Lister Fertility Clinic
Chelsea Bridge Road SW1W 8RH London
Surrogacy
WHEN A WOMAN CARRIES AND GIVES BIRTH TO A BABY FOR ANOTHER PERSON OR COUPLE.
An option for women with a medical condition that makes it impossible or dangerous for them to get pregnant and give birth as well as an option for male same-sex couples who want to have a family. Surrogacy can also be used by people who are single.
At the Lister Fertility Clinic, we have a dedicated surrogacy team to look after you and your surrogate throughout your treatment journey. This provides specialist continuity of care and gives you all the personalised support that will help you throughout the different steps of treatment.
What are the different stages of starting the process?
Once you have made an appointment you will be seen in clinic, so that we can decide together how best we can help you through your journey. During your initial consultation you can find out more details about the screening tests, investigations and treatments involved.
We try to minimise the amount of times you need to visit us by combining as many of your appointments as possible, this would include your initial appointment with a doctor, the fertility counsellor and a dedicated surrogacy nurse.
Who might need surrogacy?
You might be considering surrogacy because you have had many IVF treatment cycles that have unfortunately not been successful, because you have a medical condition that makes carrying a pregnancy too risky, you have an absent uterus or you might be a same sex couple of men.
Whether you are in a heterosexual, same sex relationship or single, we are here to help and can also assist you if you need donor sperm or egg donation with the help of our egg sharing program.
What does the treatment involve?
At present we offer host surrogacy at the Lister Fertility Clinic. This means you initially create embryos through IVF treatment and they are then transferred into a surrogate who carries the pregnancy at a later stage. You don’t need to have already found a surrogate to start your journey.
You can create embryos initially and freeze them while waiting to find a surrogate, this can be done with or without PGT-A to test your embryos genetically. Alternatively, if you need egg donation, we can freeze your sperm while you are deciding on an egg donor that suits you best.
When will I need counselling?
You and your surrogate will see the counsellor separately as well as together to discuss ethical, legal and social aspects of going through surrogacy. Our counsellors are also here for continuous support at any point before, during and after your treatment for you and your surrogate.
Read more from our Fertility Counsellor Tracey Sainsbury
What happens once we have found a surrogate?
Your surrogate will get the same dedicated specialist support that you have received. She will have an initial appointment with a doctor, a counsellor and a specialist surrogacy nurse, once again trying to combine as many different appointments on the same day. We also try to carry out any investigations needed on the same day.
Your surrogate will go through a frozen embryo replacement cycle where the embryo created during the initial stages of treatment will be replaced into the womb of the surrogate.
Further support
Our Surrogacy locations
Lister Fertility Clinic at The Portland Hospital
215 Great Portland Street W1W 5PN London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.