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Third-Party Reproduction in Tennessee

Third-party reproduction is a big decision. We help make the process easy by offering egg, sperm and embryo donation services, along with surrogacy.

Why We Recommend Third-Party Reproduction

Third-party reproduction methods, such as sperm donation, egg donation, and surrogacy, help any individual or couple experience the joys that come with childbirth. This includes individuals who cannot conceive on their own, single people and LGBTQ+ families.

  • The Benefits of Third-Party Reproduction

    The thing we love about fertility is that everyone’s journey is unique. There is no right way to become a parent. Third-party reproduction opens up a world of possibilities to aspiring parents who want to grow their families on their terms. Here are just a few of the benefits of third-party reproductive methods.

    • Ability to overcome infertility
    • Possibly can become pregnant through egg donation
    • You can be involved in the journey
    • More control and peace of mind during the process
    • Build a relationship with your surrogate mom
    • Eggs, sperm and embryos go through genetic testing

  • What is Third-Party Reproduction?

    Third-party reproduction occurs when a third party, which we refer to as a donor, provides their DNA or gestation to an individual or couple who will raise the child. The third party can either be a male who donates his sperm, a woman who donates her egg, a couple who donates their embryo or a surrogate who can serve as both the gestational carrier and egg donor.

Types of Third-Party Reproduction

There are five types of third-party reproduction: egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy.

  • 1

    Egg Donation

    Egg donation is when a woman volunteers to give her eggs to another woman in the hopes of helping her become pregnant through the IVF process. Ultimately, egg donation allows women without viable oocytes (eggs) to become pregnant, nourish the pregnancy and deliver a child of her own.

    Patients at Tennessee Fertility Institute can choose either known or anonymous egg donation. Known egg donation is when individuals or couples select a family member or friend to be their egg donor. Anonymous egg donation is when the donor is unknown to the patient or intended couple.

  • 2

    Sperm Donation

    Sperm donation is when a male voluntarily gives his sperm in the hopes of helping a woman or couple to become pregnant with IUI or IVF. Just as in egg donation, men can donate sperm anonymously or be a known donor.

    For anonymous donations, we assist patients throughout the selection process. We only recommend sperm banks that the American Association of Tissue Banks accredits. This assures that these banks meet specific minimal standards for disease screening and semen quality.

    For known donations, we follow the American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, and FDA regulations for directed sperm donation. We select only those men who pass appropriate physical, genetic and psychological screenings.

  • 3

    Embryo Donation

    Couples who successfully complete an IVF cycle can choose to donate their remaining embryos. These remaining embryos provide a unique opportunity to help other individuals or couples experience pregnancy and childbirth.

    We follow the guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology as well as FDA regulations for embryo donation. We select donated embryos from individuals and couples who pass appropriate physical, genetic and psychological screenings.

  • 4

    Gestational Surrogacy

    One of the most generous gifts a woman can give to another is to carry a baby for nine months. New advances in reproductive medicine make it possible for a woman without a healthy uterus to have her own genetic child.

    This is called gestational surrogacy, where the intended parents’ embryo is implanted in another woman’s uterus. So, while the surrogate serves as the gestational carrier for the baby, she is not biologically related to the child.

  • 5

    Traditional Surrogacy

    Traditional surrogacy occurs when the intended mother’s eggs are not viable for conception. Instead, the couple’s surrogate will be both the gestational carrier of the child and its biological mother. In this case, doctors will use intrauterine insemination to place the father’s sperm inside the surrogate’s uterus, which will then form an embryo.

  • 6

    LGBTQ+ Fertility

    At Tennessee Fertility Institute, we are proud to offer an inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQ+ community as they embark on their dreams of having a family. Our modern approach to family extends to all patients, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or marital status. Our mission is to provide unsurpassed levels of compassion and advanced fertility care to everyone.

Find Out if Third-Party Reproduction is Right for You

Fertility is personal—your care should be, too. If you’re interested in exploring your options, request a consultation with one of our fertility specialists. Let’s make a baby, together. 

Request a Consultation

  • Is Tennessee a surrogacy-friendly state?

    Although gestational surrogacy is considered legal in Tennessee, the legal process for establishing parentage in surrogacy arrangements can be somewhat complicated in certain situations. Pre-birth orders are only available in situations where at least one of the intended parents is biologically related to the child. If only one intended parent is the biological mother or father, that parent will be listed on the child’s birth certificate at the time of birth. The non-genetic parent will have to go through an adoption process after the birth in order to be legally recognized as the child’s parent.

  • How much does it cost to hire a surrogate in Tennessee?

    The cost of hiring a surrogate in Tennessee varies on a wide range of factors and can fall anywhere between $100,000 to $200,000, depending on surrogacy agency fees, surrogate expenses, legal fees, medical expenses, prenatal care, life insurance policies, and travel expenses, and other incidental expenses.

  • How does IVF with an egg donor and surrogate work?

    When working with an egg donor and a gestational surrogate, the IVF cycle is split between two individuals. The first part of IVF involves retrieving eggs from the donor. The eggs are then combined with your chosen sperm in an andrology laboratory for fertilization. After fertilization, the cells are incubated so that can develop into blastocyst embryos, which are either frozen for transfer at a later date or transferred immediately into the surrogate’s uterus. If using a fresh egg donor cycle, the egg donor and surrogate’s cycles will need to be synchronized so that the surrogate’s uterus is in the optimal state for embryo implantation. If using a frozen donor egg cycle, synchronization is not necessary.

    Although less common, some intended parents choose to work with a traditional surrogacy arrangement, which is when the surrogate is also the provider of the egg. In this scenario, the surrogate undergoes both the egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures of IVF.

  • Do donor egg babies look like their parents?

    Babies born from donor eggs will inherit their looks from their genetic mother and father, meaning they may not resemble their intended parents. When seeking an egg donor, many intended parents try to find a donor that somewhat resembles the intended mother.

  • How do I find an egg donor in Tennessee?

    Intended parents who need an egg donor can choose to work with a known or anonymous donor. Known egg donation is when the egg donor is someone known or familiar to the intended parents, such as a family member or friend. Anonymous egg donation, which is more common, is when the intended parents select a donor who is unknown to them. At Tennessee Fertility Institute, our egg donor program is constantly recruiting incredible egg donor candidates, making it easier for you to find your ideal match.