For some people, the path to parenthood does not go through a traditional pregnancy. That reality can feel isolating at first. But there are well-established, medically sound options that allow intended parents to have biological children even when carrying a pregnancy is not possible. Egg donation and gestational surrogacy are two of the most important tools in that category, and they can be used individually or together depending on your situation.
At Hanabusa IVF, we work with intended parents navigating third-party reproduction in all of its forms. Whether you need a gestational carrier, an egg donor, or both, the care you receive here is built around your specific circumstances, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
This article explains how egg donation and gestational surrogacy work, who may need each, how they interact, and what the process looks like when you work with a fertility clinic to coordinate it all.
Understanding the Difference Between Egg Donation and Gestational Surrogacy
These two options are often mentioned together, but they address different problems.
Egg donation is the answer when the intended parent cannot use their own eggs, either because of diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, age-related decline in egg quality, genetic conditions, or failed prior IVF cycles. A donor provides the eggs, which are fertilized through IVF to create embryos. The intended parent or a gestational carrier then carries the pregnancy.
Gestational surrogacy is the answer when someone cannot safely carry a pregnancy. The gestational carrier, sometimes called a surrogate, carries an embryo that is not genetically related to her. The embryo is created through IVF using the intended parents' eggs and sperm, or donor eggs and/or donor sperm, and transferred to the carrier's uterus. The carrier has no genetic connection to the child.
These two pathways are frequently combined. Same-sex male couples, for example, typically need both an egg donor and a gestational carrier. Someone with a uterine condition but healthy eggs may need only a carrier. Someone with ovarian insufficiency but an intact uterus may need only an egg donor. The combination that is right for you depends on your specific fertility picture.
Who May Need a Gestational Carrier
There are a number of medical and biological circumstances that make it impossible or inadvisable to carry a pregnancy. These include uterine absence or malformation, certain uterine fibroids or scarring that cannot be corrected, prior hysterectomy, conditions like Asherman's syndrome, and serious health conditions where pregnancy would pose significant risk to the intended parent's health.
For individuals who are single men or male same-sex couples, a gestational carrier is simply a biological necessity. These families require both an egg source and someone to carry the pregnancy.
In all of these cases, the intended parents are still connected to the child through genetics, through the IVF process, through the entire pregnancy journey alongside the carrier, and from the moment of birth. California has strong legal frameworks that establish parental rights before delivery, making it one of the more surrogacy-friendly states in the country.
"When intended parents come to us with a situation that requires a gestational carrier, we want them to understand that this path is just as meaningful as any other. The child is still very much theirs, and we treat the coordination of that process with the same care we bring to any fertility treatment."
— Dr. Diana LeBlanc, a Fertility Specialist at Hanabusa IVF
Egg Donation When Your Own Eggs Are Not an Option
Egg donation is one of the most effective tools in fertility medicine. For patients with diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, or age-related decline in egg quality, donor eggs offer success rates that would simply not be achievable with their own eggs.
Donor eggs can be fertilized with the intended parent's sperm (or donor sperm) to create embryos. If the intended parent has a functioning uterus, those embryos can be transferred directly to them. If a gestational carrier is also involved, the embryos are transferred to the carrier.
At Hanabusa IVF, our donor egg program connects intended parents with screened, qualified donors. Every donor in a reputable program has already passed a comprehensive medical evaluation, genetic carrier screening, and a psychological assessment. What you see in a donor profile represents someone who has cleared a significant clinical bar before you ever review their information.
"Egg donation is not a lesser path to parenthood. For many of our patients, it is the path that actually works. And the individualized care we provide means we are always thinking about the right protocol for each recipient's body, not a standard approach."
— Dr. Lyndon Chang, Medical Director at Hanabusa IVF
How the IVF Process Works in Third-Party Reproduction
Whether you are using a gestational carrier, an egg donor, or both, IVF is the technology at the center of the process. Understanding how it works helps intended parents know what to expect.
If you are using an egg donor, the donor undergoes ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval. Her eggs are then fertilized in the lab using sperm from the intended parent or a sperm donor. The resulting embryos can be transferred fresh or frozen for later use.
If you are also using a gestational carrier, the embryos are transferred to the carrier after her uterine lining has been prepared through a hormonal protocol. The transfer itself is a brief outpatient procedure. The carrier then continues under the monitoring care of her own OB while the fertility clinic tracks the early pregnancy.
Preimplantation genetic testing, or PGT, is often recommended in third-party reproduction to evaluate embryos for chromosomal health before transfer. This can be especially valuable when egg donation is involved, as it helps identify the embryos most likely to result in a successful pregnancy.
Hanabusa IVF's laboratory has over a decade of vitrification expertise. Freezing and thawing embryos is a routine part of our practice, and the quality of that process matters for outcomes in frozen embryo transfer cycles, which are common in gestational carrier arrangements.
Finding a Gestational Carrier
Hanabusa IVF is a fertility clinic, not a surrogacy agency. What we do is the medical coordination of gestational carrier cycles: the protocols, monitoring, embryo transfer, and early pregnancy care. Finding the gestational carrier herself typically involves working with a surrogacy agency, which handles matching, screening, legal coordination, and the carrier's compensation and insurance.
Some intended parents find their gestational carrier through personal connections, such as a friend or family member who offers to carry. These arrangements are called known or directed surrogacy and are permitted in California. Whether your carrier is found through an agency or a personal relationship, the medical process we coordinate is the same.
Our third-party reproduction program can walk you through how we coordinate with carriers and agencies, and what the clinical process looks like from initial consultation through transfer.
What California Law Means for Intended Parents
California has some of the most favorable surrogacy laws in the United States. Intended parents can obtain a pre-birth order, which legally establishes their parental rights before the child is even born. This means that when the baby is delivered, the birth certificate lists the intended parents without requiring adoption proceedings.
This legal environment is one of the reasons many intended parents, including international intended parents, choose California as the state in which to pursue gestational surrogacy. The legal process is handled by attorneys specializing in reproductive law and is separate from the medical care Hanabusa IVF provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a gestational carrier and a traditional surrogate?
A gestational carrier has no genetic connection to the child she carries. The embryo is created through IVF using the intended parents' eggs and sperm, or donor genetic material, and then transferred to the carrier. A traditional surrogate uses her own eggs, making her genetically related to the child. Traditional surrogacy carries significant legal complexity and is rarely used today. Almost all modern surrogacy arrangements involve gestational carriers.
Do I need both an egg donor and a gestational carrier?
Not necessarily. Some intended parents need only an egg donor because they have a healthy uterus but cannot use their own eggs. Others need only a gestational carrier because they have healthy eggs but cannot safely carry a pregnancy. Male same-sex couples and single men typically need both. Your consultation at Hanabusa IVF will clarify exactly which combination applies to your situation.
Can a gestational carrier also donate eggs?
No. A gestational carrier and an egg donor must be different people. Using the same person as both donor and carrier would create a genetic connection between the carrier and the child, which is a traditional surrogacy arrangement. Reputable programs keep these roles entirely separate.
How long does the gestational carrier IVF process take?
Once a carrier has been identified and has completed medical and legal clearance, the embryo transfer cycle itself typically takes four to six weeks. If embryos are not yet created, add the time needed for an egg retrieval cycle with the donor. From starting the process to an embryo transfer, intended parents often spend three to six months in preparation.
Does Hanabusa IVF help with international intended parents pursuing gestational surrogacy?
Yes. Hanabusa IVF has experience coordinating care for patients traveling to San Diego from other states and internationally. If you are an international intended parent exploring gestational surrogacy in California, our team can discuss what coordination looks like for your situation.
Your Next Step
Building a family through egg donation, gestational surrogacy, or a combination of both is a deeply personal path, and the medical coordination involved is more nuanced than most people realize. Hanabusa IVF is here to walk you through every step with honesty and individualized care.
If you are ready to explore what this path might look like for your specific situation, reach out to begin a conversation at Hanabusa IVF's consultation page.
