The medical director of Fertility Specialists of Western Australia, Professor Roger Hart will review your surrogacy case with the treating clinician.

It is mandatory for people considering a surrogacy arrangement to attend counselling.

Counselling provides the opportunity to discuss treatment on a more personal level. It allows people to raise more private issues, such as individual concerns, relationship difficulties or current life situations that may affect the couple's treatment experience. Children may be asked to attend (if appropriate).

The intending parent(s), surrogate and her partner (if applicable) will be required to attend two separate counselling sessions and one joint counselling session. A three-month cooling-off period is required if you use a known donor or traditional surrogacy. Further counselling may be required if indicated by the counsellor.

At this stage, if all parties remain willing to proceed with the surrogacy arrangement, all information and reports in your application will be collated and forwarded to the Fertility Specialists of Western Australia. From here, Fertility Specialists of Western Australia will submit the surrogacy case to the Reproductive Technology Council (RTU).

Once the surrogacy arrangement has been approved by the RTU, the intended parent(s) and the surrogate (and her partner) must present to Fertility Specialists of Western Australia for Patient Education Presentation. Our fertility nurse  will discuss the details of the cycle treatment the specialist has ordered, such as:

1. The treatment cycle the fertility specialist has proposed for the intended parents (this may include the use of intended parents' gametes and/or donated gametes).
2. The treatment cycle for the surrogate.
3. The function and administration of medications are to be used during the various stages of the treatment cycles.
4. The side effects and risk factors of the medications.
5. A review of the compulsory blood tests/screenings for all parties.
6. The consenting process.

Treatment will normally begin after all the above steps have been completed.

A healthy lifestyle is recommended for both surrogate and intended parents before and during egg or sperm collection, embryo transfer and pregnancy. This includes a sensible approach to diet, exercise and alcohol. Adopt a healthy, balanced diet with adequate protein, carbohydrates and fibre. You will be advised to stop smoking and restrict your alcohol consumption before and during treatment until treatment outcome has been confirmed by a pregnancy test.