a rotating call center.
Becoming a surrogate asks a great deal of you, and we want you to go into it with your eyes open. These answers walk through eligibility, the screening process, compensation, and what your relationship with your intended parents can look like once you are matched.
You generally need to be between twenty-one and forty years old, a United States citizen or permanent resident living in a surrogate-friendly state, and currently raising at least one child of your own. You also need a history of full-term, uncomplicated pregnancies, no more than two prior c-sections in most cases, and a body mass index under thirty-two. Our full surrogate requirements (https://cledp.com/surrogate-requirements/) page lists every qualification in detail, including the medical, legal, and lifestyle criteria our program follows.
Yes. You need to have already given birth to a child you are currently raising, since this shows your fertility clinic and intended parents that you have a proven, healthy pregnancy history. This requirement exists to protect you medically and to give intended parents confidence in your track record as they entrust you with their embryo.
Most surrogates with up to two prior c-sections still qualify, and in some cases a third can be considered with clearance from your OB-GYN. Your medical records from the past seven years will be reviewed carefully, since your fertility clinic wants to confirm your body is ready for another healthy pregnancy before any embryo transfer takes place.
Your body mass index needs to fall under thirty-two to qualify, since a healthy weight range lowers pregnancy risks for both you and the baby you would be carrying. If you are close to that number, talk with us anyway. We can let you know honestly where you stand and, if needed, what timeline might make sense before applying.
Once your application looks like a good fit, you will complete a detailed interview, a home visit, a current pap smear, and a psychological evaluation with a PhD psychologist, which your spouse or partner will also attend. We conduct a federal and state background check on you and your partner, and we request your OB-GYN records from the past seven years to confirm a healthy pregnancy history. Every surrogate we work with goes through comprehensive medical screening before we ever share her profile, so intended parents can move forward with real confidence.
Average match time runs around thirty days once you are accepted into our program, though this can vary based on your preferences, your location relative to the intended parents’ fertility clinic, and how quickly insurance and other logistics come together. We never rush a match simply for the sake of speed, since a well-matched relationship makes the entire journey easier for you.
Once both sides agree to move forward, you will be scheduled for a medical work-up at the intended parents’ fertility clinic to confirm you are cleared for their cycle. From there your attorney and the intended parents’ attorney draft your surrogacy contract, which spells out compensation, expectations, and protections for everyone involved. Once your contract is signed and your clinic gives clearance, your cycle coordinator will begin walking you through the medication schedule that leads up to your embryo transfer.
From the start of your medication protocol to your embryo transfer typically takes five to six weeks. A pregnancy test follows about nine to fourteen days after transfer, and if it is positive, you will be monitored closely by the fertility clinic for the first eight to ten weeks before your care transitions to your OB-GYN for the remainder of a standard pregnancy timeline.
Base compensation for first-time surrogates generally starts around sixty-two thousand dollars, and experienced surrogates often earn more. Once you add the monthly allowance, medication start fee, embryo transfer fee, maternity clothing allowance, and other benefits built into your package, total compensation for most journeys lands between about seventy thousand and one hundred twenty thousand dollars or more, depending on your experience and the details of your pregnancy. Full detail lives on our surrogate compensation (https://cledp.com/surrogate-compensation/) page, and we believe strongly in fair compensation as a genuine reflection of the commitment you are making, not just a token gesture.
No. Every cost tied to your surrogacy journey, from medical screening and insurance to travel, lodging, and lost wages for you and a support person, is covered by the intended parents as outlined in your contract. If you do not currently have health insurance, a surrogate-friendly policy will be purchased to cover your pregnancy, delivery, and recovery.
All funds are held in an FDIC insured attorney escrow account and released to you according to the schedule outlined in your contract, typically in monthly installments beginning once your medication cycle starts. Because an independent escrow attorney manages the account rather than the intended parents directly, your payments stay protected and on schedule throughout the pregnancy.
No. Creative Love only handles gestational surrogacy, which means the embryo you carry comes from the intended parents’ own egg and sperm, or from a donor, and never from your own genetic material. This distinction matters both medically and legally, since it removes the genetic tie that complicates traditional surrogacy arrangements.
Your cycle typically starts with estrogen, taken as a patch or pill, to thicken your uterine lining so it can support the embryo. Progesterone follows, given by injection or suppository, to support early pregnancy until the placenta takes over that role naturally. Your nurse coordinator at the fertility clinic will walk you through every medication, how to take it, and what side effects are normal before you begin.
A surrogate pregnancy carries the same general risks as any pregnancy, since medically it is largely the same experience once the embryo has implanted. That is exactly why the screening process exists, to confirm your health history supports a low-risk pregnancy before you are ever matched. Emotional support matters here too, and we make sure counseling is available to you throughout your journey, not just during the medical portions of it.
You will complete an in-depth questionnaire covering your values, your preferences, and the kind of relationship you want with intended parents, and we compare that against the profiles of intended parents actively working with us. When we see a strong potential match on both sides, we share profiles and, if there is mutual interest, set up an introductory meeting before anything is finalized. You always have a say in who you are matched with.
That is entirely up to you and the intended parents you are matched with. Some surrogates and intended parents build a close, ongoing friendship with frequent updates and shared appointments, while others prefer a more closed relationship with less regular contact. Both approaches are common, and letting us know your preference upfront helps us match you with intended parents who want the same kind of relationship.
Yes. Once we identify a potential match on both sides, we arrange an introductory meeting, either at our office or by video call, before either of you commits to moving forward. This gives you both the chance to ask direct questions and get a real feel for each other before signing anything.
Egg Donation FAQs for Egg Donors
Choosing to become an egg donor is a generous, personal decision, and we think you deserve honest answers about eligibility, the egg donation process, compensation, and what happens to your privacy and legal rights along the way.
You generally need to be a healthy female between twenty-one and twenty-eight years old with a body mass index between nineteen and twenty-nine, a regular menstrual cycle, and no history of STDs. Being a non-smoker and drug-free is required, along with being psychologically healthy and free of current use of antidepressants or mood stabilizers. Our full egg donor requirements (https://cledp.com/egg-donor-requirements/) page lists every qualification, including guidelines around recent tattoos, piercings, and hormonal birth control methods.
No, you do not need to have children to donate your eggs. Having had a tubal ligation or a prior abortion does not disqualify you either. What matters most is that you meet the medical and psychological requirements and are genuinely committed to seeing the entire donation cycle through once you begin. Current evidence shows donation does not prevent most donors from building their own families later.
Being on the pill or the patch will not stop you from donating, and in fact you will likely be asked to take birth control pills for a few weeks to help synchronize your cycle with the intended mother’s. Hormonal IUDs and Depo-Provera are different, since those methods need to be stopped for a few months, with several regular menstrual cycles afterward, before your donation cycle can begin.
Active STDs, current drug or tobacco use, a history of psychotic disorders, a personal history of severe mental health conditions, and current use of antidepressants or mood stabilizers all rule out donation, as does a criminal conviction. Recent tattoos or piercings within the last six months, or a hormonal IUD or Depo-Provera use without enough time since stopping, can delay your eligibility even if they do not disqualify you permanently. A genetic counselor and psychologist review every donor as part of our screening process, and that review also considers family history, broader health conditions, infectious diseases, other infectious diseases, and formal mental health disorders or mental health conditions when evaluating donor suitability, so if something in your history raises a question, we will talk it through with you honestly.
After your application and interview, you are added to our password-protected egg donation program where intended parents can view your profile. Once you are matched and your legal contract is finalized, you begin a suppression phase on birth control pills for about three weeks, followed by seven to fourteen days of fertility drugs during ovarian stimulation to help your ovaries mature multiple eggs. A trigger shot of HCG is timed precisely, and retrieval happens thirty-six to forty hours later. This phase usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks before egg retrieval. Our full egg donation process (https://cledp.com/egg-donor-process/) page walks through each stage in more depth.
Most donors complete the full journey, from being matched to egg retrieval, in about two to four months. That window includes your screening appointments, psychological evaluation, genetic counseling, and legal contract, on top of the roughly three to four weeks of medication that leads directly into retrieval. Every fertility clinic runs its own protocol slightly differently, so your timeline can shift a bit depending on where you cycle.
Retrieval is an outpatient procedure done under IV sedation, so you will not feel anything while it happens. A thin needle passes through the vaginal wall to gently remove each mature egg from the follicles, and the entire procedure usually takes about fifteen to thirty minutes. Some women report cramping and bloating after egg retrieval. Most donor cycles yield somewhere between ten and twenty-one eggs, though high responders can produce more.
You will typically rest at the clinic for one to two hours after retrieval before heading home with a companion, since you cannot drive yourself after sedation. Mild cramping, light bleeding, and bloating are common for a day or two, and Tylenol usually manages any discomfort for many women. The vast majority of donors return to school or work the next day, and your next period generally arrives within about two weeks.
No. The intended parents cover every cost tied to your donation, including screening, medical care, legal representation, and a special insurance policy that covers you during stimulation and retrieval. If you live more than a set distance from the clinic, travel expenses are covered as well.
No. The intended parents cover every cost tied to your donation, including screening, medical care, legal representation, and a special insurance policy that covers you during stimulation and retrieval. If you live more than a set distance from the clinic, travel expenses are covered as well.
Occasionally a donor does not respond to medication the way expected, and the cycle is cancelled before retrieval. In that situation you still receive a five hundred dollar thank you gift for your time and effort, drawn from the compensation originally agreed upon, and the remaining amount is returned to the intended parents.
As with any medical procedure, some risk exists. The most talked about complication is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which happens in less than one to three percent of donors and can cause swollen, uncomfortable ovaries for a period of days to about a week. In more severe cases, symptoms can include rapid weight gain, and your clinic monitors you closely with frequent appointments to reduce risk and catch early signs. Treatment usually just means rest, fluids, and observation. Other complications, like bleeding, infection, or reaction to anesthesia, are considered rare, and your medical team will walk you through warning signs to watch for after your retrieval. Ovarian torsion is also rare but may require surgery to correct. Studies have not shown a significant increase in female cancers from fertility drugs.
Long-term studies have not shown a clear link between egg donation and later infertility, cancer, or other lasting health problems, and current research has not tied donation to a reduced ovarian reserve down the road. Even so, we encourage every donor to research the process independently and talk with her own doctor for medical guidance that fits her situation, since we are an agency and not a medical provider.
You will start on birth control pills to synchronize your cycle, sometimes followed by a low-dose fertility medication such as Lupron that is used in the clinic protocol. From there you move to injectable follicle stimulating hormone, a form of fertility medicine that helps eggs mature so the ovaries produce multiple eggs instead of only one egg in a natural cycle. Your final injection, timed precisely by your doctor, triggers ovulation ahead of retrieval and may include human chorionic gonadotropin, and your nursing team will train you on giving yourself these small injections at home. Donors are typically expected to have an AMH level of 2 or higher before beginning this part of the cycle.
That is your choice. Many donor and intended parent relationships stay anonymous, identified only by numbers or first names, while others opt for an open donation with shared contact information. Some donors choose to help a family member or close friend, while others prefer an anonymous arrangement. Either way, our legal contracts spell out exactly what was agreed to, and we cannot fully guarantee anonymity forever given how accessible DNA testing has become, so it is worth thinking through honestly before you decide.
No. Once you donate your eggs, you relinquish all rights to them, and any resulting embryos or children legally belong to the intended parents who used them. The intended parents take on full moral, legal, and financial responsibility for any child born through your donation, and your signed legal contract confirms this clearly for everyone’s protection.
Yes, and this is standard practice, not optional. A reproductive law attorney drafts your donation contract, which is paid for by the intended parents, and reviews it with you so you fully understand your rights and obligations before you sign anything. This page is not a substitute for legal advice, and your attorney is the right person to answer questions about your own donation agreement.
Egg Donation FAQs for Egg Donors
Creative Love has spent more than twenty years matching intended parents with surrogates and egg donors, and that experience shapes every answer on this page. We are a full-service agency, which means you work with one team for surrogacy and egg donation rather than juggling separate providers, and you work directly with our team, led by Program Director Wendy Arker, from your first call through delivery. We are based in Florida, one of the most surrogate-friendly states in the country, and we serve intended parents, surrogates, LGBTQ+ families, and international clients with the same level of care.
Our matching process stays personal rather than automated, and our surrogacy program and egg donor program both run through strong partnerships with leading fertility clinics across the country, with the donor side guided by a rigorous screening process grounded in reproductive medicine. We support every type of surrogacy arrangement we offer with the same ethical, transparent process from application through birth, and our legal process is built to protect intended parents, surrogates, and donors alike. As one of our intended parents, Abby F., put it, “Wendy answered every question, eased every concern, and made me feel confident in my decision from day one.”
If you are ready to talk through your own situation, contact us for a complimentary consultation, or read more testimonials from families we have worked with. You can also start your surrogate application or intended parent application whenever you feel ready, or call us directly at 954.776.9878.
Nothing on this page constitutes legal or medical advice. Surrogacy and egg donation involve laws that vary by state and individual medical circumstances, so we always encourage you to consult with your fertility clinic and your own attorney for guidance that fits your situation.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER READING THESE SURROGACY FAQS?
We would rather answer your question directly than have you guess. Reach out for a complimentary consultation and let’s talk through your journey together.
Start Your Application: https://cledp.com/surrogacy-intake-applications/
Your Guide to Surrogacy and Egg Donation with Creative Love
Creative Love has spent more than twenty years matching intended parents with surrogates and egg donors, and that experience shapes every answer on this page. We are a full-service agency, which means you work with one team for surrogacy and egg donation rather than juggling separate providers, and you work directly with our team, led by Program Director Wendy Arker, from your first call through delivery. We are based in Florida, one of the most surrogate-friendly states in the country, and we serve intended parents, surrogates, LGBTQ+ families, and international clients with the same level of care.
Our matching process stays personal rather than automated, and our surrogacy program and egg donor program both run through strong partnerships with leading fertility clinics across the country, with the donor side guided by a rigorous screening process grounded in reproductive medicine. We support every type of surrogacy arrangement we offer with the same ethical, transparent process from application through birth, and our legal process is built to protect intended parents, surrogates, and donors alike.
"Wendy answered every question, eased every concern, and made me feel confident in my decision from day one."
If you are ready to talk through your own situation, contact us for a complimentary consultation, or read more testimonials from families we have worked with. You can also start your surrogate application or intended parent application whenever you feel ready, or call us directly at 954.776.9878.
Nothing on this page constitutes legal or medical advice. Surrogacy and egg donation involve laws that vary by state and individual medical circumstances, so we always encourage you to consult with your fertility clinic and your own attorney for guidance that fits your situation.
Still Have Questions After Reading These Surrogacy FAQs?
We would rather answer your question directly than have you guess. Reach out for a complimentary consultation and let's talk through your journey together.
