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!