Intended parents: process

How does surrogacy work? The gestational surrogacy process, step by step

The short answer

Gestational surrogacy works in six stages: consultation and signing with an agency, matching with a screened surrogate, legal contracts, the medical cycle and embryo transfer, pregnancy, and birth with a parentage order. The surrogate carries an embryo created by IVF from the intended parents' or donors' egg and sperm, so she has no genetic link to the child. At Private Label Surrogacy the whole process typically takes 18 to 24 months: signing to surrogate introduction about 9 months today (target 6 or fewer), legal and medical foundations 1 to 2 months, the medical cycle 2 to 3 months, then a 9-month pregnancy. A pregnancy test is taken 9 to 11 days after transfer. Every stage below links to its own page.

Written by Nancy Block, RN

Founder and Director. Fertility nurse, 17 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Former President, SEEDS.

Medically reviewed by Mark Silverberg, MD

Last updated October 14, 2026

What is gestational surrogacy and who is involved?

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Stage 1: consultation and signing (what happens in the first 30 days)

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Stage 2: matching with a screened surrogate (about 6 months)

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Stage 3: legal contracts and escrow (1 to 2 months)

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Stage 4: medical screening, IVF cycle and embryo transfer (2 to 3 months)

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Stage 5: pregnancy, milestones and your birth plan

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Stage 6: birth, pre-birth order and bringing your baby home

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How long does the whole surrogacy process take?

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What does the process cost and who holds the money?

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Table in preparation

Stage-by-stage timeline table: stage, what happens, who does it (PLS, clinic, attorney, escrow), typical duration, milestone payment triggered.

Editor notes (A-001): From-Match-to-Birth claims a 99% match rate; do not carry it over. Replace with [PLS_JOURNEYS] and [PLS_BABIES] placeholders. Confirm the current signing-to-introduction figure (9 months) with Nancy before publishing.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the surrogacy process take from start to birth?

Typically 18 to 24 months: about 9 months from signing to surrogate introduction today, 1 to 2 months of legal and medical foundations, a 2 to 3 month medical cycle, then the pregnancy.

Is the surrogate related to the baby?

No. In gestational surrogacy the embryo is created by IVF from the intended parents' or donors' egg and sperm, so the surrogate has no genetic link to the child.

When is pregnancy confirmed after embryo transfer?

The surrogate takes a blood pregnancy test 9 to 11 days after transfer; the clinic then confirms with repeat tests and an early ultrasound.

Who holds the money during the process?

An independent licensed escrow agent, not the agency. At PLS parents fund escrow with $10,000 at match and the balance before medications start.

Can I use my own surrogate?

Yes. PLS offers cycle management for parents who bring a friend or family member as their surrogate; she goes through the same screening.