Surrogacy Jargon Explained

Surrogacy involves a lot of jargon! Here are some of the terms that are commonly used.

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1. ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology): Medical procedures used to address infertility.
2. Carrier: This term is sometimes used instead of surrogate, e.g. "gestational carrier."
3. Egg Donation: A process in which a female donates eggs to enable another individual or couple to conceive. These eggs are typically used in IVF treatments.
4. Embryo Transfer: A step in the IVF process where one or more fertilized embryos are transferred into the uterus with the goal of establishing a successful pregnancy.
5. Gestational Surrogacy: A form of surrogacy where the surrogate carries a pregnancy created by the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors, with no genetic connection to the child.
6. Intended Parents: Individuals or couples who intend to become the legal parents of a child born through surrogacy or other forms of assisted reproductive technology.
7. IUI (Intrauterine Insemination): A fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilization, increasing the number of sperm that reach the fallopian tubes.
8. IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): A process of fertilizing eggs with sperm outside the body, in vitro. This involves egg retrieval, fertilization in a lab, and transferring the embryo(s) to the uterus.
9. PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis): A technique used in IVF to test embryos for specific genetic conditions before they are implanted in the uterus.
10. PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening): A technique used with IVF to analyze embryos for chromosomal normalcy, screening for abnormalities before uterine transfer.
11. Recipients: In the context of assisted reproductive technology, individuals or couples who receive donated gametes (sperm or eggs) or embryos.
12. Sperm Donation: The process by which a male donates sperm to Intended Parents to help them have a child.
13. Traditional Surrogacy: A form of surrogacy where the surrogate’s egg is used, making her the biological mother of the child. The sperm is usually provided by the intended father or a donor.
14. TTC (Trying to Conceive): An acronym used by individuals and couples actively attempting to conceive a child.

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