Surrogacy with Own Oocytes and Sperm ‘Standard’ vs ‘Guaranteed’ Package

‘What is in the Bundle?’ — is the most common question the couples want to get an inclusive answer to. Surrogacy Bundles’ ‘tech specifications’ are the most anticipated ones. The complete list of medical services, Diagnostic Tests, medication, and Protocols configurable with the current program saves the couple’s Surrogacy Bundle’s selection timeframe up to 80%. What is covered by the basic fee? What is charged as extra fees? What fees may be involved in case of failure? What services are covered by the basic fee? What services can be configured on my demand and charged as extras? 

Selecting among ‘Basic’, ‘Standard’, and ‘Pro’ Surrogacy Packages, most of the couples are confused by the myriad proposals. Getting in touch with a Fertility Pro or receptionist from an IVF clinic or Surrogacy Agency to learn more about Surrogacy packages they have by calling method sometimes is not the best one. Getting info through phone conversation makes it a little bit harder to envisage in the mind every Surrogacy Bundle and to memorize what is included in every program and what is charged as extra costs. 

1. ‘What is in my basic Surrogacy Bundle?’

• Agency fee for all–inclusive service starting from the first call or first message and completing with the couple’s departure with a newborn Bundle. 
• Notary fee for drafting and finalizing the Surrogacy contract between the couple and the Ukrainian gestational carrier. The Surrogacy contract is a MUST HAVE for issuing the baby’s birth certificate. 
• Gestational Carrier’s Diagnostic Testing and screening including all blood tests, hormonal tests, and the other Screening tests that must be done before starting the Surrogacy cycle. 

The routine Diagnostic Tests for the surrogate mother include: 

• Infectious Profile (STD Panel)
• Viral infections’ screening
• Pelvic ultrasound scan of uterine and pelvic physiology and pathology
• Fallopian tube patency test (HyCoSy)

The Diagnostic Screening for intended mom — Surrogacy with own oocytes and sperm ‘Standard’ vs ‘Guaranteed’ package. 

• the basic fee for the Surrogacy Bundle with own oocytes may include the intended mother’s Diagnostic Testing and Screening that is essential for designing IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI Protocol. The Diagnostic Screening and Testing Bundle for the intended mother is always included in the Surrogacy Pro Bundle. If the Surrogacy with own oocytes and sperm Bundle’s fee does not cover the intended mother’s Diagnostic Screening, the ‘Diagnostic Screening program’ usually can be purchased. The Diagnostic Screening tests can be purchased ‘one by one’ — before every new Diagnostic Test the fee is charged separately or it is possible to invest in a complete Diagnostic Screening and Testing package. This Screening Bundle should be purchased before IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI or after the initial consultation with the fertility Pro. The Premium Surrogacy packages involve the inclusive screening program for the intended mom.

The Diagnostic Tests for the intended mother may include:

• Antral Follicle Count (AFC)
• Infectious Profile (STD Panel)
• Pelvic ultrasound scan of uterine and pelvic physiology and pathology
• Viral infections’ screening
• Fallopian tube patency test (HyCoSy)

Blood Screening Tests for the surrogate mother and the intended mother may involve the following: 

• Complete Blood Count test
• Blood Chemistry
• Blood Type
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone) 
• FSH (Follicle–Stimulating Hormone)
• Estradiol (Estrogen Steroid Hormone)
• AMH (Anti–Müllerian Hormone)
• TSH (Thyroid–Stimulating Hormone)
• Free T4 (Thyroxine)
• Prolactin
• Vitamin D concentrations
• Rubella blood test (Rubella is a contagious viral infection)
• Toxoplasma blood test
• HIV1
• HIV2
• Hepatitis B 
• Hepatitis C
• Syphilis blood test
• Cystic Fibrosis Carrier Testing 
• Diabetes (Hemoglobin Glycosylated) test

Extra tests: 

• Saline Induced Sonohysterogram (SIS)
• Stress Test EKG
• Blood pressure monitoring

Medication for the gestational carrier (endometrial stimulation Protocol).

Medication for the intended mother (Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Protocol). If the basic fee does not cover the medication for the intended mother, it is charged as an extra fee. 

Most of the Surrogacy with own oocytes and sperm Bundles cover the intended mother’s Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Protocol fees. If the Ovarian Stimulation Protocol fee is not covered by the Surrogacy program, the COS Bundle is designed and finalized for the intended mother after the Diagnostic Testing results are obtained and extra fees are charged. Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Protocol includes medication, ultrasound scans, hormonal concentrations monitoring, and management of the stimulation protocol that cuts out the complications and emergencies, keeping ovulation induction Pro secure. Surrogacy Bundles Pro involve the COS Protocol for the intended mother without charging extra fees. 

Oocyte Retrieval (oocyte pick–up) and Oocyte Collection for the intended mother.

IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI (one trial, two trials, three trials or multi–trials) fertilization of the intended mother’s oocytes with the intended father’s sperm, embryo culturing, Time–Lapse embryo development monitoring.

Selection of one or two ‘boutique–quality’ embryo from the IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI generated embryonic cohort. ‘Boutique–quality’ embryo has normal development ‘status’, already hatched outside, ‘labeled’: ‘high implantation potency.’ If PGD/PGS was performed, a top–quality embryo must have an ideal genome configuration.

Embryo Transfer (ultrasound–guided Embryo Transfer) with mock Embryo Transfer trial or only actual Embryo Transfer. 

Gestational carrier’s fee for the Embryo Transfer (one trial, two trials, three trials or multi–trials). 

Embryonic cohort Vitrification and fee–free storage of the vitrified embryos up to 12 months.

Gestational carrier’s monthly fee.

Pregnancy care fee (covers the consultations, medication, and inclusive pregnancy monitoring). 

Maternity hospital fee that covers the natural delivery, medication, medical services, and the newborn’s care for 2–3 days in the maternity hospital.

Gestational carrier’s final compensation for carrying and delivering the newborn Bundle or even two Bundles.

PGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening for 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, or 24 chromosomes ‘configuration’) package can be integrated with the Standard Surrogacy Bundle’s fee and may cover screening up to 6 or 8 embryos (blastocyst stage). Every additional screened embryo may be charged an extra fee. If there is no PGS in the Surrogacy package, the intended parents may purchase the PGS Bundle. The cost for the PGS Bundle starts at 3200 EUR. This fee covers screening up to 6 or 8 embryos from the embryonic cohort. Every extra embryo biopsy will cost the couple nearly 250 EUR—550 EUR depending on the screening strategy used and the number of chromosomes screened. 

The standard package usually includes PGS on 5 chromosomes screening for up to 6–8 embryos generated through one IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI trial. The Premium Surrogacy package routinely includes PGS on 5, 9 or 24 chromosomes for whole embryonic cohort generated through all IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI trials included in it. 

PGS with FISH technique Bundle (Preimplantation Genetic Screening with fluorescence in situ hybridization) is cheaper than PGS with NGS (Preimplantation Genetic Screening with Next Generation Sequencing). PGS–FISH on 5 chromosomes Bundle can be purchased at a cost of 1200 EUR (screening fee covers up to 12 embryos). PGS–FISH on 9 chromosomes Bundle can be purchased at a cost of 1800 EUR (screening fee covers up to 12 embryos). PGS–FISH on 24 chromosomes Bundle can be purchased at a cost of 3000 EUR (screening fee covers up to 12 embryos). PGS with NGS on 24 chromosomes bundle can be purchased at a cost of 775 EUR (screening fee covers screening of one embryo).

PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) Bundle can be configured with the Standard Surrogacy Bundle’s fee and may cover screening up to 6 or 8 embryos (blastocyst stage). PGD for every additional embryo is charged as an extra fee. If there is no PGD Bundle in the Standard Surrogacy package, the PGD Bundle is available for purchase on the couple’s demand. The cost for the PGD Bundle depends on the screening technique used and the number of embryos undergoing screening. Some ‘Standard’ Surrogacy Bundles even include PGD on 24 chromosomes using the NGS technique for 8 embryos generated through single IVF–ICSI/IMSI/PISCI cycle. PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) test on 5 chromosomes often is included both in Standard and Pro Surrogacy Packages. PGD on 9 chromosomes is charged as an extra fee and its cost starts at 1250 EUR. Complete chromosomal profile screening (PGD on 24 chromosomes) fee starts at 2200–2500 EUR.