Surrogacy Glossary — 37 Key Terms Defined

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Adenomyosis

A condition in which endometrial tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus, causing the uterus to become enlarged, tender, and dysfunctional. Symptoms include severe menstrual pain, heavy bleeding, and reduced fertility — implantation rates drop significantly in severe cases.

When adenomyosis is unresponsive to medical or surgical treatment and pregnancy attempts remain unsuccessful, gestational surrogacy with the intended mother's own eggs becomes a valid pathway to parenthood.

All-inclusive program

A surrogacy program pricing model where one quoted price covers agency coordination, surrogate compensation and allowances, all medical costs (IVF, prenatal care, delivery), all legal fees, surrogate health insurance, interpreter services, and dedicated coordination from contract through homecoming.

Typical exceptions are: intended parents' own travel and accommodation, and home-country legal advice. Novaparent's Standard, Comfort, and Prestige programs are all-inclusive in this sense.

Apostille

An international authentication stamp added to an official document — most commonly a foreign birth certificate — to make it legally recognised in another country party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

In surrogacy, the apostille is applied to the destination-country birth certificate before submission to the home-country consulate or civil registry. Without an apostille, most consulates will not process a foreign birth certificate for citizenship purposes.

Article 123 (Ukraine)

The provision of the Family Code of Ukraine that explicitly permits gestational surrogacy for married heterosexual couples and recognises the intended parents as the legal parents of the child from birth.

Article 123 is the legal foundation for surrogacy in Ukraine — no separate court ruling or adoption procedure is required for parents to appear on the birth certificate. At least one intended parent must have a genetic link to the child.

Asherman's syndrome

A condition in which scar tissue (adhesions) forms inside the uterine cavity, usually following surgical procedures such as dilation and curettage (D&C), Cesarean section, postpartum infection, or other uterine surgery.

The scarring prevents the endometrium from regenerating normally, leading to infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, or absent menstruation. When surgical correction by hysteroscopy cannot restore a viable cavity, gestational surrogacy with the intended mother's own eggs is the standard solution.

B

Birth certificate

The official document issued by the destination country's civil registry confirming the child's parentage. In Ukraine and Armenia, the birth certificate is issued in the intended parents' names immediately after birth.

In Georgia, it is issued through the Civil Registry within 1–2 weeks after birth — an administrative procedure, not a court hearing in standard cases. The birth certificate, once apostilled, is the primary document used at the home-country consulate for citizenship registration.

Blastocyst

A stage of embryo development reached around days 5–6 after fertilisation, when the embryo has differentiated into an inner cell mass (which becomes the foetus) and an outer trophectoderm (which becomes the placenta).

Modern IVF labs prefer to transfer or biopsy embryos at the blastocyst stage because they have higher implantation rates than earlier-stage embryos. PGT-A and PGD FISH testing are performed at this stage.

C

Clinical pregnancy rate

The percentage of embryo transfers that result in a confirmed pregnancy evidenced by ultrasound — typically at 6–7 weeks of gestation, showing a gestational sac and foetal heartbeat.

It is distinct from the live birth rate, which is lower because some clinically confirmed pregnancies do not progress to delivery. Novaparent's partner clinics report clinical pregnancy rates of 55–70% per transfer for patients under 35 using their own eggs, and 60–75% with donor eggs.

Consular registration

The process by which intended parents register their newborn's birth and citizenship at their home country's embassy or consulate in the destination country.

Requirements vary by nationality but typically include the apostilled foreign birth certificate, DNA test results confirming genetic link, the surrogacy agreement, and intended parents' passports. Processing time ranges from 4 to 8 weeks.

E

Egg donor

A woman who provides eggs for use in an IVF cycle when the intended mother cannot provide viable eggs herself. Donors are pre-screened for medical history, infectious diseases, genetic conditions, and psychological suitability.

Novaparent's partner clinics maintain databases of anonymous donor profiles with detailed background information, allowing intended parents to select a donor matching their preferences. Egg donation is included in Comfort and Prestige programs.

Egg retrieval

The medical procedure in which mature eggs are collected from the ovaries after a controlled ovarian stimulation cycle.

The procedure is performed under sedation, takes about 20–30 minutes, and uses an ultrasound-guided needle through the vaginal wall. The retrieved eggs are then fertilised in the laboratory via conventional IVF or ICSI.

Embryo transfer

The procedure in which one or more embryos are placed in the prepared uterus of the gestational surrogate via a thin catheter through the cervix.

The procedure is painless, takes about 10–15 minutes, and requires no anaesthesia. Most modern transfers use a single blastocyst-stage embryo to maximise singleton pregnancy outcomes. Standard programs include one transfer; Comfort allows up to three; Prestige includes unlimited transfers.

Endometrial preparation

The hormonal protocol used to prepare the gestational surrogate's uterine lining (endometrium) for embryo implantation. The endometrium must reach a specific thickness (typically 7–14 mm) and the right pattern before transfer.

Preparation typically uses oestrogen and progesterone over 2–3 weeks before the scheduled transfer date.

Endometriosis

A chronic condition in which endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus — most commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic peritoneum — causing pain, inflammation, and infertility.

Severe (stage IV) endometriosis can damage the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, leading to repeated IVF failure or unsafe pregnancy. In documented severe cases where IVF has failed multiple times, gestational surrogacy provides a path to biological parenthood, often using donor eggs if ovarian function is also compromised.

Exit process

The combined legal and administrative steps required to leave the destination country with a newborn child as a recognised legal parent.

Includes obtaining the birth certificate, applying for the child's home-country passport at the consulate, and any nationality- or country-specific procedures. Exit typically takes 4 to 8 weeks after birth and is one of the longer phases of the surrogacy journey.

F

Frozen embryo transfer (FET)

The transfer of an embryo that was cryopreserved (frozen) after fertilisation and culture, rather than transferred immediately after the egg-retrieval cycle ("fresh transfer").

Modern vitrification techniques have made FET success rates comparable to fresh transfer, and FET is essential when genetic testing is planned because PGT-A and PGD FISH results take 1–2 weeks. All transfers in Novaparent programs are FETs when genetic testing is included.

G

Gestational age

The age of a developing foetus measured from the first day of the surrogate's last menstrual period — or in IVF calculated from the embryo transfer date adjusted to a standard reference — expressed in weeks.

Full-term pregnancy is 37–42 weeks. Gestational age guides prenatal-care milestones, screening timing, and travel arrangements for intended parents approaching the birth.

Gestational surrogate

A woman who carries and delivers a baby for the intended parents using an embryo created via IVF, with no genetic relationship to the child.

Every gestational surrogate in Novaparent's program has already given birth to at least one healthy child of her own, has undergone comprehensive medical and psychological screening, and has freely chosen to participate. Distinct from a traditional surrogate, whose own egg is used — Novaparent programs are exclusively gestational.

H

Hysterectomy

The surgical removal of the uterus, performed for medical reasons including cancer (cervical, uterine, ovarian), severe fibroids, severe endometriosis, postpartum hemorrhage, or uterine prolapse.

After a hysterectomy, pregnancy is no longer possible — but if the ovaries were preserved (an ovarian-sparing or subtotal hysterectomy) the intended mother may still have viable eggs, making surrogacy with her own genetic material possible. Hysterectomy is one of the leading reasons couples turn to gestational surrogacy.

I

ICSI

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. A specialised IVF technique in which a single sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an egg, rather than the conventional approach of placing many sperm around the egg in a dish.

ICSI is used when sperm quality or quantity is low, when previous conventional IVF cycles have failed, or when PGT-A is planned — because contaminating sperm DNA from conventional fertilisation can confound the genetic-testing results.

Intended parents

The individuals who initiate a surrogacy journey with the intention of becoming the legal and social parents of the resulting child. Often abbreviated "IPs".

In Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia, intended parents must be a legally married heterosexual couple with at least one partner genetically related to the child. Novaparent works exclusively with intended parents who meet this criterion and have a documented medical need for surrogacy.

IVF

In vitro fertilisation. The medical process in which eggs are retrieved from the ovaries, fertilised with sperm in a laboratory dish (or via ICSI), cultured for 3–5 days, and then either transferred to a uterus or frozen for later transfer.

IVF is the foundational technology of gestational surrogacy — the embryo is always created via IVF outside the body and then transferred to the surrogate.

L

Live birth rate

The percentage of embryo transfers that result in a live, healthy newborn. The most accurate measure of fertility-treatment success but lower than the clinical pregnancy rate because some clinically confirmed pregnancies do not progress to delivery.

Live birth rates per transfer in Novaparent's partner clinics typically range from 45% to 60%, depending on age, embryo quality, and whether PGT-A or PGD FISH testing was performed.

M

MRKH syndrome

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome — a congenital condition in which a person is born with absent or severely underdeveloped uterus and upper vagina, despite having functioning ovaries and normal external anatomy. It affects approximately 1 in 4,500 female births.

Women with MRKH have normal egg production, so genetic motherhood is fully possible. Gestational surrogacy is the established path to biological parenthood for those wishing to have children. MRKH is one of the most common single diagnoses leading to surrogacy worldwide.

Müllerian anomalies

A group of congenital malformations of the uterus arising from incomplete fusion or development of the Müllerian ducts during embryonic life. The most common forms are unicornuate uterus (one-sided development), bicornuate uterus (heart-shaped), septate uterus (divided by a wall of tissue), and uterine agenesis (complete absence — see MRKH syndrome).

Severe Müllerian anomalies can prevent pregnancy or cause repeated miscarriage. When surgical correction is impossible or unsuccessful, gestational surrogacy is the established path to biological parenthood.

Milestone payment

A staged payment structure in which the total program fee is divided into instalments tied to specific contractual milestones, rather than paid in advance.

Novaparent uses a 30/30/20/20 structure: 30% upon signing the agency agreement, 30% upon confirmed surrogate match, 20% upon confirmed pregnancy, and 20% upon birth. The structure protects both intended parents and the agency by aligning payment with progress.

P

Parental order

A court order issued in some jurisdictions — notably the United Kingdom — to formally transfer legal parentage from a surrogate to the intended parents after birth.

Parental orders are required in countries where surrogacy is permitted only altruistically and where the surrogate is the legal mother at birth. Not used in Ukraine, Georgia, or Armenia — those jurisdictions issue the birth certificate directly to intended parents. UK couples returning home with a Ukrainian, Georgian, or Armenian birth certificate apply for a UK Parental Order to register parentage domestically.

PGD FISH 9

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, screening 9 chromosome pairs (13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, X, Y).

Detects Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, Klinefelter, Turner, Triple X, and Jacobs syndromes, and permits sex selection where legally available. Faster and less expensive than PGT-A but covers fewer chromosomes. Included in Novaparent's Comfort program.

PGT-A

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy, performed via Next Generation Sequencing. Screens all 24 chromosomes — 22 autosomes plus X and Y — for numerical abnormalities and microdeletions, and identifies mosaic embryos.

More accurate and comprehensive than PGD FISH 9. Particularly valuable for women over 35 because aneuploidy rates rise sharply with maternal age. Also known as PGS or 24-chromosome aneuploidy testing. Included in Novaparent's Prestige program.

Pulmonary hypertension

A serious medical condition in which blood pressure in the arteries supplying the lungs is abnormally elevated, placing extreme strain on the right side of the heart.

Pregnancy is medically contraindicated for women with significant pulmonary hypertension because maternal mortality risk is among the highest of any pregnancy-incompatible condition. Surrogacy is the established option for affected women who wish to have biological children, using their own eggs where possible.

R

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF)

Defined as the failure of multiple IVF embryo transfer attempts — typically three or more — using good-quality embryos to result in clinical pregnancy.

RIF can result from uterine receptivity issues, immunological factors, endometrial abnormalities (adenomyosis, Asherman's syndrome, fibroids), or unexplained causes. When the underlying cause cannot be corrected and repeated transfers continue to fail, transferring embryos to a gestational surrogate's uterus eliminates the receptivity variable and is a documented pathway to live birth.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)

Defined medically as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks of gestation (some guidelines now use two losses). Causes include chromosomal abnormalities, uterine structural problems, autoimmune disorders, endocrine dysfunction, and unexplained factors.

When thorough investigation cannot identify a treatable cause, or when treatment fails, gestational surrogacy is a well-established next step that has helped many couples achieve a successful live birth.

S

Sperm donor

A man who provides sperm for use in an IVF cycle when the intended father cannot provide viable sperm. Donors are screened for medical history, infectious diseases, genetic conditions, and psychological suitability.

In Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia, the law requires that at least one intended parent be genetically related to the child — so sperm donation is generally only permitted when the intended mother provides her own eggs.

Surrogacy agreement

The notarised legal contract between the intended parents, the gestational surrogate, and the agency, signed before embryo transfer.

The agreement defines compensation, medical care arrangements, conduct during pregnancy, communication norms, and the surrogate's explicit waiver of all parental rights to the child. In all three Novaparent destinations, the surrogacy agreement is the foundational legal instrument that protects both parties.

Surrogacy coordinator

A staff member who manages the surrogacy journey from contract through homecoming. Responsibilities include facilitating communication between intended parents, the surrogate, the clinic, and the legal team; scheduling all medical and legal milestones; arranging logistics for visits; and providing emotional support throughout the process.

At Novaparent, every couple is assigned a dedicated coordinator at programme start, with founder Andrew Khodonovych personally overseeing every active program.

Surrogate compensation

The monetary payment and structured allowances provided to a gestational surrogate in exchange for her services. Typically includes a base compensation amount plus monthly allowances during pregnancy, a maternity-clothing allowance, medical-care expenses, and post-birth recovery support.

In Novaparent's programs, all surrogate compensation is covered by the all-inclusive program fee and paid by the agency directly to the surrogate — intended parents do not handle payments to the surrogate.

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