Resources and Terminology
As part of our commitment to transparency and ethics, we have compiled additional explanations, guides, and resources designed to help you better understand the surrogacy process and community. Of course, don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions and check out our blog for more information. We hope you find this helpful!
Notes On The Words We Use
Brownstone does not use the term “surrogate mother.” This is not to take anything away from the incredible gift surrogates give their intended parents; it’s just not how we view motherhood. We believe mothers and fathers are made through the act of love and care for a child, whether gestated by them or not and whether biologically connected to them or not.
We also avoid “surrogate mother” because not all surrogates may identify as female. For this same reason we refer to surrogates using singular they/them/their pronouns throughout this website. At times, this may seem incorrect or impersonal, but it is deliberate. Brownstone is inclusive of the trans and genderqueer communities—both as parents and as surrogates. Although we may not regularly use the words “woman” or “mother,” we are attuned to the fact that the vast majority of people acting as surrogates are female. These women may have experienced some form of sex-based discrimination—including a lack of safeguards for their health and rights—while they were pregnant, as in other realms of their lives.
We often refer to intended parents using plural language. We regret that default, but the majority of our parents are partnered and the choice helps grammatically. Please know that all mentions of parents are really mentions of “parent(s)” and that we are thrilled to be able to help single men and women with their dreams of parenthood. Brownstone also works with gender noncomforming or genderqueer parents and non-romantic parents who choose to enter co-parenting agreements.
It may seem excessive to include a note about language on our website, but we believe words matter. The words we use often matter to individuals who have struggled with infertility and had to reach a resolution about the genetic parentage of their child, they often matter to members of the LGBTQ+ community, who may be viewed differently as parents, and they matter to our children.
Glossary of Terms
The world of infertility, surrogacy, and egg donation can be downright dizzying with its acronyms and terminology. Here are some of the common ones (the most important of which are bolded and defined):
- ART – Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Refers to any procedure in which the egg and sperm are manipulated in order to result in pregnancy.
- ASRM – American Society of Reproductive Medicine
- An organization dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. Among other things, the ASRM issues guidelines and ethics opinions that advise the ART community.
- Beta – hCG level blood test
- BMI – Body Mass Index
- CVS – Chorionic Villae Sampling
- Cryopreservation
- The frozen storage of sperm, eggs, embryos or other reproductive tissue for later use.
- D&C – Dilation & Curettage
- D&E – Dilation & Evacuation
- DCP – Donor-Conceived Person/People
- DET – Double Embryo Transfer
- Donor Siblings
- People biologically related to one another by having the same sperm or egg donor but not raised together.
- DPT – Days Post-Transfer
- DP3DT – Days Post 3-Day Transfer
- DP5DT – Days Post 5-Day Transfer
- E2 – Estradiol
- EDD – Estimated Due Date
- Embryologist
- Endometriosis
- ERA – Endometrial Receptivity Analysis
- eSET – Elective Single Embryo Transfer
- When a person undergoing IVF chooses to have a single embryo transferred when multiple embryos are available.
- ET – Embryo Transfer
- FET – Frozen Embryo Transfer
- A procedure by which embryos stored in a special freezing chamber are thawed and transferred to a person prepared and able to undergo implantation.
- FSH – Follicle Stimulating Hormone
- Gamete
- A reproductive cell needed for sexual reproduction—specifically, an oocyte (egg) or sperm.
- GC or GS – Gestational Carrier or Gestational Surrogate
- A person who agrees to carry and birth a child for another person or family and who is not genetically related to that child.
- GSA – Gestational Surrogacy Agreement
- The legal document signed by the IPs and GC (and the GC’s spouse/partner) which outlines the procedures involved and the terms, understandings, rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the parties prior to, during, and after the conception and birth of the child.
- hCG – Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
- HSC – Hysteroscopy
- HSG – Hysterosalpingogram
- ICSI – Intra-cytoplasmic Sperm Injection – spoken as “ick-see”
- A process by which the egg is fertilized by a single sperm retrieved from a semen sample or directly from the testicles. A needle injects the sperm into the egg, which is then left to culture for a few days prior to transfer/cryopreservation.
- IF – Intended Father
- IM – Intended Mother
- IP – Intended Parent
- An individual or couple who commission and become the legal parent(s) of a child birthed by a surrogate.
- IUI – Intrauterine Insemination
- IVF – In Vitro Fertilization
- In vitro fertilization is a process which unites egg and sperm in a lab. It involves hormonal stimulation followed by surgically removing eggs from a person’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory from a donor or intended parent, and transferring one or more embryos to the same person’s uterus or to the uterus of a gestational surrogate in an effort to initiate pregnancy.
- LMP – Last Menstrual Period
- MMR – Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
- NP – Nurse Practitioner
- OB – Obstetrician
- OB/GYN – Obstetrician/Gynecologist
- OHSS – Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
- PBO – Pre-Birth Order
- A court order obtained prior to the child’s birth that orders that the IPs will be recognized as the child’s only legal parents and will be placed on the child’s birth certificate.
- PCOS – Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- PCP – Primary Care Physician
- PGT-A (formerly PGS) – Preimplantation Genetic Testing – Aneuploidy
- A process that uses genetic techniques to verify whether an embryo has the correct number of chromosomes.
- PGT-M (formerly PGD) – Preimplantation Genetic Testing – Metabolic
- PiO – Progesterone in Oil
- POAS – Pee on a Stick (a/k/a Home Pregnancy Test)
- RE – Reproductive Endocrinologist
- An OB/GYN with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine disorders directly or indirectly related to reproduction. Sometimes the acronym REI is used for this field, standing for reproductive endocrinology and infertility. REs oversee the IVF process.
- RP – Recipient Parent
- RPL – Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
- SART – Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology
- SIS – Saline Injection Sonogram
- STD – Sexually Transmitted Disease
- TTC – Trying to Conceive
- TWW – Two Week Wait
- WNL – Within Normal Limits
For more terms and definitions, see RESOLVE’s Infertility Acronyms or The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care.
Medical / IVF Resources
Mental Health Resources
- ASRM – Mental Health Professional Group Directory
- RESOLVE: Professional Services Directory
- Donor Sibling Registry
- Parents Via Egg Donation
- Donor Conception Network
- The Center for Family Building
- Growforth Family Building
- Pregnancy Loss Support Program
- Pregnancy After Loss Support
- Writings of Carole LieberWilkins, LMFT
- Single Mothers By Choice
- Yesh Tikva
Infertility Resources And Support
- Geared toward Jewish Community:
- Geared toward African-American Community:
- Geared toward Cancer Survivors and Patients:
- Fertility Answers (App)
- FertiCalm (App)
LGBT Family Formation Resources
Financing And Grants
- Infertility Benefits:
- Traditional Lending:
- IVF Packages:
- Bundl Fertility
- Many IVF clinics offer package deals in-house
- Financial Coaching:
- Grants:
- Geographically Restricted:
- Bundle of Joy Fund (Carolinas only)
- JFCS (Jewish, Philadelphia only)
- Parental Hope (Cincinnati, OH)
- Gift of Surrogacy Foundation (Georgia only)
- Boston IVF Foundation (New England only)
- Demographically Restricted:
- Men Having Babies GPAP Program (Gay Men or Transwomen)
- A Damn Good Life (breast cancer survivors)
- Hasidah (Jewish)
- Fertility for Colored Girls (Af-Am)
- Jewish Fertility Foundation (Jewish)
- Stardust Jewish Fertility Foundation (Jewish)
- Fertility Preservation Grants:
- Medication Discounts:
Brownstone Surrogacy is licensed as a surrogacy matching program by the New York State Department of Health. Our license number is GS221023. We are proud to be among the few agencies licensed by a governmental regulator.
“Gestation is a marvel, no matter how it is accomplished. But gestation isn’t the real magic. Love is the magic. Love is the only magic.” – Early: An Intimate History of Premature Birth and What It Teaches Us About Being Human by Sarah DiGregorio