Surrgacy FAQ

About Our company:

Q: Why “intellect” in the name Intellect Surrogacy?
A: We thrive to provide the best service, and we believe in the importance of the education level of the gestational carrier as well as the egg or sperm donors for the well-being of our intended parents’ offspring.
Q: I am concerned about scams. How can I assure my payment is safe and will be used properly?
A: We are a professional company with the highest integrity. Our reputation is the utmost important for us. Nevertheless the payment for the gestational carrier and the services in Ukraine are all held in a US escrow account independent from our company. The funds will be released to us only when the services have been completed.
Q: How much experience do you have in gestational surrogacy?
A: Our Ukrainian partners have been offering gestational surrogacy since 2013. Our Ukrainian fertility specialist physicians have over 20 years of experience. Over 5000 babies have been born through our service
Q: Who are the physicians in Ukraine who will provide the IVF and embryo transfer?
A: our fertility specialists:
1. MD Galina Strelko , a specialist in obstetrician and gynecology, infertility treatment with application of Assisted Reproduction Technologies, member of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Number of cycles: more than 7000.
2. MD Ulanova Veronika, specialist in obstetrician and gynecology, infertility treatment with application of Assisted Reproduction Technologies, member of ESHRE, ASRM. Number of cycles: more than 5000
3. Birol Aydin, embryology specialist, specialist in IVF laboratory management, official expert of the ESHRE. Number of cycles: more than 30 000
Q: What is your IVF success rate?
A: Our statistics*
1. Fertilization Rate: 96.5 %
2. Blastocyst Rate: 67,46%
3. Donor Cycle Pregnancy Rate with NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis): 71.64%
4. Total Pregnancy Rate: 59.47%
5. Blastocyst Vitrification Rate: 51.96%

(*Period : 01/01/2017-1/31/2018)

Who should consider our surrogacy program?

Q: Who should consider our surrogacy program?
A: Couples who
1. could not conceive by traditional or IVF treatment despite multiple attempts (Ukrainian law requires 4 unsuccessful attempts before surrogacy is allowed in this case. A US fertility physician certification is accepted).
2. where the mother’s reproductive organs including the uterus are surgically removed or not functional for any reason
3. where the mother’s age or general medical condition (e.g. severe heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes) would place her or the baby at an unacceptable high risk of pregnancy related complications
Q: Can Gay, lesbian couples or single mothers participate in your program?
A: Ukrainian law allows only heterosexual married couples to participate in gestational surrogacy. We are planning to expand our operations to other European countries where there is no such restriction in the future.

About Surrogacy in Ukraine

Q: Do I need a visa to Ukraine?
A: US citizens do not need a visa to travel to the Ukraine.
Q: I don’t speak Russian or Ukrainian. I am worried about traveling to a foreign country
A: we provide a concierge who speaks fluent English, Ukrainian and Russian, who will be available 24/7 during your trip, to assist not only with the surrogacy program but with any travel, translation or other needs.
Q: I am worried about the protection of my interests under Ukrainian surrogacy law.
A: Ukrainian law is very surrogacy friendly, with stronger protection for intended parents than US law. Ukrainian law (article 139 of Family Law) considers the child to be that of the child of the intended parents, and automatically provides birth certificate in the name of the biological (intended) parents. The surrogate mother has no legal right to the newborn under any circumstances.
Q: Do we have to travel to the Ukraine on multiple occasions?
A: No, if you choose our limited travel program, US parents need to travel to the Ukraine only once, at the time of the delivery of their child.
Q: What happens to my newborn if I don’t arrive on time for the delivery to the Ukraine?
A: Our agency arranges a newborn caretaker to temporarily take care of the child until the parents are able to take custody of the newborn.
Q: What kind of document do we need to prove that we are married?
A: Marriage license/certificate
Q: What happens to my newborn if I don’t arrive on time for the delivery to the Ukraine?
A: Our agency arranges a newborn caretaker to temporarily take care of the child until the parents arrive.

About Ukrainian gestational carriers (surrogate mothers)

Q: Are the gestational carriers screened thoroughly like in the US for various diseases and potentially harmful behavior such as smoking, drug use? Are they healthy?
A: Ukrainian gestational carriers are held to the same high standard as US gestational carriers. They are screened for drug use, alcohol use, STD, smoking and various other medical illnesses. The Ukrainian gestational carriers must not be overweight or obese (this is sometimes not the case in the US) and must be of reproductive age. They must live in a stable family environment with at least one biological child of their own. Our gestational carriers are more educated on average, some carrying university or graduate degrees, which is important because more educated people tend to be more responsible with their diet, exercise and other circumstances of their pregnancy.
Q: May I meet the gestational carrier via Skype prior to deciding?
A: Most of our gestational carriers are happy to meet you via Skype. Few don’t. You will be able to choose them accordingly, this will be indicated in their profiles.

About our egg donors

Q: What is the screening process for Ukrainian egg donors?
A: Egg donors undergo thorough screening at the same high standard as in the United States. The donors undergo physical examination, psychological evaluation, infectious disease screening (such as HIV, hepatitis B or C, etc) genetic screening,
Q: I’d like to use an egg donor from the US. Is it possible?
A: Yes, intended parents can choose to have a US egg donor. We can make appropriate arrangements for US egg donors via our US fertility clinic partners or the intended parents’ own fertility doctors.
Q: If an egg donor is needed, what is the process to find one?
If you are in need of an egg donor, we work with donor agencies in Europe and can help connect you with one, alternatively you may choose another egg donor agency.
Q: May I meet the egg donor? A: No. Ukrainian law requires egg donors to remain anonymous

About our surrogacy program process

Q: How long does the program take?
A: Parents can typically expect their baby to be born 12-15 months after signing the contract.
Q: What are the steps of the program?
A: the typical program steps are:
1. Initial consultation:
  1. Meet with our Surrogacy Program Manager, learn about our company
  2. Learn about surrogacy in general
  3. Overview of our program steps, the surrogacy process
  4. Determine best program suited: Initial questionnaire
2. Follow up meeting
  1. Meet our doctors: videoconference meeting with the Ukrainian fertility doctors
  2. Review contract draft
  3. Review sample gestational carrier profiles and sample egg donor profiles as applicable.
3. Commitment:
  1. Sign contract. This can be done in person or electronically.
  2. Fund accounts, arrange financing if needed
  3. Review active available gestational carrier profiles and sample egg donor profiles as applicable.
  4. Choose a gestational carrier
4. Meet with gestational carrier via video conference
5. Coordination with fertility clinics
  1. egg/sperm retrieval (and IVF) in the US
  2. cryopreservation in the US
  3. shipment
  4. (IVF and) embryo transfer in Ukraine
6. Pregnancy
  1. Intended parents notified of ultrasound confirmed pregnancy
  2. Ultrasound video is sent to parents
  3. Follow up videoconferences with the gestational carrier
  4. Regular updates about the pregnancy
7. Delivery
  1. The parents arrive in Kiev 2 weeks before due date
  2. Our Ukrainian Surrogacy Program Coordinator who is fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian, will meet the parents at the airport and arrange transportation, proper accommodation in Kiev.
  3. Our Program Manager provides 24/7 concierge service including translation at any time, sightseeing, shopping throughout the parents’ stay.
  4. Delivery of their child – parents take the newborn home to their apartment in Kiev.
  5. Ukrainian birth documents, genetic testing and paperwork for US passport is arranged with the help of our Surrogacy Program Coordinator.
  6. The parents travel back to the US with their newborn.
Q: How do you transport the cryopreserved embryo to Europe?
A: We partnered with Cryport, one of the biggest and most experienced companies providing transportation of cryopreserved embryo, egg or sperm.
Q: How do I know the child is mine?
A: genetic testing establishes kinship
Q: Do you offer financing?
A: Yes, we offer financing via our financial partner.
Q: How much do the surrogate mothers get paid? A: It can vary depending on the surrogate mother, but is generally private information
Q: Do I need to pay for my own travel? A: Plane tickets are generally paid for by the intended parents but we can assist in getting the ticket. Transportation to and from the airport in Kiev is included. Our concierge will help you get around the city. You will have to travel minimum once to Kiev depending on which program you choose.
Q: Can I be a parent if my partner is HIV+? A: Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate HIV positive patients
Q: How does the surrogate matching process work?
A: We show several profiles of the current available surrogate mothers. Intended parents are able to select based on their preferences.
Q: Where will my surrogate deliver my child?
A: The surrogate will deliver the child in Kiev.
Q: Will there be contracts with my surrogate/egg donor?
A: Yes you will sign an agreement both with your surrogate and an egg donor agency
Q: Why should I choose your company over others?
A: We offer a high quality service equal to that of many American surrogacy agencies for a much lower cost
Q: Once I find my surrogate, how long until embryo transfer?
A: It will take typically 2-3 months
Q: Will surrogate at all be related to the baby? Will she have any parental rights?
We only provide gestational surrogacy which means that the gestational carrier will not have any genetic connection. Ukrainian law does not provide any rights to the baby for surrogate mothers.
Q: Whose name goes on the birth certificate?
A: Only the intended parents’ names are put on the birth certificate under Ukrainian law.
Q: Will there be paperwork guaranteeing the surrogate cannot keep the baby if she decides to?
A: The contract signed with the surrogate mother stipulates that the surrogate mother has no rights to the baby