Ensuring the Biological Link: How to Safeguard Your Surrogacy Journey

Last week, a concerning case emerged involving a U.S. couple who worked with a Mexican surrogacy agency. They discovered, months after bringing their baby home, that DNA tests showed no genetic connection between them and the child. Further investigation revealed that the surrogate herself was the biological mother. The passport had been issued without proper testing, bypassing a critical verification step.

This situation has created significant complications for everyone involved. The intended parents face an unexpected reality, while the surrogate finds herself in an unintended position as the biological mother of a child she carried for someone else. Such cases, while rare, highlight the crucial importance of verification protocols throughout the surrogacy process.

Case Details

The couple had chosen a well-established surrogacy agency in Mexico. All went well with the pregnancy and birth apart from some questions they had when the gender of the embryo they transferred in the PGTA protocol did not actually align with the gender of the baby that was confirmed during pregnancy. The U.S. Embassy processed their paperwork without the DNA verification that should have identified the issue. Only months later did genetic testing reveal the truth about the biological parentage. It is therefore likely that the surrogate had conceived naturally during the preparation period—something nobody verified before or after embryo transfer. 

Critical Safety Protocols

This case reveals several a few possible breakdowns in essential verification systems:

1. Unclear abstinence requirements or the complete disregard for these during the surrogate's preparation period

2. Lack of more robust stimulation protocols to decrease the likelihood of a natural pregnancy during the stimulation phase

3. Missing or failed pre-transfer ultrasound to detect existing pregnancy

4. Absence of early pregnancy genetic screening

5. Issues with embassy DNA test requirements 

These failures demonstrate why intended parents need robust protection systems. Not all surrogacy clinics operate with the same level of diligence. Understanding the key verification points can help protect families from similar situations.

Essential Questions for Agencies and Clinics

When interviewing surrogacy agencies, ask specific questions about their protocols with the clinics they work with:

• "What documentation confirms the surrogate understands she must avoid pregnancy during preparation?"

• "Who explains these requirements and in what language?"

• "How do you document her understanding of these critical protocols?"

• "What verification steps confirm she's not already pregnant before transfer?"

The Hormonal Window of Vulnerability

The medications used to prepare surrogates for embryo transfer create a super-fertile window. These hormones don't discriminate between transferred embryos and naturally conceived ones. A surrogate taking estradiol and progesterone becomes significantly more likely to conceive if exposed to sperm during this period.

Experts recommend that surrogacy clinics:

• Provide clear explanations in the surrogate's native language

• Require surrogates to confirm understanding

• Document this comprehension with signatures

• Supply detailed timelines showing "no conception" periods

• Conduct regular check-ins throughout the preparation phase

These steps aren't excessive—they're essential. 

Recommended Approach to Medical Suppression

When comparing surrogacy practices across different countries, there's significant variance in clinical approaches. The most reliable clinics administer GnRH agonists like Lupron or Buserelin to temporarily suppress the surrogate's ovarian function before beginning preparation medications.

Best practices include a waiting period after medication administration before starting estrogen supplements. This waiting period ensures complete ovarian suppression, meaning the surrogate won't produce eggs during this cycle, eliminating natural pregnancy possibilities.

This medication creates a controlled reproductive environment by temporarily inducing a menopause-like state. While adding approximately two weeks to the preparation timeline, this approach significantly reduces confusion about biological parentage. The suppression medications have no permanent impact on fertility, making them an appropriate safety measure that benefits everyone involved.

Early Detection: The NIPP Test Advantage

One important verification method is Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity testing between weeks 7-10 of pregnancy. The most thorough clinics require this for every surrogacy case.

The NIPP test examines cell-free DNA in the surrogate's bloodstream, which contains genetic material from both the surrogate and the developing fetus. This simple blood draw can definitively answer the question many wonder about the surrogate mother sharing

DNA with the baby. In gestational surrogacy, the answer should be no.

This early genetic verification in surrogacy would have immediately identified the mismatch in the Mexican case. The couple could have made informed decisions months before birth rather than bonding with a child that wasn't genetically theirs. Though adding approximately $900-1,500 to overall costs, NIPP testing represents a valuable safeguard in surrogacy arrangements.

The Critical Embassy Verification Step

The DNA verification required at U.S. as well as some other  Embassies and Consulates worldwide serves as the final checkpoint in surrogacy cases. This test confirms biological parentage before issuing citizenship documentation. For surrogacy-born children to receive U.S. passports, officials must verify genetic connection to at least one American parent.

The embassy process typically involves cheek swabs from both parents and the newborn. Results generally take 2-3 weeks, after which passport processing begins upon confirmation.

The Mexican case somehow seems to have bypassed this crucial step through administrative error. Experts now advise all clients to request explicit DNA testing regardless of where this is required by the Embassy or the Consulate —even if it seems redundant or optional. This final verification prevents devastating surprises long after you've bonded with your child.

Laboratory Standards: Critical Selection Criteria

When evaluating clinics, investigate these critical areas:

Laboratory Safety:

• Witness verification protocols for embryo transfers

• Double-check systems to prevent embryo mix-up

Equally crucial is the agency's surrogate screening process. 

• Medical clearance from reproductive specialists

• Documentation proving surrogates understand all medical protocols

• Evidence of proper language translation during critical explanations

• Monitoring systems throughout hormonal preparation periods

Protecting Your Path to Parenthood

Surrogacy works through carefully constructed verification steps—each one builds upon the previous, creating a secure foundation for family building.

The Mexican case reveals what happens when even one verification step is missing from this essential structure. Their story isn't meant to discourage surrogacy but rather to provide knowledge that protects family-building aspirations.

The journey to parenthood through surrogacy offers tremendous joy when properly structured. The right safeguards don't diminish this joy—they protect it.

For additional information regarding verification systems or consultation regarding surrogacy journeys, The Surrogacy Insider provides checklists, and direct guidance. The Contacts page connects prospective parents with experts who understand both the emotional and practical aspects of international surrogacy arrangements.

Your path to parenthood deserves certainty about the biological connection in surrogacy. With proper systems and the right partners, the focus can remain on the joy of expanding your family.