A Comprehensive Guide to Surrogacy and Egg Donation Terminology

A Complete Overview of Reproductive Medicine Terminology for Intended Parents

Understanding Key Reproductive Medicine Terms

When beginning your assisted reproduction journey, you may encounter a wide range of medical terms and abbreviations. IVF, ICSI, PGT A, PGT M and others directly influence your treatment options and can impact the health of your future child.

As a leading international fertility and surrogacy agency, ACRC Global provides transparent, professional, and family centered services for Intended Parents, Surrogates, Egg Donors, and Sperm Donors around the world. This guide helps you understand essential terminology so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Why Knowing These Terms Matters

A strong understanding of reproductive terminology helps you:

• Communicate clearly with doctors, lawyers, and fertility centers

• Understand medical recommendations, legal documentation, and financial planning

• Avoid miscommunication that could lead to delays or unexpected costs

ACRC Surrogacy supports families at every step with a dedicated team that ensures you feel informed and confident throughout your fertility journey.

II. Key Terms in Assisted Reproduction

1. Essential IVF and Fertility Treatment Terminology

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

IVF involves combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory to create an embryo before transferring it into the uterus. It is one of the most successful and commonly used fertility treatments worldwide.

ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)

ICSI is a specialized IVF technique used for male factor infertility. A single sperm is injected directly into the egg, improving the chances of fertilization for patients with low sperm count, poor motility, or azoospermia.

PGT A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy)

PGT A screens embryos for abnormal chromosome numbers. It reduces the risk of miscarriage, increases the chance of implantation, and helps identify the healthiest embryos for transfer.

PGT M (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Diseases)

PGT M identifies whether embryos carry genetic conditions such as cystic fibrosis or thalassemia. It is particularly valuable for families with known hereditary diseases.

FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer)

FET involves thawing and transferring previously frozen embryos into the uterus. With modern vitrification technology, frozen transfers now offer success rates comparable to or even higher than fresh transfers.

Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)

POF refers to significantly decreased ovarian function before age 40. Intended Parents with POF may experience irregular periods, low egg quantity and quality, and often need to plan fertility treatment sooner. Egg donation or egg bank options are commonly recommended.

Intended Parents (IP)

Intended Parents are individuals or couples who build their families through IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, or surrogacy. In the United States, legal parentage is established through a Pre Birth Order or Post Birth Order.

2. Egg Donation and Egg Bank Options

Egg donation is an excellent option for families experiencing low egg quality, premature ovarian failure, or hereditary conditions.

Fresh Egg Donation

Advantages

• All eggs retrieved in the donor’s cycle belong to the Intended Parents

• Higher embryo quality and greater number of embryos

• Ideal for planning multiple children

• No freeze thaw process

Disadvantages

• Requires cycle synchronization

• Slight risk of cycle cancellation

Frozen Egg Donation

Advantages

• Ready for immediate use

• No scheduling or cancellation concerns

• More flexibility for Intended Parents

Disadvantages

• Fewer eggs available

• Slightly lower survival and fertilization rates

ACRC Recommendation

Fresh egg donation is generally preferred for families seeking the highest success rates and more long term family building potential.

ACRC Global Egg Bank

Our egg bank features a diverse group of donors from a wide variety of backgrounds. Profiles include photos, education, health history, personal interests, and more. Many donors come from top universities and offer strong academic and genetic qualities.

Browse the ACRC Egg Donor Database

3. Sperm Donation and Sperm Bank Options

Sperm donation is ideal for men with azoospermia, single women, and same sex couples.

Fresh Sperm Donation

Advantages

• Donor adult photos, lifestyle photos, and short videos

• Option for video communication with donors

• Larger pool of high quality donors

Disadvantages

• Higher cost

• Typically requires one to two months

• Must be completed under the donor’s real name due to FDA regulations

Frozen Sperm Donation

Advantages

• Wide selection

• Immediate availability

• Cost effective

Disadvantages

• Usually limited to childhood photos

• Smaller pool of premium donors

ACRC Global Sperm Bank

Our sperm bank offers detailed profiles, including education, family background, childhood photos, and personality information to help you find the best donor match.

Browse the ACRC Sperm Donor Database

4. Important Surrogacy Terminology

Gestational Surrogacy

A Gestational Surrogate carries a baby conceived through IVF using the eggs and sperm of the Intended Parents or donors. The Surrogate shares no genetic link with the child.

Legal Parentage

Parentage in surrogacy is established through legal documents including:

• Pre Birth Order

• Post Birth Order

These ensure that the Intended Parents are recognized as the sole legal parents of the child.

ACRC Legal Support

We collaborate with experienced surrogacy attorneys to help Intended Parents secure parentage and fully understand all legal steps involved.

III. Special Considerations for International Families

ACRC Global works with Intended Parents from around the world and provides:

• Clear donor and Surrogate profile information

• Personalized Surrogate care planning

• Access to partner IVF clinic benefits with savings up to 4000 USD

• A dedicated team that guides you through medical, legal, and emotional support

  
  

ACRC Recommendation

Every family’s needs are different. Our team provides personalized consultations to help you choose the best options.

IV. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is fresh egg donation better than frozen egg donation

Fresh egg donation often provides higher success rates because eggs are used immediately, typically come in larger quantities, and avoid the freeze thaw process. Frozen eggs are convenient and ready for immediate use but usually come in smaller batches with slightly lower survival and fertilization rates. Fresh cycles are ideal for families hoping to plan for multiple children.

Q2. How do we find the right donor

Choosing the right donor depends on your preferences, such as appearance, ethnicity, education, personality traits, medical history, and genetic background. ACRC Global provides comprehensive donor profiles that include photos, family history, lifestyle details, academic background, health screening results, and personal characteristics. Your case manager will help you navigate available profiles and recommend suitable matches based on your needs.

Q3. What legal documents are required for surrogacy

In the United States, Intended Parents must establish legal parentage through documents that typically include:

• Gestational Surrogacy Agreement

• Pre Birth Order

• Post Birth Order

These documents clarify parental rights, outline responsibilities, and protect all parties involved. Requirements vary by state, and ACRC Global connects Intended Parents with experienced surrogacy attorneys to complete all necessary legal steps.

Q4. What is the difference between PGT A and PGT M

• PGT A (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy) checks embryos for abnormal chromosome numbers. It improves implantation rates and lowers the risk of miscarriage.

• PGT M (Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Diseases) screens embryos for specific inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis, SMA, or thalassemia. It is used when one or both parents carry known genetic conditions.

In simple terms, PGT A checks chromosomes while PGT M screens for specific genetic diseases.

Q5. What is the success rate of frozen embryo transfers

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) success rates are now equal to or higher than fresh transfers thanks to modern vitrification technology. Many US fertility clinics report 50 to 70 percent success rates per transfer for high quality embryos. Actual results depend on embryo grade, uterine receptivity, age, and overall health.

V. Trusted Resources

Explore these reliable and evidence based resources for additional education and support. All sources come from medical authorities, US government agencies, and ACRC Global.

IVF and Embryo Transfer

• CDC Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rates: https://www.cdc.gov/art

• SART Fertility Clinic Outcome Statistics: https://www.sart.org

• ASRM IVF and Embryo Freezing Guidance: https://www.asrm.org

Egg and Sperm Donation

• FDA Donor Eligibility Requirements: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics

• ASRM Donor Screening Recommendations: https://www.asrm.org

• ACRC Global Egg Donor and Sperm Donor Programs

Genetic Testing and PGT

• ACOG Genetic Testing Guidance: https://www.acog.org

• ASRM Preimplantation Genetic Testing Overview: https://www.asrm.org

Surrogacy and Legal Parentage

• American Bar Association Family Law Resources: https://www.americanbar.org

• State Court Parentage Information (varies by state)

• ACRC Global Surrogacy Legal Support