Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy is when an embryo created via IVF — using your eggs or donor eggs and your sperm or donor sperm — is transferred into a surrogate (gestational carrier) who carries the pregnancy for you.

Who Might Consider This Path?

You may explore gestational surrogacy if:

Women with a previous hysterectomy
Medical conditions that make being pregnant too risky.

In your consultation, we’ll review your full medical and fertility profile — own eggs/sperm or donor, uterine evaluation, surrogacy agency options — and help you decide if this is the right strategy for you.

Our Approach at Bay IVF — Personalized, Transparent, Honoring You

Boutique, hands-on care: You’ll work directly with Dr. Polansky and our dedicated team, not a rotating cast of providers.
Surrogate coordination: We work with proven agencies and pre-screened gestational carriers to match your values and needs.
Clear roadmap & cost clarity: We’ll explain the cycle’s timeline, your responsibilities, surrogate expenses, legal and medical steps — so you’re informed and comfortable.
Quality & outcomes focus: From IVF to transfer, we arrange each step to maximize your success while supporting your emotional journey.
You can select a surrogate from one of the many Surrogacy Agencies available. To assist you in selecting a surrogate, please refer to the Gestational Surrogacy Guidelines (PDF).

Learn More About the Gestational Surrogacy Process

What the Gestational Surrogacy Process Looks Like

Ovarian stimulation (Intended Mother or Egg Donor)

The treatment is always individualized to maximize the probability of a successful outcome. You will receive your personalized ovarian stimulation calendar.

Egg retrieval procedure

The egg retrieval procedure is performed at our Clinic. The procedure typically takes only a few minutes, and we use conscious sedation for comfortable analgesia.

Fertilization of eggs

On average, eight to fourteen eggs are retrieved during the egg retrieval procedure. Once identified, the eggs are combined with sperm and placed in petri dishes filled with culture medium.

Culture of embryos

Evidence of fertilization can be seen the next day, approximately 16 hours after insemination. The fertilized eggs are then transferred into a growth medium and continue to be cultured in our laboratory.

Embryo cryopreservation

All normally developing embryos are cryopreserved (vitrified).

Embryo storage in liquid nitrogen

After cryopreservation, the embryos are transferred to a liquid nitrogen storage chamber at our Clinic. Theoretically, there is no limit on the length of storage.

Subsequent Frozen Embryo Transfer

Once you decide to use your cryopreserved embryos, one or two embryos will be thawed and transferred into the surrogate’s uterus (Frozen Embryo Transfer).

Considerations & Key Questions

Gestational surrogacy offers a powerful option but comes with important considerations:

Legal & ethical issues: Surrogate contracts, parental rights, jurisdictional/legal variations.
Cost & time: Surrogacy tends to be more complex and time-intensive than standard IVF; you’ll want a detailed cost estimate.
Emotional journey: Matching with a surrogate and navigating a non-traditional path can raise unique feelings; our team supports you throughout.
Still medically intensive: Your success still depends on embryo quality, uterine preparation, and lab performance — surrogacy helps the “carrying” factor but not all fertility factors.

Why Bay IVF Is Right for You

We are a Bay Area boutique clinic with deep surrogacy experience and individualized care.
You’ll benefit from transparent communication — we’ll explain every step in plain language and answer your questions openly.
We coordinate closely with surrogate agencies, legal professionals and support services so you have a unified team backing you.
We honor the full spectrum of families: same-sex, single parents, altruistic surrogacy, donor or own gamete options.

Take the Next Step

Your journey starts with a conversation. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Call or text us at 📞 650 322 0500 to schedule your in-person or a complimentary video consultation with Dr. Polansky.
We will discuss your family-building vision and whether gestational surrogacy aligns.
Review your fertility profile, surrogate agency partnership, and timeline.
Provide a clear roadmap with visits, legal/medical steps, cost, and next actions.

There’s no obligation — just an honest conversation about your path forward. Let’s begin together.

Bay IVF Early Pregnancy Heartbeat

Prerequisites for Gestational Surrogacy

Only a few treatment prerequisites are required before your treatment begins. They assess the egg and sperm quality and ensure that embryos can be accurately placed in the surrogate’s healthy uterus.

The probability of a successful Gestational Surrogacy treatment becomes exceedingly low by age 44. The intended mother must be 43 and 11 months or younger when the Gestational Surrogacy treatment begins. Patients who are 44 and older should strongly consider a combination of Donor Egg IVF and Gestational Surrogacy as the most effective treatment option to achieve a successful pregnancy.

To minimize discrepancies between intended parents and their future offspring in cases of Donor Egg IVF together with Gestational Surrogacy, both intended parents must be under 50 years old at the start of their treatment at Bay IVF.

This testing is required by the State of California and the FDA. You, your partner (if applicable), and the surrogate must be tested for Hepatitis B-Surface Antigen, Hepatitis C-Antibody, HIV I&II, HTLV I&II (male partner only), RPR, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

ORA assesses the likelihood of producing normal-quality eggs. It involves measuring Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), estradiol (estrogen, E2), and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood levels.

These test results are used to optimize ovarian stimulation.

The number of antral follicles (small fluid-filled sacs within the ovaries seen on ultrasound) in unstimulated ovaries is related to the quality of the eggs. Ideally, there should be approximately 20 antral follicles in both ovaries combined.

It is important to determine the length of the uterus in order to ensure the correct placement of embryos.

A saline ultrasound is utilized to rule out the presence of intrauterine polyps or fibroids.

The male partner’s semen will be evaluated at Bay IVF to determine the best laboratory method for semen preparation for egg insemination.

All prospective parents should consider genetic screening for hundreds of the most common genetic diseases. Please inform us during your initial appointment at Bay IVF if you would like to have your blood sample sent for genetic screening.

Environmental factors have a significant impact on reproductive health. Please review the IVF Diet and Lifestyle document (PDF) for a comprehensive list of environmental reproductive health recommendations and a source for dietary supplements.

The surrogate undergoes rigorous screening and medical evaluations, ensuring her physical and mental well-being.

Meet Your Doctor

Dr. Polansky received his medical diploma from Charles University in Prague, the Czech Republic, in 1978.
After completing his OB/GYN residency at Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO, he graduated from the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship at Stanford University in 1985.
In the same year, he co-founded the Stanford IVF Clinic.
Dr. Polansky obtained board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1986 and became REI subspecialty board certified in 1988.
In 1987, he left Stanford University and established Nova IVF.
In 2011, he founded Bay IVF, where he provides advanced fertility treatments with a holistic approach, utilizing state-of-the-art techniques.
Dr. Polansky personally performs ultrasound examinations, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and ovarian and endometrial stimulations for his patients.
He is deeply committed to his patients and is always ready to lend a helping hand.

Frank Polansky, M.D.

Initial Appointment Questions

When you call to schedule your consultation, one of our Front Office Coordinators will ask you a short series of simple questions regarding your reproductive history. You will also have an opportunity to ask any financial questions.

This is Erica

She will be providing you with exceptional support throughout your treatment journey at Bay IVF.

Listen to a typical conversation between Erica and a new patient.

This is Nisha

Your invaluable resource for effortlessly managing your appointments at Bay IVF.

Your Initial Visit at Bay IVF

A new patient appointment at a fertility clinic can be stressful. Our goal is to make your initial visit as friendly and relaxing as possible. We encourage you to ask questions at every step of the process to make you feel comfortable and informed.

When You Arrive

You will be welcomed by one of the clinic’s receptionists. One of our nurses will measure your height and weight and take your blood pressure.

Meet Your Doctor

Dr. Polansky will ask you a series of clarifying questions and then provide you with a summary of the factors contributing to your infertility.

Ask Your Questions

You will then have a discussion with him about the most suitable reproductive treatment(s) for you. During this time, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Exam Room

One of the nurses will escort you to an examination room. Your examination will begin with listening to your lungs and heart.

Ultrasound of the Ovaries

The next step is a pelvic ultrasound to examine the uterus and ovaries. This ultrasound will help determine the number of antral follicles present within the ovaries.

Financial Part

After that, you will discuss the financial aspects of your treatment with one of the financial advisors, including potential financing options.

Support 24/7

If you have any questions after leaving the clinic, please feel free to reach out to us by phone, text, or email. Open and discreet communication is an integral part of the care we provide at Bay IVF.

What About Time?

Your entire visit is expected to last approximately one hour.