Gestational Carrier (TCART Online).

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Gestational Carrier

What is gestational carrier?
Gestational carrier is the procedure of taking the oocyte and the sperm (gametes) from the biological parents, fertilizing them in-vitro and then implanting the fertilized embryo(s) into the uterus of a woman (carrier), so that she may be able to carry the pregnancy to term.

It is used primarily in cases where the mother either does not have a uterus or her uterus is malformed or unable to carry a pregnancy to term. For these women, using a gestational carrier is the only option open to them in order to have their own biological child.

This procedure is being done at select clinics in Canada.

Can gestational carrier be performed in Canada? Is it legal?
It is advisable, when undertaking this procedure, to consult with your family lawyer.

It is legal, although the biological parents and the carrier are advised to retain legal counsel prior to undertaking this procedure. This is to ensure that, when the child is born, it can and will be registered to the biological parents.

How do you find a gestational carrier?
At TCART, we do not engage in finding carriers for couples. Our purpose is to carry out the medical assistance needed to produce a pregnancy. We have found that most carriers are those people you may already know, that is a friend, sister or relative. It is preferable that the carrier has experienced pregnancy before. as there are many concerns that the event of the pregnancy brings with it. If you do not have access to anyone who is willing to be a carrier for you, it may be possible that your lawyer can help. We also have couples that may be willing to speak with you about their experiences.

Are carriers screened?
Yes, all carriers are screened for a variety of diseases. We follow the American Fertility and Canadian Fertility Societies guidelines for screening donors. We advise all carriers that they should have psychological counseling and assessment, to rule out any concerns that they may have and to ensure that they are prepared emotionally for the outcome. A thorough history and physical examination is done on each carrier, including any familial history of disease, as well as a psychosocial history at the time of consultation.

What are the steps in getting started?
If you have a carrier who has offered to act as the gestating mother, it is advisable to get legal counsel before you proceed, so that when the child is born, it can be legally registered to the biological parents.

If you do not have a carrier, and you are unable to get information on how to find one, we suggest that you speak with your lawyer or call the clinic for contact people. After you have arranged for legal counsel, call the clinic and set up a time for consultation with your carrier and the physician.

At this visit, we suggest that you and your carrier seek psychological counseling to discuss issues related to this treatment and the outcome. This is important in order to make sure that all parties are emotionally ready to proceed. If you do not have a counselor, we will be able to provide you with that information.

The nurse and the physician will arrange for the coordination of your menstrual cycle with the carrier in order to make sure that the carriers' endometrium is ready to receive fertilized embryos at the time of the transfer. You, as the biological parents, will be undergoing a cycle of in vitro fertilization to retrieve the oocytes and sperm. This will all be explained to you at the time of the consultation.

Please be aware that it is illegal to pay a gestational carrier in Canada. You may however pay for out of pocket expenses for the carrier. You must retain all receipts for out of pocket expenses claimed.


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