Surrogacy is growing in popularity as an option for starting a family for some couples. If medical circumstances prevent a couple from having a baby the conventional way, a woman medically evaluated as suitable willingly becomes a surrogate mother. She becomes pregnant on behalf of the hopeful couple. After the birth, the newborn is united with the hopeful parents so a new life together as a new family can begin.
One option many couples are now taking for surrogacy is working with a clinic or surrogacy agency in another country. There are many reasons to do this, such as lower pricing or more choice, but it creates new challenges that must be addressed. Here are some things couples should look at to find a reliable surrogacy organization and how they should be approached.
Communication
The absolute first thing any couple should do when researching agencies abroad is ensure that communication is possible. If a couple can function with English, that helps a lot, as many countries rely on English as a “lingua franca” for business dealings. However, if that’s not an option, and you prefer to communicate in French, Mandarin Chinese, or Spanish, you must ensure that any agencies you are looking at can accommodate this need.
Communication is the bedrock of a successful surrogacy journey. The couple must have clear, unambiguous communications with the agency or clinic, though it’s not strictly necessary that this is the same for the surrogate mother. Always ensure that your preferred language is available, and if not, regardless of the clinic’s qualifications, this may not be an ideal experience for you.
Reputation
Another important action couples should take is carefully look at the reputation and credentials of a given clinic or agency. How long has the organization been in operation? Have people talked about it, and if so, positively or negatively?
If you want to be thorough, another good idea is to see if people that have worked with the clinic or agency have contact details and reach out to them to ask more specific questions. Reading reviews or testimonials is one thing, but getting specific answers to your questions can be far more useful.
Reaching Out
If you’ve selected a few potential groups to work with, it’s time to start feeling them out. Email is usually a good way to open communication channels, where you can present your needs and see how closely your goals are aligned with what the potential agencies and clinics can provide you. This is also a good time to see how in-depth the communication is. If you want to schedule phone calls or video conferences to get more immediate answers to your questions, pay attention to how receptive or evasive they are to this.
If, after reaching out to an organization, you have a good feeling and are confident about making a final selection, it is time to commit. Discuss scheduling and financing, which will vary greatly based on your specific needs. IVF surrogacy, for example, will require more investment. You may also want more in-depth explanations of how the organization operates and its partners. Stork Service, for example, has valuable partnerships in Georgia, including:
GGRC Clinic
The GGRC clinic is well known for its all-encompassing surrogacy support. During the early stages, the facility can help couples find and work with a potential surrogate mother. This clinic is a great choice for couples preferring end-to-end service. It is also experienced with legal factors post-birth, like ensuring babies get citizenship for their intended country of residence.
Zhordania IVF Center
This facility is based in Tbilisi, also known as the capital of Georgia. It’s a facility with services like In-Vitro Fertilization using high-tech labs and highly skilled staff. The center can also use donor eggs stored in another country in cryogenic storage. They are qualified to safely transport them to their labs and use them for implantation.
Chachava Medical Center
Chachava Medical Center is another Tbilisi-based facility, but this is a hospital with a legacy. It has been in operation for over a century. It first opened its doors to patients of Georgia in 1875, but today accepts patients from around the world. It also has a range of different services specifically for surrogacy needs, like gynaecological and obstetric-related medical treatments and assessments.
Inova IVF Center
The Inova IVF center is a younger organization, having only gone into operation in 2015, but this relative newness means the facility is equipped with cutting-edge medical technology and staff familiar with modern techniques. This is also an IVF-focused center, offering services like Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis. PGD is good for couples with a medical history of congenital conditions in the family. Cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia can be passed onto children. This technique screens fertilized eggs for the markers for these conditions. It lets hopeful families implant eggs without those conditions, giving the baby its best possible medical start in life.