Having twins via surrogate

Hello, i’ve a doubt regarding the surrogacy process… i know that ivf is the only technique of choice in cases of surrogacy but what if we want to transfer two embryos to have two babies, twins?

Hello parliament65,

In IVF surrogacy procedures, fertilization is performed at the laboratory. Then, the best embryos are selected out of the resulting ones, and transferred to the womb of the gestational surrogate. In general, experts recommend Single Embryo Transfers to reduce the risks associated with multiple pregnancies.

However, there are cases in which multiple embryos are transferred. But, even if more than one embryo is selected, chances for both to be able to implant are not 100% sure. In other words, even if you transferred 2 embryos with the purpose of having twins, you’ll have to wait and see what happens.

In any case, a multiple pregnancy is an added risk in all cases, especially in surrogacy arrangements, where the risk affects both the gestational surrogate and the intended parents. However, if both of you agree when you sign the surrogacy agreement, then that’s set in stone. In fact, one of the most important aspects to consider when the moment of signing the contract arrives is the number of embryos to transfer.

I hope this helps,

Best wishes

IVF is an expensive process, and as such, Intended Parents and their physicians will strive for the best possible outcome from a transfer to achieve a pregnancy. Intended Parents (IP) do not want to pay for an unsuccessful transfer, so the transfer of more than one embryo, to increase the likelihood of implantation, is common. The result, when the Surrogate is healthy, the Egg Donor is young and at the peak of her fertility, and there are multiple embryos transferred, is often a multiple pregnancy. That can mean twins, or triplets, or in some cases, more.
IP will find it easy to get caught up in the excitement of the transfer and the possibility of additional children all at once, and the recommendations of the IVF physician (who will want to maintain a high success rating) and decide to transfer additional embryos. It is important to consider that every embryo transferred can result in a child, or can even split and produce identical twins. So if you transfer two embryos, that could result in twins, or if they both split, quads. Three, and the result could be triplets, or more. Most Gestational Surrogacy agreements will have stipulations in place where the IP and Gestational Surrogate have pre-agreed to have many embroys will be transferred and in what situations they will reduce the number of fetuses. The decision to reduce can be avoided with a careful consideration of how many embryos to transfer in the first place.