FAQ

Intended Parents
Surrogates
Sperm Donors
Egg Donors

Intended parents & Egg Donation

We guarantee you an embryo. If your first cycle doesn’t result in one, your legal, escrow, insurance policy, genetic counseling, and psychological exams are covered by us for a second round—at no additional agency fee.

First-time donors receive $8,000–$12,000. Compensation increases by a few thousand dollars with each subsequent donation. However, some donors ask for higher compensation rates on education or physical attributes. We do our best to keep donor compensation reasonable. There is no benefit to the agency for a donor having a high compensation rate.

It depends on your comfort level. Open donations allow for future contact, while closed donations keep identities private. Many choose semi-open, which allows for limited communication through the agency.

Your donor needs to have an AMH level of a 2.0 or above, a clean family health history, clear her psychological exam, and have a genetic mutation panel run. Consider genetics, physical traits, medical history, personality, and personal values. We help guide you through this process after meeting you, too. We want you to have exactly what you are looking for.

Yes, most donors provide childhood, family and adult photos. Access depends on donor privacy preferences, but most donors are willing to create more than one video for you answering any questions you might have for that donor. This helps you get a feel for how she moves and speaks.

No. Donors legally waive all parental rights, and contracts are in place to ensure this.

It typically takes 3–4 months from donor selection to embryo creation, depending on cycle timing and medical protocols.

Yes, we work with your chosen fertility clinic and ensure the donor completes all required screenings. Your doctor will meet your donor at her first one day trip there, and will return to the clinic on day six of medication.

Donors go through genetic testing, psychological evaluations, hormone testing, infectious disease screening, ultrasounds, and an overall health assessment at your clinic. The donor has to fall within the parameters set by the ASRM.

Yes, an attorney specializing in reproductive law ensures all contracts protect your rights and the donor’s. We provide referrals and work with the best in the field.

You’ll cover donor compensation, medical screening, medications, legal fees, and potential travel expenses if your donor is not local. Everything but the travel deposit is paid out from the agency fee we collect.

Yes. Most agencies and clinics follow ASRM guidelines, which allow donors to donate up to six times.

If a donor is disqualified, we assist you in selecting a new donor at no additional agency fee.

Sometimes, fresh cycles often yield more embryos and higher success rates, while frozen eggs provide more flexibility in timing. We can discuss which is best for you. More and more clinical research shows the success rates being very similar.

If you opt for our Guarantee Package, we cover legal, escrow, insurance, genetic counseling, and psychological exams for a second round—no further agency fees are due. We guarantee one PGT-A high grade embryo out of your cycle.

Our Summit Package features high-caliber donors who come to us through exclusive referral sources. We compensate these sources for connecting us with top-tier candidates.

Intended parents & Sperm Donation

No. Donors legally waive all parental rights, and contracts are in place to ensure this.

Yes. Most agencies and clinics follow ASRM guidelines, which allow donors to donate up to six times.

If a donor is disqualified, we assist you in selecting a new donor at no additional agency fee.

Intended parents & Surrogacy

Wait times for our Summit Surrogacy clients is guaranteed to be less than 3 months. With our Standard Surrogacy Package match times vary based on preferences and expectations and can range from 6 to 12 months.

From match to birth, the process typically takes 15–18 months. This includes legal contracts, medical screening, embryo transfer, and pregnancy.

We ensure your surrogate has or is provided a health insurance plan that covers pregnancy and delivery. We also offer backup policies for added protection.

Yes! Our Summit Surrogacy program is designed to match extremely quickly. Matches are guaranteed in under three months, although most Summit Surrogacy matches are made much faster.

At Elevate, our screening process is comprehensive and fully aligned with the highest industry standards. We follow the guidelines set by both the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the SEEDS Union of Ethics, of which we are proud members.

Here’s what our process includes:

Medical Record Collection: We obtain all past pregnancy and delivery records to ensure a history of healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies.
Environmental & Lifestyle Screening: We assess factors like financial stability, support systems, and overall lifestyle suitability for surrogacy.
Monthly Support Meetings: First-time surrogates attend mandatory monthly meetings to deepen their understanding of the process, reinforce commitment, and fine-tune match and communication preferences.
Insurance Review & Placement: We conduct a thorough insurance review and, when needed, secure new insurance to ensure full coverage during the surrogacy journey.
Home Assessment: A professional home visit is conducted to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
Background Checks: Criminal background checks are completed for all surrogates, their spouses/partners, and any adults residing in the household.
Medical Screening: Once matched, surrogates undergo in-person evaluations and lab work with the intended parents’ fertility clinic.

We do all of this to ensure that every surrogate is emotionally, physically, and logistically prepared to carry a pregnancy for someone else—and to protect the integrity of the journey for all parties involved.

No. While having a surrogate nearby may be convenient, proximity is not required. Most intended parents work with surrogates who live in other parts of the country. It’s very common for parents to travel for the delivery and return home by plane with their newborn shortly after birth.

What matters most is finding the right match—someone who aligns with your values, communication style, and medical needs. Location is just one of many factors we consider during the matching process.

Surrogates

Becoming a surrogate involves a thorough and highly selective process. While the full screening is extensive, some of the basic eligibility requirements include:

Be between 21–40 years old

Have had at least one healthy pregnancy and delivery

Be raising your own child

Have a healthy BMI (usually under 32)

Be a non-smoker, drug-free, and living in a surrogacy-friendly state

Be able to pass medical, psychological, and criminal background screenings

Compensation typically ranges from $45,000 to $75,000+, depending on your experience and where you live. At Elevate, we recognize that surrogacy is a major commitment—and while it’s often motivated by something deeper than money, we believe your dedication should be meaningfully rewarded.

In addition to your base pay, you may receive additional compensation for:
Providing breast milk
Carrying multiples
Experiencing certain medical complications

All medical expenses, insurance costs, legal fees, and travel are fully covered by the intended parents—so your compensation goes directly to supporting you and your family.

We ensure your surrogate has or is provided a health insurance plan that covers pregnancy and delivery. We also offer backup policies for added protection.

Yes. If you’re open to surrogates already medically cleared or close to approval, we can match you in a much shorter timeframe.

We collect all medical records and ensure surrogates have had healthy pregnancies. They must be drug- and alcohol-free, and FDA labs are run during medical clearance. We also conduct home visits and criminal background checks to ensure your surrogate is fully fit to carry for you. The ASRM and Seeds ethical guidelines are extremely strict, and as a member of both organizations we follow both of those.

No. Most intended parents travel to their surrogate’s location for delivery, and nearly everyone gets on a plane home with their baby after birth.

Sperm Donors

The process includes an application, consult, medical and genetic screening, a psychological evaluation, and legal contracts before your donation. We seek donors with high education levels, clean family health history, a superb semen analysis, minimum height of 5’10, and the desire to help a family in need.

Compensation rates start at $6,000 go up from there. The increase can be significant, depending on qualifications, demand, and prior donations. Receipt of compensation is contingent on FDA clearance.

You’ll need to attend a few key appointments, including for psychological clearance and family health assessment. These first appts, however, can be completed over Zoom from the comfort of your own home as your schedule allows. The appointments to complete the semen analysis, infectious disease testing and actual deposit must occur in-person at one of our partner clinics, . One final blood draw is also required, at the completion of the FDA-required six-month quarantine period, which can typically be taken at a certified lab near your home.

Yes. This is your journey, and you can decide whether you want to remain anonymous or be open to future contact.

Donors undergo genetic testing, infectious disease screening, semen analysis, and a full medical history review.

A licensed professional ensures you fully understand the process and the emotional aspects of donation.

No. Donors sign legal contracts waiving all parental rights and responsibilities.

After your deposit, the sample is quarantined for six months, then retested before being available for intended parents.

Yes. Though at Elevate, we limit the number of families a sperm donor’s vials will go to.

The screening process typically takes 4–6 weeks, depending on lab results and evaluations.

Yes. Donors are generally between 19 and 38 years old, per industry guidelines.

Yes. Having children can actually be a positive indicator of fertility.

Yes. You’ll need to refrain from ejaculation for 2–5 days before providing your sample. Alcohol and any kind of smoking should be avoided completely.

Yes. A semen analysis will check count, motility, and morphology to ensure it meets donor standards.

While there are no strict education requirements, high-demand donors often have strong academic, athletic, or professional achievements.

If you choose an open donation, you may have future contact. Otherwise, your information remains confidential. If you’d like us to reach out to a family you donated to to inquire about whether a child resulted, we can always send that email for you.

No. A history of drug use, smoking, or excessive alcohol consumption can disqualify you.

No. All required medical and genetic testing is covered by Elevate Baby.

Apply online by clicking here and our team will review your application. If approved, you’ll be contacted by a member of our team to schedule a consultation with our program Director to assess your viability as a Donor and determine your compensation rate.

Egg Donors

Donors must be between 19–30 years old, in good health, have regular menstrual cycles, and an AMH level of at least 2.0. Additional factors like genetics, medical history, and lifestyle are also considered.

First-time donors start at $9,000 to $11,000.00, but compensation increases for each subsequent donation. High-demand donors can receive significantly more.

Yes! You can set your desired rate, and we will guide you to ensure it aligns with industry standards and intended parents’ expectations.

We cover all expenses, including medical screenings, travel (if needed), medications, legal fees, and insurance. You won’t pay anything out of pocket.

The process includes medical and genetic screening, legal contracts, hormone injections for ovarian stimulation, and a retrieval procedure performed under light sedation.

Once matched, the process typically takes 2–3 months, depending on your cycle and medical timeline.

No. Your body naturally recruits multiple eggs each cycle, and donation only retrieves those that would not have been used otherwise. Studies show no impact on long-term fertility.

Most clinics follow ASRM guidelines, allowing up to six donations in a lifetime.

Usually. If your intended parents’ clinic is not local to you, we will cover all travel costs, including flights, hotel stays, and daily allowances. Once you begin medication, you will travel to the clinic on day 5 or 6 of the medications. You will stay in a lovely hotel until retrieval day, usually on day ten of medications. You can also bring a companion. Uber and meal per diem stipends are offered to you both. We want you to be as comfortable as possible!

You’ll take self-administered hormone injections for about 9–12 days to stimulate egg production. Our team will teach you how to do this safely. Birth Control Pills (Optional – Cycle Synchronization. Used to regulate the menstrual cycle and synchronize it with the clinic’s timeline before starting stimulation medications. The medications are listed below:

Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate) – Prevents Premature Ovulation
- Suppresses natural ovulation to ensure eggs develop properly before retrieval.
Gonal-F / Follistim (FSH – Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) – Stimulates Egg Growth
- Encourages multiple follicles (which contain eggs) to grow and mature in the ovaries.
Menopur (FSH & LH – Luteinizing Hormone) – Enhances Follicle Maturation
- Helps follicles grow while improving egg quality and hormone balance.
Cetrotide / Ganirelix – Prevents Premature Ovulation
- Blocks a natural surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) to prevent early ovulation before retrieval.

The procedure is done under light sedation, so you won’t feel pain. Some donors experience mild cramping or bloating afterward, but recovery is usually quick.

Yes. The process is flexible, but you’ll need to attend monitoring appointments and be available for the retrieval day. Each cycle takes about 2-4 months.

You’ll undergo hormone level testing, genetic screening, infectious disease screening, an ultrasound, and a psychological evaluation to ensure you’re a good candidate.

Yes, but certain methods like the Depo shot or implants may require removal before starting the process. Birth control pills and IUDs are usually fine.

Yes! You can choose to remain anonymous, have limited contact, or have an open donation—whatever feels right for you.

Once you pass screening, intended parents will review your profile. If they choose you, we’ll coordinate the process and finalize legal agreements.

Your eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab to create embryos, which are then transferred to the intended mother or a surrogate. There are never “left over eggs”, they are usually all fertilized. The attrition rate is around 60%, so we are hopefully that each intended parent ends up with a few embryos after fertilizing the entire egg yield.

No. We provide a donation-specific insurance policy that covers you during the process.

No. Smoking, vaping, or marijuana use (even occasionally) will disqualify you due to its effects on egg quality. Any drug usage is unacceptable for egg donors.

Most donors find the process and injections to be quite easy. A nurse coordinator on our staff of the clinical staff will teach you how to do each injection safely. Most donors only need the injections for 9-11 days.

Apply online, and our team will review your application. If approved, you’ll move forward with screening and matching with intended parents.