I am contemplating becoming a surrogate and I'm researching as much as I can about the entire process.
First did you take lupron to regulate your cycle? If so did you have any side effects? I googled Lupron since this seems to be used often to regulate the cycle of the IP and the surrogate. I found medications.com and was horrified to read dozens of negative comments about lupron. I wanted to know if the dosage used to treat prostate cancer and endometriosis is much higher then the dosage for a surrogate during IVF and if the dosage amount is related to the terrible reactions these other people are having.
Second, I have individual health insurance but do not have maternity coverage. Some agencies require the potential surrogate to have coverage. Since I do not does this put me at a great disadvantage for becoming a surrogate?
Lastly, I have three children and I had fantastic pregnancys with them all and very quick easy vaginal deliveries. I am petite and a little nervous about c-sections. Given the added potential for complications with twins I feel most comfortable not having multiples. How rare is it for a potential surrogate to only have one embryo transfer performed during IVF? Is this an unreasonabe request?
Thanks so much!!
Reply by Rayven
On the Lupron, yes, I have taken Lupron for each of my three surrogacy journeys, and other than moodiness (and yes, it was noticeable if you ask my husband), I experienced no side effects. I will say that of all the medications required for gestational surrogacy, Lupron, a synthetic drug, always made me the most nervous. I do not know about how the dosage compares with other uses for the drug; you'll have to speak with the clinic about that as well as about further side effects. Lupron is only used for a couple weeks, and only in fresh transfers or in my case, with clinics that schedule frozen transfers for specific days. Many frozen transfers do not use Lupron at all.
Not having health insurance will make it MUCH more difficult to match you as a surrogate mother. But it can be done! I started my third surrogacy journey with no maternity health insurance. Call around to your OB/GYN and hospital to find out their cash payment rates. That's what we did. But many intended parents do not want the risks involved in such a venture, understandably. If it is at all possible for you to add maternity coverage to your policy, that would be your best option.
As to the possibility of multiples, first, I'm only 5'1" and carried twins, delivering vaginally. But I completely understand your nervousness of a c-section. I've never had one either, and am terrified of the prospect. But, I know that there is a chance that even with a singleton, a c-section may become necessary. That is why I have carefully selected my OB (I interview them) to find one that shares my views on c-sections being performed only if my life or the baby's life are in danger.
As to finding a couple willing to transfer just one embryo, surprisingly, that's not too hard to do. My last two surrogacy journeys we transferred just one embryo each time (and it took on the first try, both times). Neither set of intended parents wanted to parent twins or make horrible decisions on selective reduction in the event of triplets or more. Keep in mind, however, that even when you transfer just one embryo, there is always a chance that it can split into twins (or more). And keep in mind that with just one embryo transferred, there is a greater chance that it will not work and you will have to go through the Lupron (if required) all over again for a second or third or fourth transfer.
For me, I have made it clear that I am not willing to transfer more than two embryos for any reason, and am not willing to carry more than triplets. I state this in my opening correspondence with potential intended parents, so they understand my needs and can say, "thanks but no thanks" if they do not agree, right away. The clinic I work with, when they send me their liability paperwork to fill out always have a page in there that says something about agreeing to transferring three or more embryos, etc. I always cross out the page and write, "Do Not Consent" on it and return it to them.
