Surrogacy glossary
Common terms and definitions used in surrogacy.
- Agency
- An organization that matches intended parents with surrogates and coordinates the process, including case management, legal referrals, and escrow.
- Amparo
- A Mexican constitutional remedy sometimes used by foreign or LGBTQ+ intended parents to secure parentage in surrogacy cases where no federal law exists.
- Compensatory surrogacy
- Surrogacy in which the surrogate receives payment beyond expenses. Contrast with altruistic surrogacy.
- Escrow
- A third-party account that holds and disburses surrogate compensation and expenses according to the surrogacy agreement.
- Gestational surrogacy
- The surrogate carries an embryo created with egg and sperm from others (donors or intended parents). She is not genetically related to the baby.
- Intended parent (IP)
- The person or couple who will be the legal parent(s) of the child born via surrogacy.
- Independent path
- Matching directly with a surrogate without an agency; IPs handle coordination, legal, and escrow themselves or with individual professionals.
- Pre-birth order
- A court order issued before birth naming the intended parent(s) on the birth certificate, available in many surrogacy-friendly US states.
- Employer fertility benefits
- Coverage through your employer for IVF, egg retrieval, embryo transfers, and sometimes surrogacy-related care. Common providers include Progyny, Carrot Fertility, WIN Fertility, Kindbody, and Maven. Check your benefits to see what's covered.
- Progyny
- One of the largest employer fertility benefits providers. Covers IVF, egg retrieval, and transfers at in-network US clinics. Often used by Fortune 500 employers.
- Surrogate compensation
- Payment to the surrogate for carrying the pregnancy, typically in addition to reimbursed expenses. Ranges vary by state and country.
- Traditional surrogacy
- The surrogate provides her own egg and is genetically related to the child. Less common and legally complex in many jurisdictions.
- Transfer
- Procedure to place an embryo into the surrogate's uterus. Multiple transfers may be needed for a successful pregnancy.
Keep reading
Surrogacy FAQQuick answers on costs, process, legal questions, and international options.Process timelineEvery stage from research to delivery, with typical timing for each.How escrow actually worksFunding, reimbursements, approvals, and statements—the money side, month to month.Cost calculatorGet a personalized estimate of your total journey cost in about 60 seconds.