Are you looking for information about surrogacy? Surrogacy has come a long way since the first successful gestational surrogacy in 1985. Since then, the US and Canada have become two of the safest countries to complete a surrogacy journey, but there may be some things that you are not aware of. If you are new to the topic, start by learning what surrogacy means and how it works. For instance, did you know that some places in the US do not allow surrogacy? Or did you know that the oldest surrogate on record was 67 years old?
Let’s explore twelve interesting surrogacy statistics and rare facts to test your knowledge.
Table of Contents
Surrogacy Is Not Legal in All 50 States of the US
Even though the US and Canada are, overall, two of the most surrogacy-friendly countries in the world, surrogacy laws are handled differently depending on the state or province.
In the US, there is no federal surrogacy law, so each state is required to have its own surrogacy laws. This means that each state has designed its own process for commercial and altruistic surrogacy. The situations range from no regulation to surrogacy-friendly regulations. The most surrogacy-friendly state is California due to its regulations for legal, safe journeys. In contrast, Michigan nullifies surrogacy contracts and is considered the least surrogacy-friendly state in the US. Other states fall somewhere in between California and Michigan.
On the other hand, in Canada, commercial surrogacy is not allowed, but altruistic journeys are permitted — except in Quebec, where surrogacy is not permitted at all.
Surrogacy Regulations Are Not Static
What better example of changing regulations than the state of New York, where surrogacy contracts were nullified between 1986 and 2020? More recently, however, the state has become more surrogacy-friendly.
In 1986, the case of Baby M. made headlines. The traditional surrogate did not want to give up “her” baby, even though she had agreed to do so. After this case, the State of New York’s legal system set out to criminalize the process, and its courts deemed all surrogacy contracts illegal. Three decades later, in April of 2020, New York began allowing surrogacy contracts again.
Blastocysts Have a Higher Success Rate than Day-Three Embryo Transfers
On day five after fertilization, the embryo is referred to as a blastocyst. Blastocysts are more developed than day-three embryos and have already begun significant cell division. Doctors can confirm not only that fertilization has occurred, but that early development is proceeding well. Research consistently shows that day-five blastocyst transfers are associated with higher implantation rates than day-three embryo transfers, though the exact difference varies across studies and individual patient circumstances.[1]
Most Women Have Around a 50% Chance of Successfully Conceiving with IVF
According to CDC data, women under 35 using their own eggs have approximately a 50% chance of a live birth per retrieval cycle with IVF, with some clinics reporting rates closer to 60% depending on patient profile. This percentage increases to about 75% for surrogacy processes in the US when donor eggs and a healthy gestational carrier are involved. Once the surrogate is pregnant, the success rate for a healthy birth is as high as 95%.[2]
Between 1999 and 2013, the Use of Gestational Carriers Increased from Fewer than 750 per Year to Over 3,400 in 2013
During this period, there were 13,380 surrogacy deliveries and the birth of 18,400 infants. The CDC noted that gestational carrier cycles went from around 1% to 2.5% of all assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.[3] This increase may seem small, but it is significant considering that these transfers account for so few ART cycles statistically.
More than 15% of Gestational Carrier Cycles in the United States Are for Foreign Parents
The US has made surrogacy legal in most states, with the federal government leaving the regulation up to each state. The good news is that because it is not federally regulated, parents can find a state with the rules that meet their needs to complete their surrogacy journey. The challenge is that it can be confusing to navigate what is permitted and where.[4]
Surrogacy Is Not Exclusively a Gay Practice
Contrary to popular belief, surrogacy is not exclusively pursued by gay couples. The Center for Surrogate Parenting shared that only 31% of the intended parents who have used its services are gay.[5]
One Surrogate Has Had 13 Surrogacy Babies
One of the most prolific surrogate mothers in the world is Carole Horlock of Britain, who holds the Guinness World Record for the most babies born to a surrogate mother. As of October 2019, Carole — at age 52 — had carried 13 surrogate babies for 8 families, including a set of twins and a set of triplets.
The Oldest Surrogate on Record Was 67 Years Old
While the average age for a surrogate is 28,[6] and most surrogates are under 35, Anastasia Ontou gave birth to her own grandchild in 2016 at the age of 67, making her the oldest recorded surrogate.[7]
10. There Are More than 400 Surrogacy Agreements Annually in Canada
While there are no official Canadian statistics on surrogacy, it is estimated that surrogacy has increased by more than 400% over the last decade,[8] resulting in over 400 altruistic journeys per year.[9]
The Cost of a Surrogacy Journey in the US Can Reach $200,000
Every surrogacy journey is different. In Canada, costs typically range from $60,000 to $80,000. In the US, the total cost of surrogacy generally ranges from $100,000 to $200,000 — and can exceed that figure depending on medical needs, the surrogate’s location, insurance requirements, and other individual circumstances.[10]
The Average Length of a Surrogacy Process Is 18 Months
Every journey is unique, but in general, a surrogacy process in the US takes approximately 15 to 18 months to complete.[11]
Final Thoughts
There are many more statistics available on surrogacy. However, much of the data currently available is not separated from other assisted reproductive technology (ART) processes. For instance, IVF procedure statistics are maintained, but whether the journey involved a surrogate or was carried out entirely by the biological couple is not always noted. Still, as surrogacy continues to grow, more complete statistics are likely to become available in the coming years.
With surrogacy becoming more prevalent, more studies and research are sure to follow — this is evident from the rapid expansion of technology over the last 40 years. Fifty or sixty years ago, gestational surrogacy was not even a possibility. Now it is not only a possibility, but also accessible to many families. What was once available only to the most privileged is now becoming a reality for middle-class couples. Insurance, medical facilities, and overall costs are becoming more accommodating to couples seeking another avenue to parenthood. Adoption and foster parenting remain valid paths, but the expansion of surrogacy has opened a new opportunity that was previously unattainable.
FAQ: Surrogacy Statistics & Facts
Is surrogacy legal in all US states?
No. Surrogacy laws vary by state. California is very surrogacy-friendly, while Michigan nullifies surrogacy contracts. Other states fall somewhere in between.
Can surrogacy regulations change over time?
Yes. For example, New York banned surrogacy contracts after the Baby M case in 1986, but legalized them again in 2020.
Are blastocyst transfers more successful than day-three embryo transfers?
Generally, yes. Day-five blastocyst transfers are associated with higher implantation rates than day-three transfers, though results can vary depending on the patient’s individual circumstances and the fertility clinic’s protocols.
What is the chance of conceiving through surrogacy?
Women under 35 have approximately a 50% chance of a live birth per IVF cycle using their own eggs, with some clinics reporting up to 60%. Surrogacy success rates are higher — around 75% — when donor eggs and a healthy surrogate are involved, with up to a 95% chance of a healthy birth once pregnancy is confirmed.
How many surrogacy agreements occur in Canada annually?
It is estimated that over 400 altruistic surrogacy journeys occur each year in Canada.
Can surrogates be older women?
Yes, though surrogates are typically under 35. The oldest known surrogate was 67 years old — Anastasia Ontou, who gave birth to her own grandchild in 2016.
References
- Day-3 vs. Day-5 fresh embryo transfer — PMC / NIH
- Understanding Gestational Surrogacy Success Rates — ConceiveAbilities
- ART and Gestational Carriers — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- ART and Gestational Carriers — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Center for Surrogate Parenting
- Who Becomes a Surrogate? — Surrogate.com
- Most Babies Born to a Surrogate Mother — Guinness World Records
- Surrogacy in Canada Has Increased 400% in 10 Years — CBC
- Surrogacy in Canada — SurrogateCanada.com
- Surrogacy Cost Breakdown — Circle Surrogacy
- How Long Does the Surrogacy Process Take? — Family Tree Surrogacy