A path to parenthood, supported.
A gestational carrier offers a way forward when carrying a pregnancy isn't possible or advisable. At RMA of Michigan, we coordinate the medical side of your journey with evidence-informed care and compassionate support — working alongside the agency and legal team you choose.
What is a gestational carrier? A gestational carrier is a person who carries and delivers a baby for another individual or couple. The embryo is created through IVF using eggs and sperm from the intended parents or a donor, so the carrier has no genetic connection to the child. At RMA of Michigan in Troy, we coordinate the medical care involved and work with the agency and attorneys you select.
Understanding gestational carrier care
A gestational carrier — sometimes shortened to GC — carries a pregnancy on behalf of the intended parent(s). Because the embryo is created from the intended parents' or a donor's eggs and sperm, the carrier shares no genetic link with the baby. That distinction is what sets a gestational carrier apart from traditional surrogacy.
A gestational carrier journey brings together a medical team, a surrogacy agency, and legal counsel, all working in coordination. At RMA of Michigan, our role is the medical side: preparing for and performing the IVF cycle and embryo transfer, and supporting the carrier through early pregnancy.
This path is often combined with other parts of fertility care — including IVF, donor eggs, or genetic testing (PGT-A) — depending on what fits your situation.
The gestational carrier process, step by step
A gestational carrier journey moves through five main phases. Your exact timing and the parties involved are individualized to your situation.
Consultation
Meet with your RMA team to review your medical history and confirm whether a gestational carrier is the right path for you.
Matching & Legal
You select a surrogacy agency and attorneys, and a gestational carrier agreement is drafted and finalized under Michigan law.
Screening
The intended parents (or donors) and the carrier complete medical screening so everyone is prepared for the cycle.
Embryo Creation
Through an IVF cycle, embryos are created using eggs and sperm from the intended parents or a donor.
Transfer & Pregnancy
An embryo is transferred to the carrier's prepared uterus, with monitoring through early pregnancy before care transitions to her OB.
Why a gestational carrier may be recommended
A fertility specialist may suggest a gestational carrier for several reasons. Whether it's the right path is a decision you'll make together with your physician.
Absence of a uterus
Following a hysterectomy, or a congenital condition in which the uterus did not develop, carrying a pregnancy isn't possible.
Uterine abnormalities
Significant fibroids or uterine scarring — including Asherman's syndrome, where scar tissue forms inside the uterus — can interfere with pregnancy.
Recurrent pregnancy loss
Multiple, often unexplained miscarriages may lead a provider to suggest a gestational carrier.
High-risk obstetric history
Prior second-trimester losses or repeated premature births that can make another pregnancy unsafe.
Health conditions
Some medical conditions pose substantial health risks during pregnancy, so a gestational carrier may be recommended.
Social surrogacy
Some intended parents choose a gestational carrier for personal, professional, or other individual reasons.
Surrogacy is now legal in Michigan
Michigan's Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act makes gestational carrier agreements legal and enforceable. It repeals the state's earlier ban and allows intended parents and carriers to enter agreements that may include compensation, as long as the law's safeguards are met.
RMA of Michigan coordinates medical care and works with your selected agency and attorneys. This information is educational and not legal advice.
- Effective April 2, 2025 — the Act was signed into law on April 1, 2024.
- Courts may issue pre-birth or post-birth parentage judgments.
- Your selected agency and attorneys handle the legal agreement; RMA coordinates the medical care.
A typical gestational carrier journey
Timing varies from one journey to the next. This is a general sequence to help you picture the path.
Consultation & Planning
You meet with your RMA physician to review your history and confirm that a gestational carrier is the right path for you.
Agency & Carrier
Working with a surrogacy agency, you're matched with a gestational carrier, who completes her initial screening.
Agreement Finalized
Your attorneys draft and finalize the gestational carrier agreement under Michigan's surrogacy law.
Preparing All Parties
The intended parents (or donors) and the carrier complete the medical screening needed before a cycle begins.
Creating Embryos
Eggs and sperm from the intended parents or a donor are combined in the laboratory, and embryos develop over several days.
Embryo Transfer
After her uterine lining is prepared, an embryo is transferred to the carrier in a brief, ultrasound-guided procedure.
Pregnancy Test
A blood test confirms pregnancy. Early monitoring continues before care transitions to the carrier's obstetrician.
Gestational carrier questions, answered
What's the difference between a gestational carrier and a surrogate?
A traditional surrogate uses her own egg, so she is genetically related to the baby. A gestational carrier is not — the embryo is created through IVF from the intended parents' or a donor's eggs and sperm. RMA of Michigan works with gestational carriers.
Is surrogacy legal in Michigan?
Yes. As of April 2, 2025, Michigan's Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act makes gestational carrier agreements legal and enforceable, and they may include compensation when the law's safeguards are met. RMA coordinates the medical care, while the legal agreement is handled by the agency and attorneys you select. This information is educational and not legal advice.
Does RMA help me find a carrier or agency?
Your gestational carrier and surrogacy agency are selected by you. RMA of Michigan's role is the medical coordination — the IVF cycle, embryo transfer, and monitoring — working alongside the agency and legal team you choose.
How is the gestational carrier prepared for transfer?
The carrier's uterine lining is prepared with medication and tracked through bloodwork and ultrasound. When the timing is right, an embryo created through IVF is transferred in a brief, ultrasound-guided procedure.
Whose eggs and sperm are used?
Embryos can be created using the intended parents' eggs and sperm, or with donor eggs, donor sperm, or both — whatever fits your family-building plan. Your team will help map the approach that works for you.
Is gestational carrier care inclusive for LGBTQ+ families?
Yes. RMA of Michigan provides inclusive, patient-centered care for individuals and families of all structures. A gestational carrier is one of several paths that can be combined with IVF and donor options. Learn more on our LGBTQ+ family building page.