6.4 The Role of Outside Monitoring in the Surrogacy Process

What Is Outside Monitoring in Surrogacy?

In gestational surrogacy, ensuring that the surrogate’s body is properly prepared for embryo transfer is a critical step. This requires outside monitoring, a structured process where the surrogate undergoes necessary medical tests at a local monitoring facility instead of traveling to the intended parents’ (IPs) primary fertility clinic. This approach ensures both convenience and high-quality medical oversight.

Why Do Surrogates Need Outside Monitoring?

Most intended parents go through IVF at their chosen fertility clinic—this is where embryos are created and stored. Surrogates also visit this clinic for their initial medical screening and the embryo transfer itself. But traveling back and forth for regular monitoring isn’t realistic, especially if they live in a different city or state.

That’s why agencies like GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation help coordinate outside monitoring near the surrogate’s home. Here’s how it works:

The main clinic sends lab and ultrasound orders to the local clinic.
The surrogate goes in for bloodwork and ultrasounds.
The results are sent back to the main clinic the same day.

This setup helps doctors monitor how the surrogate’s body is responding to medication and make timely changes to prepare for a smooth embryo transfer.

The Importance of Outside Monitoring for Surrogates

During the weeks leading up to the frozen embryo transfer (FET), outside monitoring helps check that:

Hormone levels are where they need to be.
The uterine lining is thick enough to support a pregnancy.
Medication dosages are working as expected.

Based on the results, the fertility doctor may:

Change the medication dose.
Switch to a different medication type.
Extend or adjust the schedule for better results.

Because these decisions are often time-sensitive, it’s important that appointments happen early in the morning so results can be reviewed the same day.

Types of Monitoring Facilities for Surrogates

The choice of monitoring clinic depends on the surrogate mother’s location and available healthcare providers. Common options include:

Fertility Clinics – Some IVF centers offer both blood work and ultrasounds, making them the most convenient option.
Diagnostic Laboratories (e.g., Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp) – These facilities handle blood work, but the surrogate may need a separate imaging center for ultrasounds.
Imaging Centers – If an IVF clinic is unavailable, a radiology or ultrasound center can perform uterine lining assessments.

At GSHC Surrogacy & Egg Donation, our team works closely with surrogates to identify the best available monitoring facility, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.

Key Considerations for Surrogates

To help everything go smoothly, surrogates are encouraged to book early morning appointments so lab results can be sent the same day, stay flexible since many clinics are closed on weekends, and do their best to attend all scheduled visits—missing or delaying an appointment can affect the medication plan and the timing of the embryo transfer. Every step matters, and your consistency truly helps set the stage for a successful journey.

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