One of the top things future Surrogate Mothers come to Proud Fertility asking is what medications they will be taking. As an agency, we don’t have information about surrogacy medications for you specifically.
Every clinic and every Surrogate will require different medications. You may even find that if you have used in vitro fertilization (IVF) before or have been a Surrogate in the past, your medications may be different from one journey to the next.
What if there are medications that I do not want to take or I have questions about?
Surrogacy medication is individual, like other prescriptions.
You will have an opportunity to ask questions about medications during your consultation with your IVF clinic. If there are any medications that you are concerned about taking or would like to know more about, your consultation will be the ideal time to approach these concerns.
It will be important to follow your fertility doctor’s instructions for taking your medication. If at any time you feel that something should change, please contact your clinic before doing anything that is not in line with your protocol.
That said, there are medications that Surrogates and other people who are trying to achieve pregnancy through IVF are most commonly recommended. You will likely be prescribed a combination of the medications we list below.
Medications Most Commonly Used During Surrogacy
Doxycycline is given in tablet form to be taken pre-cycle. It’s an antibiotic and prevents infection.
Estrace or estradiol is an estrogen tablet you take by mouth to help grow your uterine lining and maintain it in early pregnancy. You may experience breast tenderness, nausea, and fluid retention when taking Estrace.
Aspirin in a low dose form, commonly referred to as “Baby Aspirin” among Surrogates can help with cycle stimulation and embryo implantation. Often Surrogate Mothers take Baby Aspirin until they are through the first trimester. You could have an upset stomach, heartburn, and bruise more easily as a result.
Lupron (leuprolide acetate) is an injection given to prevent follicle production and ovulation. Surrogate Mothers taking Lupron may experience headaches, fatigue, and hot flashes.
Medrol or methylprednisolone, a low-dose steroid oral tablet, prevents your auto-immune system from interfering with embryo implantation.
Progesterone, Prometrium, or Endometrin are forms of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone prepares the uterine lining for embryo implantation and maintains early pregnancy. It can be given by vaginal suppository or injection. Surrogate Mothers taking progesterone sometimes experience breast tenderness, discomfort at the injection site, dizziness, and vaginal discharge.
Tetracycline prevents infection and is an antibiotic. It can cause stomach upset.
Estradiol or Vivelle Patches administer estrogen. The hormone estrogen also helps to grow and maintain the uterine lining in early pregnancy. Vivelle Patches are applied to the skin on the abdomen so that the estrogen can be absorbed through the skin. You may notice red rashes and skin irritation at the patch site, and experience nausea and fluid retention.
Only Accept Medical Advice From Your Fertility Clinic
Medications for surrogacy are not something to be debated in Facebook groups or forums. Of course, you may want to discuss what you are taking and any side effects you are experiencing. Your Surrogate Sisters are a great resource for encouragement and empathy.
Avoid seeking medical advice from people who are not medical professionals. The best information about your fertility drugs will be obtained from your IVF clinic. Remember, your clinic wants to see you achieve pregnancy. They are experienced and knowledgeable about how to use and combine surrogacy medications to increase the probability of pregnancy.