tep by Step Surrogacy at Tbilisi Georgia IVF Hospital

Step by Step Surrogacy at Tbilisi Georgia IVF Hospital

Surrogacy can feel overwhelming when you look at it as one big process. Broken into clear stages, it becomes much easier to understand and plan for. At our Tbilisi Georgia IVF clinic, center, and hospital, we guide intended parents through each stage with medical, legal, and practical support, so you always know what is happening now and what comes next.

Before You Begin: Understanding Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy means an embryo created from the intended parents' or donors' eggs and sperm is transferred into the uterus of a surrogate, who carries the pregnancy but is not genetically related to the child. Georgia has regulated surrogacy for many years, and its legal framework recognizes the intended parents as the legal parents from birth when the process is properly documented. Rules on who can access surrogacy, and how parentage is recognized in your home country, can differ and can change, so early legal advice is always worthwhile.

Step 1: Initial Consultation

Everything starts with a conversation. You share your medical history, the reason surrogacy is being considered, and your goals for the future. Our specialists review previous test results and explain whether surrogacy is medically appropriate, what your options are, and what the overall timeline looks like. This first meeting can take place online, which is convenient for patients abroad.

Step 2: Medical Evaluation and Eligibility

Next, the medical team confirms the medical basis for surrogacy, such as absence of a uterus, uterine conditions, or health risks that make pregnancy unsafe. Both partners may need hormone tests, infection screening, and a semen analysis. If donor eggs or donor sperm are needed, this is also discussed at this stage. Our team also explains the legal eligibility conditions in Georgia, so there are no surprises later.

Step 3: Creating the Embryos

Embryos are created through an IVF cycle. If the intended mother is providing eggs, she completes ovarian stimulation over roughly 8 to 12 days, followed by egg retrieval. If donor eggs are used, the donor completes this stage instead. The eggs are fertilized in our laboratory, often using ICSI, and embryos are grown to the blastocyst stage. Genetic testing of embryos can be added when medically appropriate, and suitable embryos are frozen through vitrification until the surrogate is ready. Patients who already have frozen embryos from another clinic can often bring them to Georgia, subject to the correct documentation.

Step 4: Choosing and Screening the Surrogate

A surrogate is matched with the intended parents through a careful selection process. She undergoes medical evaluation, infection screening, a review of previous pregnancies, and psychological assessment. Her informed and voluntary consent is confirmed, and her wellbeing during pregnancy is part of the program. Intended parents are given information about the surrogate that is appropriate under the agreed terms.

Step 5: The Surrogacy Agreement

A written agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved, including compensation, medical care, insurance, and what happens if complications arise. The agreement is prepared with legal advisors and notarized as required by Georgian law. Take your time with this stage, ask questions, and consider getting independent legal advice in your own country as well.

Step 6: Preparing for Embryo Transfer

The surrogate's uterine lining is prepared with a hormone protocol and checked by ultrasound. When conditions are right, the medical team sets the transfer date. If you plan to travel, you receive clear guidance on whether your presence is needed for the transfer or whether it can go ahead without you.

Step 7: Embryo Transfer and Pregnancy Test

A thawed embryo is placed into the surrogate's uterus in a brief, comfortable procedure. About 9 to 12 days later, a blood test shows whether pregnancy has begun. If the first transfer is unsuccessful, your specialist reviews what happened and explains options for another attempt. Many families need more than one transfer, and it helps to plan with that possibility in mind.

Step 8: Pregnancy Monitoring

Once pregnancy is confirmed, the surrogate receives regular prenatal care, including ultrasound scans and blood tests. Our coordinators keep intended parents informed through updates, and communication follows the terms of the agreement. Many parents choose to travel to Georgia for key milestones, while others stay in contact remotely.

Step 9: Birth and Registration

As the due date approaches, the hospital and coordinators prepare for delivery. After birth, the required documents, such as the birth notification and the notarized agreement, are submitted to the authorities, and the birth certificate is issued with the intended parents recorded as the legal parents. Processing times vary, so planning some flexibility around your stay is sensible.

Step 10: Travel Documents and Going Home

The final stage is arranging your child's passport or travel documents through your embassy and completing any citizenship steps required by your home country. This part depends heavily on national rules, so we recommend contacting your embassy or a specialist lawyer early, ideally before treatment begins.

Costs, Timelines, and Realistic Expectations

Surrogacy involves several cost components, including IVF treatment, surrogate compensation, medical care, legal work, and travel. We provide an itemized written estimate so you can compare what is included and what is not. From the first consultation to bringing your baby home, the process commonly takes well over a year, and no clinic can guarantee a pregnancy. Our specialists give honest guidance based on your situation.

Why Families Choose Our Tbilisi Team

As a full service IVF clinic, center, and hospital in Tbilisi, we bring medical, laboratory, and coordination teams together, with a dedicated international patient team to help with scheduling, travel, and communication in your language.

If you would like to understand how these steps apply to your family, contact our team in Tbilisi, Georgia to arrange a consultation.