How long do I need to abstain from intercourse while I'm a surrogate?

Learn the answer to this week's user-submitted question about surrogacy in this week's installment of Ask a Surrogacy Expert! Have a question about surrogacy that you'd like answered? Submit it at https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ask

Hi, it's Janelle Ibarrra at Bright Futures Families Surrogacy with Ask a Surrogacy Expert. Our question is: How long do I need to abstain from intercourse while I'm a surrogate? Now, this, like many other things, really just depends on the intended parent's IVF clinic. So typically it's from the start of medication to about six to eight weeks, right around the time when baby's heartbeat is confirmed. That could be as late as 10 weeks. The IVF medication will cause you to be super fertile. And. And even besides that, it's not just about preventing the surrogate from becoming pregnant with her own baby, but it's so it doesn't matter whether the partner has had a vasectomy. The clinics don't want anything to disturb the uterine lining before or after the transfer that could prevent that embryo from sticking. So altogether it's about two to three months. But it again depends on clinic requirements. 

So if you have any questions, you can check with them or with our agency case manager if you're a surrogate with us. It is an important commitment and sacrifice that surrogates make, and it's really important to follow the guidance of all medical professionals to help the ip's family grow. If you have any questions, please let us know.