The first step to take when you are considering surrogacy, is to book a consultation with one of our expert fertility consultants. During this meeting they will undertake a review of your medical history and discuss any previous treatments or consultations you may have undergone. This process will allow them to make an informed recommendation about the best course of treatment for you.

This process will usually involve you undergoing some blood tests. At this point we will also analyse a semen sample. There is a requirement for sperm to be quarantined for between 91-180 days dependent on the screening process, prior to the commencement of any treatment.

Your surrogate will be required to take a scan, along with a number of blood tests. They will also need to provide evidence that they have received legal advice around the surrogacy process. A safeguarding letter will then be issued to both your GP and that of your surrogate before any treatment can begin.

We feel that it is important for any patients considering the use of donor eggs to conceive, to meet with an independent counsellor to get a clear understanding of the implications around surrogacy. You will need to have individual counselling sessions, which should then be followed by a joint session.

Here at Ebony concept, we have a database of prospective black egg donors. Once you have decided to move forward, we will arrange an appointment with our egg donation specialists who will talk you through the process and arrange for any tests you may need. We will also undertake a personalised matching service that ensures you get the egg donor that is perfect for you.

Once a donor has been selected and confirmed, an appointment will be arranged with one of our doctors to map out your personal treatment plan. This is followed by a consultation with one of our senior nurses with extensive surrogacy experience. During this meeting all your pre-screening tests will be organised along with all the consents needed to allow your surrogate to begin her treatment.

If the person you select as surrogate is married, she along with her husband will remain as legal parents of the child until you apply for a parental order. If the person you choose is single and any sperm used is your partners, you and the surrogate will be legal parents until the legal parentage is transferred through a parental order.

Your surrogate will be required to undergo hormone treatment for a period of about 17 days prior to transfer. This is to properly prepare the womb for embryo implantation. During this period, she will be closely monitored by our fertility specialists. This monitoring will take the form of regular ultrasound scans.

The donor eggs will be fertilised in our laboratory by using sperm from your partner or selected donor. It will usually take five to six days of fertilisation before eggs reach the blastocyst stage.

You will be given regular updates throughout the fertilisation process by our specialist embryologist. When the time comes, you will be allocated a slot for your embryo transfer. The embryo transfer is a relatively simple and painless procedure that can be carried out without the need for anaesthetic.

It is usual for women to only have one egg transferred to prevent multiple pregnancies. All remaining embryos can be frozen and stored for a period of up to ten years should you require further treatment.

Once the embryo transfer has been completed, we will give you a date for your pregnancy test. We will also give you details of any medication required. If required there is the availability of a scan at 3-4 weeks designed to check for foetal heartbeat.