Preliminary experience with in vitro fertilization-surrogate gestational pregnancy

This report documents the medical details and 3-year follow-up evaluation of the infertile and surrogate couples involved in the first successful in vitro fertilization gestational surrogate pregnancy and summarizes clinical experience and outcome of all patients treated to date. Results of the first 28 couples treated are presented. The pregnancy rate for 39cycles reaching attempts at oocyte retrieval is 18%. The procedural aspects, ethical issues, legal issues, and subsequent program development are summarized. Recommendations are made for consideration by other infertility providers as they move toward development of a similar program. There are numerous potential pitfalls and traps for the unwary, but our experience has thus far been gratifyingly positive, and we endorse the further provision, observation, and documentation of this controversial approach to the care of the infertile couple.