How Many Embryos Are Needed for Surrogacy? [4 Considerations]

Gestational surrogacy can offer you a viable path to growing your family even if you have only a few embryos available.

Whether you have multiple embryos or just one, you can realize your dream of becoming a parent by working with a surrogate.

Understanding the embryo requirements for surrogacy is crucial as you prepare for the process. Knowing how many embryos are needed for surrogacy as well as the quality and viability of those embryos, will give you confidence as you embark on this journey. In this article, we’ll go over the number of embryos you’ll need as well as how many embryos to transfer per attempt.

If you’re ready to discuss your unique situation, a surrogacy specialist can provide personalized guidance to help you navigate this process. To get in touch, fill out our contact form or call 1-800-875-BABY.

How Many Embryos Are Needed for Surrogacy? [4 Factors to Consider]

In general, it’s recommended that you have three to five embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Not every embryo will result in a viable pregnancy, so having several embryos increases your chances of success.

The number of embryos you have can significantly impact your surrogacy journey. Factors like the quality of your embryos and your surrogate’s preferences play a role in determining exactly how many embryos you might need.

Here are four things to consider when deciding how many embryos are needed for surrogacy:

Age
Younger women often have high-quality embryos, so you may not need as many depending on your age.

Genetic testing
Embryos confirmed through PGT-A testing to be chromosomally normal are more likely to implant successfully.

Embryo grade
Embryos are graded based on their appearance and development; higher-grade embryos are considered healthier and tend to have better outcomes.

Clinic recommendations
It’s important to carefully review your fertility clinic’s guidelines.

Do I Have Enough Embryos? [One or Two Frozen Embryos Left]

Gestational surrogacy with a single embryo is possible, especially if the embryo has been confirmed through PGT-A testing to be of high quality. A quality embryo is more likely to result in a successful pregnancy. This can be reassuring if you only have one frozen embryo left and don’t know whether to move forward with surrogacy.

However, if you only have one or two frozen embryos left, there are additional considerations. The cost of surrogacy may be less economical if the first transfer fails and you can’t or don’t want to create more embryos. Additionally, some surrogates only partner with hopeful intended parents who are willing to complete two or more transfers.

If your first transfer doesn’t succeed, you’ll need to consider your next steps carefully. Will you undergo the egg retrieval process again, or will you explore using donor eggs and sperm? These are questions to discuss with your surrogacy specialist.

Next Steps if You Only Have a Few Embryos for Surrogacy

If you're concerned about having only one or two embryos for your surrogacy journey, you're not alone. Many intended parents worry that a limited number of embryos might limit their options or delay their path to parenthood. The good news is that you have several viable paths forward, each with its own advantages depending on your specific situation and family-building goals.

Join Our Surrogacy Program With Your Current Embryos

American Surrogacy welcomes families who have just one or two embryos. Unlike some programs that require multiple embryos before matching, we understand that quality often matters more than quantity, especially when dealing with PGT-A tested or high-grade embryos.

Many successful fertility journeys have begun with single embryo transfers. We find surrogates who are comfortable with this approach, and with the right medical partners, you can maximize your chances of success with the embryos you have.

Working with your current embryos means you can move forward immediately without additional medical procedures or waiting periods. If you've been dealing with infertility for an extended time, this direct path to surrogacy can provide the momentum you need to finally achieve your family goals.

Consider an Additional IVF Cycle

If you want to increase your embryo bank before beginning surrogacy, undergoing another IVF cycle may be worth considering. You should talk to your doctor about your options, but this option may make particular sense if:

Your previous cycles produced good-quality embryos
You're comfortable with the time and financial investment of another retrieval
You want multiple embryos as backup for potential future transfers
Your fertility specialist believes you're likely to respond well to another cycle

Additional embryos can provide peace of mind and potentially reduce the overall cost per attempt if your first transfer doesn't succeed. However, it's important to weigh the time investment against your eagerness to begin the surrogacy process.

Explore Donor Gametes for Enhanced Success

Using donor eggs or donor sperm can significantly improve embryo quality and increase your chances of successful implantation. This path is particularly valuable if:

Egg or sperm quality has been identified as a limiting factor in previous cycles
You're over 40 and want to optimize your chances with younger, high-quality gametes
Genetic testing has revealed concerns that donor gametes could address
You want to create several high-quality embryos before beginning surrogacy

Donor gametes often result in higher-grade embryos with better implantation rates, potentially making your surrogacy journey more efficient even if it requires an additional step upfront.

Remember that having fewer embryos doesn't disqualify you from surrogacy success – it simply means working strategically with what you have or taking steps to optimize your embryo bank before beginning the matching process.

How Many Embryos for a Surrogacy Transfer?

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends transferring a single embryo at a time. This minimizes the risk of multiple pregnancies, which can complicate the surrogate’s health and increase the costs associated with the pregnancy.

Transferring one embryo at a time reduces the likelihood of complications for both the surrogate and the baby. While transferring multiple embryos might seem appealing because it could increase the chance of implantation, it also brings higher risks and additional considerations for the surrogate’s health.

A single embryo transfer is generally safer and can still be highly successful, especially when using PGT-A testing to select the best-quality embryo. Transferring one high-quality embryo to highly qualified surrogate may prove to be more effective than trying IVF on your own.

If you only want to transfer multiple embryos, you should discuss this option with your fertility clinic and surrogacy specialist. They can provide insights into your specific situation and help you decide the best course of action based on the quantity and quality of your embryos.

Moving Forward With Gestational Surrogacy

Every surrogacy journey is unique, and having expert guidance ensures that you’re making informed decisions that align with your goals and circumstances. For more information, contact us online or call 1-800-875-BABY. One of our knowledgeable surrogacy specialists can provide personalized guidance based on your number of embryos.