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Running head: HAWAII SURROGACY

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Hawaii Surrogacy
Elizabeth Nartatez
Kapiolani Community College
N320
Professor Aganon

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HAWAII SURROGACY

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Surrogacy

In the United States, women ages 15-44 have infertility problems. According to
the CDC, 2013, 6% of married women are unable to get pregnant even with unprotected
sex for a whole year. 11% will have some infertility problems. This is where surrogacy
is able to assist in helping couples become parents.
There are different types of surrogacy. There is traditional and gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy is using the surrogates eggs and fertilizing it with the fathers sperm via intrauterine insemination. In traditional surrogacy, the biological mother
is also the surrogate. This is done when the intended mothers egg is not viable. As for
the gestational surrogacy, only the intended mothers egg or donors egg is used with the
fertilization of the intended fathers sperm. Once the fertilized egg becomes an embryo,
it is then transferred into the surrogates uterus and pregnancy occurs.
Becoming a Parent
Hawaii surrogacy is a small company that assist in couples who are trying to have
a baby through surrogacy. According to (L. North, personal communication, February
24, 2015), there are no criteria to become an intended parent(s). Couples also dont need
to be of different sex, meaning same sex partners are welcomed. With that being said,
single parents are also able to become an intended parent. As for surrogates, there is a
criteria to become eligible. Hawaii surrogacy has no office but she (personal communication) will meet you where you are comfortable. Sometimes it can be in a doctors office. Hawaii surrogacy will only deal with gestational surrogacy. According to (personal

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communication), they have helped many clients including couples from the mainland.
However, majority of surrogates are from Oahu and other islands because the intended
parents want to be more involved with appointments. Hawaii surrogacy will not deal
with international surrogacy because it is too complicating.
Process
The process takes about 12-15 months that consists of 10 steps. The first step is
consultation and screening. The agency will have the surrogate fill out an application and
determine if she is eligible. Some of the criteria are, age is 23-38, must have given birth
to a healthy child before, height-weight proportionate, emotionally and financially stable
and be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. When the application is reviewed and
approved, it will then go to the second step, which is creating a profile based on your information. Once a profile has been made, they proceed to step 3, which is allowing the
intended parents to see your profile. If the intended parents decides they want you as a
surrogate mother, they will set up a meeting or a phone conference.
Step 4 consist of creating a contract between both parties. A lawyer will be
present to review the contract. The next step is for the surrogate to undergo additional
screening to ensure that she is psychologically and medically capable of carrying a baby.
The surrogate mother will also be tested for any infectious disease and undergo a mock
cycle. This is having the surrogate mother take the same drug that will be used during the
transfer process.

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Step 6 is when the surrogate mother is compensated by having an escrow account.
Hawaii Surrogacy works with an escrow agency to make sure that surrogate will be
receiving her monthly compensation. Medical protocols are established in step 7.
Hawaii surrogacy works with Pacific invtro and they will assist with in vitro fertilization
(IVF). As mentioned earlier, Hawaii Surrogacy will only be providing gestational surrogacy meaning the the surrogate has no biological relationship to the child (personal
communication). Close monitoring of the surrogate mothers cycle is essential. As well
as injecting hormonal to help with uterine lining.
Step 8 is pregnancy. Hopefully the transfer is successful and the surrogate mother
becomes pregnant. Surrogates are to co to clinic for blood test to check HCG levels. An
ultrasound will also be done 4-6 weeks and this is when the surrogate will be transferred
to an obstetrician for further care. According to Attain Fertility, 2015, 90% of surrogates
get pregnant after the 2nd or 3rd try.
Step 9 is usually happens on the 6th month of pregnancy and this includes finalizing paperworks with an attorney. Parental rights are discussed and as soon as the baby is
born, the attorney will send the paperwork to the Hawaii State court so that intended parents may put their names on the birth certificate. This process according to (personal
communication) takes months to process.
Step 10 is the final step which is giving birth. After birth, a representative from
the agency will ensure that the surrogate mother is taken care. All legal documents and
insurance will also be handled by the agency. This

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Conclusion
Surrogacy may be an option for couples wanting to have a baby (newborn). The
good thing with this program is that intended parents will still be able to use their egg/
sperm to create an embryo. Majority of clients and surrogates are also from Hawaii so
that they are all able to go to doctors appointment together. The problem with this is the
cost and time. The process as mentioned takes about 12-15 months on average. This can
can be a difficult time for intended parents because it is not definitive that they will become intended parents until the baby is born. It may take a couple times before a surrogate mother can become pregnant and actually give birth. Then theres the cost. It is not
cheap to do the process. Cost can reach at least $100,00.00 because intended parents will
be paying for all the expenses such as but not limited to surrogate compensation, medical
bills, legal fees, and agency fee. But having a baby outweighs the cost because of the
process. Babies are priceless.

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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Reproductive health. Retrieved
from:http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/
Hawaii Surrogacy. (no date). Retrieved from: http://www.hawaiisurrogacy.com.
IntegraMed America, Inc. (2015). Attain fertility: plan for success. Retrieved from: http://
attainfertility.com/topic/treatments-options-surrogacy-success-rates
Modern family surrogacy center. (no date). Retrieved from: http://
www.modernfamilysurrogacy.com/page/different_types_of_surrogacy