Services

Gestational Surrogacy, Egg Donation & Sperm Donation

We understand that it can be overwhelming if you are contemplating the assistance from a third party to help you grow your family. Fortunately, at IVF Canada, we have staff dedicated to leading you through this process and providing resources for you so that you feel supported and confident when selecting the various options.

Do you have questions? Please contact us by email at: info@ivfcanada.com

Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a child she is not genetically related to for a commissioning couple or person. Surrogacy arrangements can be a complex undertaking for both the commissioning couple and the gestational surrogate.

 

A gestational surrogate may be known to the commissioning couple (typically relatives or friends who volunteer to carry the pregnancy) or unknown to the commissioning couple (usually introduced through a third party).

Since it is illegal to pay for surrogacy services or to advertise to pay for surrogacy services in Canada, finding a gestational surrogate can be time-consuming and difficult. In a majority of cases, gestational surrogates are already known to the commissioning couple. At IVF Canada, we will provide guidance necessary to achieve the goal of gestational surrogacy.

 

We highly recommend that intended parents review the laws in Canada with respect to compensating surrogates and egg donors.

EGG DONATION

Egg donation is a fertility treatment option for people who, for various reasons, are unable to become pregnant using their own eggs. There are many reasons why a woman may not be able to use her own eggs to conceive a child. In some cases, the woman may not have any eggs to use.

For example, her ovaries may have been removed from a previous operation, her ovaries may have been damaged during cancer therapy, or she may have experienced early menopause. In other cases, a woman may simply not have enough eggs or her eggs may be of poor quality. Whatever the reason, egg donation can be an effective fertility treatment for women who are unable to conceive using their own eggs

 

There are three ways to obtain donated eggs:

  • Using an altruistic donor in Canada– couples often have to find a donor who is known to them, either through family or friends, who is willing to offer their eggs as an altruistic donation (i.e.:  the egg donor does not receive payment).
  • Select a donor through Donor Egg Bank USA– A second option is now available through IVF Canada Fertility Centre.  Couples may now select an egg donor in the United States through Donor Egg Bank USA and have eggs transferred to IVF Canada Fertility Centre where they can undergo the procedure close to home.
  • Travel abroad– Couples sometimes choose to seek assistance outside of Canada.  IVF Canada Fertility Centre works with reputable clinics in the United States and can assist in your care.

SPERM DONATION

Some individuals or couples may require the use of donor sperm in order to achieve a pregnancy. IVF Canada accepts donor sperm from several national certified sperm banks where donors are appropriately screened and the sperm is quarantined.

Canadian-compliant sperm distributors include:

  • Outreach Services
  • Can-Am Cryoservices
  • Repromed

 

In the case of a known donor (i.e. a friend or family member), in accordance with Health Canada and the Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception Regulations, certain requirements are mandatory before the donated sperm can be used.