Surrogacy is an arrangement whereby a woman agrees to become pregnant for the purpose of gestating and giving birth to a child for others to raise. This process can be done through gestational surrogacy or traditional surrogacy.

Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction. In many cases it is the only available option for a couple who wish to have a child.

Gestational Surrogacy (In Vitro Fertilization) – In this option, the recipient family creates embryos that are transferred to surrogate mother. The surrogate mother then gestates the child but maintain no generic link. The eggs can be provided by either the recipient mother or by the egg donor. The surrogate becomes pregnant by transfer of some of the embryos into her uterus on the third or fifth day after the eggs are harvested and fertilized. The surrogate mother makes no genetic contribution to the creation of the child. With many infertility physicians, the eggs can be fertilized by injecting a single sperm into each egg if the intended father's sperm count or quality is poor, and donor sperm may be utilized if necessary. The embryos not used in the first transfer are then frozen for potential later use by the intended parents.

Traditional Surrogacy
Traditional surrogacy is the process by which a woman - not the intended mother of the child - becomes pregnant with the sperm of the intended father through artificial insemination. The insemination is performed at the time of the surrogate's natural ovulation. In some instances, a physician may prescribe an oral medication to the surrogate to ensure that ovulation occurs.

Egg Donation / Donor Egg / Gestational Surrogacy
Arrangement between the intended parents of the child and a woman who agrees to carry the embryo(s) made from the egg(s) of a third party donor (who is often anonymous) and sperm of the intended father. The surrogate carries the embryo/fetus to term as a "host" uterus since there is no biological tie between the surrogate and the embryo/fetus. In this form of surrogacy, the surrogate may also be called the "gestational carrier".