The Ukrainian surrogacy process covers everything from the initial preparation of documents to the legal formalities after the birth of the child, and each step needs to be meticulously planned and executed. Below is a detailed description of the entire surrogacy process in Ukraine, compiled by Surrogacy House, to help prospective parents understand the requirements and process of each step more clearly.

1. Preparation of documents related to surrogacy

The first step in the surrogacy process is the preparation of the necessary documents. These documents ensure the legality of the surrogacy procedure and compliance with the legal requirements of Ukraine. The prospective parents need to prepare the following three key documents:

01. Passport:This is an important document that confirms identity and is used for various legal and administrative formalities throughout the surrogacy process.

02. Marriage license with Apostille certification:The Apostille certification is an internationally recognized attestation that ensures your marital status is recognized by Ukrainian law, which is a prerequisite for prospective parents to participate in the surrogacy program.

03. Medical certificates:This document is issued by a doctor and details the circumstances in which, for medical reasons, the prospective mother is unable to conceive naturally. According to Ukrainian law, a woman who meets one of the following conditions can participate in a surrogacy program:

• Lack of a uterus or the presence of severe uterine or cervical deformities that prevent conception of the fetus.
• An incurable change in the lining of the uterus that does not support embryo implantation.
• The presence of a serious disease, the pregnancy of which may jeopardize the life of the mother-to-be, and which is not passed on to the fetus.
• Unsuccessful pregnancy after four or more in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts despite good quality embryos.

These supporting documents are usually issued by gynecologists, cardiologists, general practitioners, or other relevant specialists to ensure compliance with Ukrainian surrogacy laws.

2. Choice of surrogacy services

Depending on the health and fertility of the prospective parents, they can choose between the following two types of surrogacy services:

01. Use your own eggs for surrogacy:This method is preferred if the mother-to-be has a sufficient number and quality of eggs and the father-to-be has normal quality sperm. This option is suitable for couples who want their child to have a fully biological genetic background.

02. Surrogacy using donor eggs:This method is optimal if the mother-to-be does not have available eggs (e.g., born anovulatory or with loss of ovarian function due to menopause) or if there is a risk of genetic disorders. It is also indicated in those cases where multiple IVF attempts have failed and the ovaries do not respond well to stimulation.

3. Initial processes in Ukraine

The prospective parents stay in Ukraine for 3 days, during which a series of necessary examinations and legal formalities are carried out to start the surrogacy process. Below are the detailed steps:

01. Arrival in Ukraine

Upon arrival at the Kiev airport, prospective parents are met and organized by a team of personal coordinators, interpreters and drivers.

02. Consult your doctor and get tested

Couples will be asked to donate blood samples for a series of tests, including screening for infectious diseases such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Blood type, Rh factor and karyotype will also be determined. Women will also need to undergo hormone level testing to assess ovarian function.

03. Sperm donation

The father-to-be will donate sperm. If the sperm is of high quality, the doctor will freeze and preserve it for future use; if it is of poor quality, the doctor will recommend appropriate treatment or suggest the use of fresh semen for the next step.

04. Ovarian stimulation program

If the eggs of the mother-to-be are used, the doctor will develop an ovarian stimulation program for her. This usually begins on the 23rd day of the menstrual cycle and lasts 10 to 14 days. During this time, the woman will need to take hormonal medication under the supervision of a doctor, so she will need to travel to Ukraine again for treatment.

05. Meeting with surrogate mother

At the request of the prospective parents, it is possible to meet the surrogate mother via video, such as Skype, to get an initial idea of the surrogate mother and her lifestyle.

06. Visit to the notary and signing of the contract

In the presence of a notary public, both parties sign a legal contract specifying their rights and obligations. The contract will describe in detail the surrogacy process and its related arrangements.VittoriaVita Surrogacy Agency is responsible for organizing and coordinating the entire surrogacy process, including all necessary medical procedures (e.g., in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, gestational management, labor and delivery, and DNA testing), providing lodging and meals for the prospective parents and legal support (e.g., assistance in obtaining the child's birth certificate and escorting the child to the embassy) and translation Services.

07. Departure from Ukraine

After the initial process is completed, the prospective parents can return to their home country and wait for the next stage of treatment or eventual delivery. The next trip to Ukraine may be after egg retrieval (if using their own eggs) or during an ultrasound during the surrogate mother's pregnancy.

4. Embryo creation and transfer

After obtaining eggs and sperm, the process of embryo creation and transfer begins:

01. Embryo culture

Embryologists use ICSI technology to fertilize eggs in vitro and culture the fertilized eggs to the blastocyst stage (which usually takes 56 days). During this process, the embryos are examined microscopically and the highest quality embryos are selected for subsequent steps.

02. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is performed when the embryo is 56 days old.PGD is able to detect the presence of Down syndrome, Patau syndrome, Edward's syndrome, or other chromosomal abnormalities in an embryo with an accuracy rate of 99.71 TP3T. This test also determines the sex of the embryo and prospective parents can choose which embryo to transfer.

03. Preparation of surrogate mothers

During the 1014 days prior to embryo transfer, the surrogate mother receives hormone treatments to ensure that her uterine lining is in optimal condition to accept the embryo without difficulty. The lining of the uterus grows to the desired thickness during this time and has the proper structure and adhesion to prepare the embryo for implantation.

04. Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer takes place during the "implantation window" of the menstrual cycle, which is the time when the embryos are most likely to successfully attach. Using a fine needle, the doctor will implant 13 embryos into the surrogate mother's uterus. The procedure is usually painless and does not require anesthesia, so the prospective parents do not have to be physically involved.

If the embryo does not implant successfully, the surrogate mother will re-prepare and repeat the procedure from the "Preparation of the Surrogate Mother" stage (for the "Guarantee" program).

05. HCG test

On day 10 after the embryo transfer, the surrogate mother will be tested for HCG, a hormone secreted by the embryonic tissue after successful implantation in the uterine wall. If HCG levels are elevated, it indicates that the surrogate mother is pregnant. If there is no pregnancy, the entire embryo transfer procedure will begin again.

5. Pregnancy monitoring

During pregnancy, the surrogate mother will be closely monitored to ensure the healthy development of the fetus. Monitoring measures include:

echography: At least 10 ultrasound examinations are performed to monitor the growth and development of the fetus.

Screening and blood tests: At least two comprehensive screenings and several blood tests to detect the health of the surrogate mother and the development of the fetus.

Lifestyle monitoring: Surrogate mothers are required to follow a strict healthy lifestyle, including abstaining from smoking and alcohol, and undergo regular testing to ensure compliance.

6. Pre-natal visits

About 10-14 days before the expected date of delivery, expectant parents need to travel to Ukraine to prepare for the birth of their child:

Accommodation arrangements: Expectant parents will stay in a cozy apartment with personal service and all the necessary amenities are ready for the baby's arrival.

7. Paperwork and legal formalities

After the birth of the child, the prospective parents will need to complete a number of legal formalities to ensure the child's legal status and the process of returning to their home country:

Confirmation of kinship and DNA testing: In most European countries, the surrogate mother is legally the mother of the child. Therefore, the surrogate mother needs to sign an official statement relinquishing her parental rights to the child. The prospective parents will then need to undergo a DNA test to confirm paternity. If donor eggs are used, the DNA test will prove that the prospective father is the biological father of the child, and the prospective mother will need to go through the adoption process upon her return.

Obtaining birth certificates and travel documents: The lawyer will assist the prospective parents in obtaining the child's birth certificate and in processing the relevant documents. The parents' passports, marriage certificates, proof of kinship and other documents will be submitted to the embassy to obtain a travel document (passport) for the child.

This exhaustive process not only ensures the legality and medical safety of the surrogacy process, but also provides prospective parents with comprehensive support, from legal counseling to medical services, to ensure a smooth and safe surrogacy journey.