Surrogacy Success Rates: What to Expect

What intended parents should know about surrogacy outcomes

If you’re an intended parent considering gestational surrogacy, you’re likely asking one of the most important questions: What are the chances this will work? The reassuring news is that gestational surrogacy has high success rates. Especially when the process involves experienced clinics, healthy surrogates, and quality embryos, there is a high probability of surrogacy success!

What the Science Says

According to national data from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the CDC, the average live birth rate per embryo transfer through gestational surrogacy is encouraging:

  • If you’re using your own eggs:

    • Under age 35: ~53% live birth rate

    • Over age 42: drops to ~18%

  • If you’re using donor eggs:

    • Success rates typically range from 60–75% per transfer

These numbers reflect thousands of IVF cycles across the U.S., giving intended parents a solid data-backed outlook. Once your surrogate is pregnant, there’s even more reason to feel optimistic. Over 95% of surrogacy pregnancies go on to result in a live birth, making this part of the journey one of the most reliable.

What If It Doesn’t Work the First Time?

Many intended parents don’t achieve success on the first embryo transfer, and that’s completely normal. The good news is that over the course of 2–3 transfers, the cumulative success rate can rise to 75–90%, depending on the embryo quality and whether donor eggs are used.

Here are the key factors that can make a meaningful difference in your journey:

  • Using donor eggs, especially from women under 35

  • Genetic testing (PGT-A) of embryos before transfer

  • Choosing a clinic with strong success rates and a personalized approach

Becoming a Parent Through Surrogacy

For intended parents, gestational surrogacy is one of the most effective and reliable paths to parenthood. With the right combination of embryo quality, medical support, and surrogate care, the chances of bringing home a baby are high, often within just a couple of cycles.

Ready to take the next step? Fill out the form below to learn about the process, ask questions, and begin building a plan that fits your goals. The journey starts with one informed conversation, and your path to parenthood could be closer than you think.

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