Surrogacy in Connecticut: Terminology You Need to Know

We know that surrogacy terminology can seem overwhelming! Here’s our glossary of terms we use for surrogacy in Connecticut.  We are here to help you sort through it all! 


2WW (2 Week Wait): the dreaded time period following embryo transfer through the initial pregnancy test

3DT (3-Day Transfer): the transfer of an embryo on developmental day three

5DT (5-Day Transfer): the transfer of an embryo on developmental day 5 (this is the most common time for transfer in gestational surrogacy arrangements); see blastocyst

AAARTA: an organization of experienced assisted reproduction attorneys, which is now a part of AAAA (pronounced “Quad A”); most of the attorneys in our referral network are members of AAAA or other prominent professional organizations

Adoption: a court procedure after the baby’s birth that transfers legal parental rights from one person to another person; generally, the adoption process is not used for gestational surrogacy in Connecticut

ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology): IVF and other conception methods that require the manipulation of eggs, sperm and embryos in the laboratory

BCP (birth control pills): used to regulate a surrogate’s cycle to prepare for the embryo transfer

Beta Test: blood test for the levels of pregnancy hormone to determine if a woman is pregnant

Blast (Blastocyst): an embryo at the developmental stage, typically reached on day five

Certificate of Birth: the document issued by the Connecticut Department of Public Health to record the birth of a child in Connecticut; for surrogacy arrangements, the initial birth certificate will name the surrogate but is immediately replaced with another birth certificate containing only the names of intended parent(s) 

Compensation: the money paid by intended parents to a gestational surrogate for her participation in the surrogacy process; compensation should be delineated in a Connecticut gestational carrier contract

Department of Public Health: the Connecticut state agency that is responsible for issuing birth certificates

DE (Donor Egg): donor egg that is used for IVF/gestational surrogacy

Donor Egg Bank: a program that provides frozen donor eggs to intended parents

Embryo: an egg that has been fertilized by a spermatozoa

ER (Egg Retrieval): the surgical process an intended mother or egg donor undergoes for retrieval of eggs

Escrow Account: an account where the intended parents place the monies that will be used to compensate the surrogate

ET (Embryo Transfer): the procedure where the embryo is transferred to the uterus of a gestational surrogate

Expenses: the money paid by the intended parents to cover the surrogate’s costs; expenses should be listed in a Connecticut gestational carrier contract

FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer): the procedure where a thawed embryo is transferred to the uterus of a gestational surrogate

GC (Gestational Carrier): a gestational carrier/gestational surrogate is not genetically related to the baby she is carrying for the intended parents; at New England Surrogacy, we facilitate arrangements with gestational carriers in Connecticut and all other New England states

Gestational Agreement: a written contract between the gestational surrogate and the intended parent(s) setting forth the terms of their arrangement; sometimes called a gestational carrier contract; Connecticut has specific laws about the format and execution of the gestational agreement

Home Study: a review of a hopeful parent’s ability to successfully parent a child; generally, not required for gestational surrogacy in Connecticut

Hysteroscopy: a medical procedure used to view the lining of the uterus

Independent Attorney: an attorney who represents either the intended parent(s) or the gestational surrogate but not all of them

Infertility Mandate: refers to the Connecticut law that requires insurance companies to cover infertility treatment such as IVF

IP (Intended Parent): a prospective parent via surrogacy; both IFs (Intended Fathers) and IMs (Intended Mothers) can pursue gestational surrogacy in Connecticut.

HPT (Home Pregnancy Test): used by those who cannot wait out the dreaded 2WW (but remember, always keep taking your medications until your nurse tells you to stop!)

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): procedure by which an egg is combined with sperm outside the body resulting in embryos, which are later transferred to the uterus

LMP (Last Menstrual Period): the start date of a woman’s last menstrual cycle; not an accurate way to date IVF pregnancies

MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory): a multiple choice test that can be part of the surrogate’s screening process 

Mock Cycle: a trial cycle to determine how a surrogate’s body will respond in preparation for the actual embryo transfer

No-Term (No Termination): reference to a match with a surrogate who is not willing to terminate the pregnancy under any circumstances or is only willing to terminate under limited circumstances (at New England Surrogacy, we always use this information for matching purposes to ensure our surrogates and intended parents are on the same page)

OB (Obstetrician): a doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care for women

Order of Parentage: court document that establishes who the legal parents of a child are and whose names will appear on the birth certificate; this can be done either before or after the birth in Connecticut; this is sometimes called a pre-birth order (PBO) or post-birth order

Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI): a multiple choice test that may be used for the surrogate screening process

PGD & PGS: methods to test embryos for genetic and chromosomal defects

Progesterone in Oil (PIO): shots of progesterone in oil are used to prepare the lining of the uterus for the embryo transfer procedure

Raftopol v. Ramey: a Connecticut Supreme Court case about pre-birth orders

RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist): a doctor who specializes in infertility and IVF

Replacement Certificate of Birth: the second birth certificate issued in a Connecticut surrogacy arrangement; the replacement birth certificate contains only the names of the intended parent(s) 

Transvaginal Ultrasound: Use of ultrasound through the vagina to obtain a view of the uterus and ovaries

VBAC (Vaginal Birth After C-Section): when a woman chooses to deliver a baby vaginally after having delivered a baby via C-Section; requires full monitoring in an appropriately equipped hospital in Connecticut

If you are looking to become a surrogate in Connecticut or another New England state, we’d love to talk to you.  Please head over to our brief surrogate intake form to schedule some time to talk with us.  We look forward to chatting with you!

If you are an intended parent interested in an initial consult (these are always free), please head over to our appointment scheduling system.  We look forward to being part of your family building team!