Gestational Surrogacy in San Diego
Gestational carriers, also known as surrogates, play a crucial role in helping individuals and couples, especially those who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves, realize their dream of becoming parents.
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If pregnancy is not medically safe for you, if you have a uterine factor diagnosis, or if you’re building your family with embryos you already have, gestational surrogacy can give you a structured way forward.
At Southern California Fertility Center (SCFC) in La Jolla, Dr. Nastaran Foyouzi (one of the few triple board-certified obstetricians in the United States) oversees each case with a clear medical plan and realistic expectations. If you’re looking for gestational surrogacy in San Diego or the broader county area, she can help you move forward with confidence.
What is Gestational Surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy means a gestational carrier becomes pregnant with an embryo created through IVF, so the carrier is not genetically related to the baby.
Gestational surrogacy can be a complex, challenging process, and you may be looking for a way to make it simpler and more approachable. What helps? A team that keeps every step organized, communicates clearly, and treats the carrier and intended parents with respect.
Who May Consider Gestational Carrier Services in San Diego?
You may consider gestational carrier services if:
- A medical condition makes pregnancy unsafe, or you’ve had serious pregnancy complications.
- You have a uterus factor diagnosis, including a history of hysterectomy or uterine conditions that prevent carrying a pregnancy.
- You are a single male parent or part of a same sex couple and need IVF with a gestational carrier to build your family. If that fits your path, SCFC supports intended parents through comprehensive LGBTQ fertility care.
- You already have embryos and want coordinated care through transfer and early pregnancy milestones.
The Surrogate Screening Process
A strong surrogate screening process protects the carrier, the intended parents, and the future child. Clinical standards emphasize medical and psychosocial screening as part of responsible care.
In practical terms, screening typically includes:
- Medical evaluation for carriers, including health history, pregnancy history, and review for risks that could affect pregnancy.
- Infectious disease and routine lab screening aligned with current protocols.
- Psychosocial evaluation for carriers, focused on readiness, support systems, expectations, and communication.
- A real world logistics check, because stability matters, especially if the process has tight timing.
Carrier Cycle Coordination, Step by Step
If you’re comparing surrogacy services in San Diego, the real differentiator is coordination. When the clinic runs a clean process, you feel it. Here’s the typical way the process goes:
- Consultation and records review
Dr Foyouzi reviews your history, your prior cycles, and whether embryos already exist. If you’re new to SCFC, your first visit explains what the initial workup looks like and how we build a plan.
- IVF planning, if you still need embryos
If you still need to create embryos, the process starts with IVF care and a timeline that matches your medical situation and goals.
- Egg donation planning, if relevant
If your plan includes donor eggs, we coordinate that through egg donation so timing, screening, and next steps stay clear.
- Carrier readiness and cycle timing
Whether you’re working with an agency or you already know your carrier, we review medical records, confirm readiness, and align the calendar for medications, monitoring, and transfer.
- Legal clearance and contracts
Your attorney manages the surrogacy legal process, including contracts for surrogacy and any gestational carrier legal requirements that apply to your arrangement. We coordinate timing with the medical plan, while your legal team handles the legal structure.
- Transfer and early milestone support
We coordinate medications, transfer timing, and early confirmation milestones, while the carrier continues routine prenatal care with her OB team.
Legal and Ethics Basics
People ask about parental rights after surrogacy early, and they should. The legal process varies by state and by your family-building situation, so your attorney will guide you through the exact steps for your case.
One point should be clear from day one: the gestational carrier is the medical patient, and she controls consent for her medical care during embryo transfer and pregnancy. That principle is discussed directly in Fertility and Sterility ethics guidance and in this guide by American Surrogacy. Clear expectations protect everyone because they reduce pressure and prevent misunderstandings.
Surrogacy Cost and Financial Planning
Surrogacy cost varies based on your medical needs, whether IVF is required, legal work, agency involvement, and the structure of your arrangement. People also ask about gestational carrier fees, surrogacy program fees, and who pays the surrogacy expenses. We help you map a realistic budget and timeline tied to your actual plan, including insurance questions where relevant. For many patients, that starts with a review of financing and insurance, so decisions feel appropriately informed.
Support That Stays Human
Surrogacy is medical, legal, and emotional all at once. A comprehensive surrogacy team should do more than schedule appointments. You should feel informed, supported, and able to ask questions without being rushed. We believe in staying structured but not rushing the process, and that means tending to your emotional needs throughout.
California IVF Mandate (SB 729) – Important Update for Patients
Starting January 1, 2026, California Senate Bill 729 requires large group health plans (101+ employees) to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including up to 3 oocyte retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers at clinics like SC Fertility Center. This landmark legislation also includes fertility medications, monitoring, artificial insemination, and IVF procedures—covering LGBTQ+ individuals, single parents, and medically necessary egg freezing. While self-funded employer plans remain exempt, millions of Californians gain access to our 70% live birth success IVF programs. Contact our team today to verify your coverage and see how Dr. Foyouzi's personalized care maximizes your mandated benefits.
Schedule a Consultation
If you want to talk through gestational surrogacy in San Diego and your next steps, reach out to us. We’ll help you create a complete surrogacy roadmap that empathizes and aligns with your individual needs.