Question 1

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE GEORGIA AND LEADERMED FOR MEDICAL TOURISM?

Accepted Answer

We would like to inform you that in vitro fertilization and donation surrogacy, along with plastic surgery and regenerative medicine, are among the most common and important areas of medical tourism at our clinic. In the field of reproductive medicine, we have 25 years of experience as pioneers in the industry. In plastic surgery and regenerative medicine, LeaderMed ranked among the top clinics in Georgia last year.
As for the in vitro fertilization law, it implies that donation and gestational surrogacy is permitted in Georgia.

Article 141
Fertilization with a donor's sperm shall be allowed:
a) In cases of infertility, if there is a risk of transmitting a genetic disease from the husband to the child, or for the fertilization of a single woman, provided that written consent has been obtained from the infertile couple or the single woman. If a child is born, the infertile couple or the single woman shall be deemed the parents, with the responsibilities and authorities proceeding from this fact. The donor shall not have the right to be recognized as the father of the born child.
Article 143
Extracorporeal fertilization (IVF) is allowed:
 • For the treatment of infertility, as well as in cases where there is a risk of transmission of a genetic disease from either the wife or the husband, using sex cells or an embryo from the couple or a donor, provided that the couple’s written consent has been obtained.
 • For the purpose of transferring and growing the embryo obtained through fertilization in the uterus of another woman (“surrogate mother”). The couple’s written consent is obligatory.
The couple is considered to be the parents in the event of childbirth, with the responsibilities and authority ensuing from it. A donor or a “surrogate mother” has no right to be recognized as the parent of the born child.
Article 144
For the purpose of artificial fertilization, it is possible to use female and male sex cells or an embryo preserved by the method of freezing. The period of preservation is determined according to the couple’s wishes and established procedures.

Question 2

IF I, AS A PATIENT, NEED TO UNDERGO A HYSTEROSCOPY OR LAPAROSCOPY BEFORE IVF, WILL I BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SURGERY PERFORMED AT YOUR CLINIC?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our clinic is a multidisciplinary facility, and patients can undergo various laparoscopic procedures.

Question 3

IF MY DONOR OR SURROGATE MOTHER (SM) NEEDS ANY ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES, INCLUDING LAPAROSCOPY, WILL SHE BE ABLE TO DO IT AT YOUR HOSPITAL?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our clinic is a multidisciplinary facility, and patients can undergo various laparoscopic procedures.

Question 4

CAN A PREGNANT SURROGATE MOTHER RECEIVE PRENATAL CARE AT YOUR CLINIC FOR NINE MONTHS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we provide pregnancy care services for patients.

Question 5

SHOULD I HAVE PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC TESTING (PGT) DONE?

Accepted Answer

PGT is a procedure in which a single cell is removed from an IVF embryo for genetic analysis before transfer into the uterus. It is typically recommended for patients who:
 • Are 38 years or older
 • Have a history of recurrent miscarriages
 • Have experienced multiple failed IVF attempts
 • Have a family history of inherited genetic diseases
 • Are carriers of chromosomal abnormalities

Question 6

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET PREGNANT WITH IVF OR DONATION SURROGACY?

Accepted Answer

For IVF, if you are having a fresh embryo transfer (ET), the embryo will be transferred into the uterus after 3–5 days of development. The entire process takes no more than 18–20 days from stimulation.

If you are having a frozen ET, embryos can be stored frozen for an extended period before being thawed and transferred to your uterus.

For donation surrogacy cycles, there is a 2–3 month waiting period before procedures can begin.

Question 7

HOW DOES EGG AND EMBRYO FREEZING WORK?

Accepted Answer

Eggs and embryos are cryopreserved using a process called vitrification, an ultra-rapid freezing technique. Before freezing, they are treated with a cryoprotectant to prevent ice crystal formation. The eggs and embryos are then flash-frozen into a glass-like state, allowing for safe thawing and use at a later time.

Question 8

HOW LONG CAN FROZEN EGGS AND EMBRYOS BE STORED?

Accepted Answer

Since egg and embryo freezing is a relatively new fertility procedure, there is limited data on the exact duration they can be stored. However, many experts believe that, as long as freezing conditions remain stable, eggs and embryos can stay cryopreserved indefinitely.

Question 9

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FRESH AND FROZEN EGG DONOR CYCLES?

Accepted Answer

• FRESH DONOR EGG CYCLE:
In a fresh donor cycle, the egg donor and recipient’s cycles are synchronized. The donor receives fertility medications to stimulate egg development and maturation. The eggs are then retrieved and fertilized with either the recipient's partner’s sperm or donor sperm. Meanwhile, the recipient takes medication to prepare her uterus for embryo transfer.
 • FROZEN DONOR EGG CYCLE:
In a frozen donor cycle, there is no need for cycle synchronization. The donor undergoes ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, but instead of immediate fertilization, the eggs are cryopreserved. When needed, the frozen eggs are thawed, fertilized, and transferred to the recipient.

Question 10

WHO IS THE SURROGATE?

Accepted Answer

A surrogate is a woman who agrees to carry and give birth to a child for another individual or couple, known as the intended parents.

Question 11

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN SURROGATE MEDICAL SCREENING?

Accepted Answer

Surrogate medical screening is a comprehensive process designed to ensure that a surrogate candidate is physically and psychologically fit to carry a pregnancy. The screening typically includes the following components:
1. Medical History Review
2. Physical Examination
3. Laboratory Testing
4. Psychological Evaluation
5. Ultrasound and Gynecological Exam
6. Lifestyle Assessment
7. Insurance and Legal Review

Question 12

GESTATIONAL SURROGACY SUCCESS RATES

Accepted Answer

The success rate of surrogacy can vary based on several factors, including the age and health of the egg donor or intended mother, the quality of the embryos, the health of the surrogate, the number of embryo transfer attempts, and PGT-A tested or not tested embryos.

Question 13

WHAT IS PGT-A TESTING?

Accepted Answer

PGT-A, or Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy, is a type of genetic testing conducted on embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) before they are implanted in the uterus. The primary purpose of PGT-A is to analyze the chromosomes of the embryos to identify any chromosomal abnormalities, particularly aneuploidies, which occur when embryos have an incorrect number of chromosomes.

Question 14

CAN I FIND OUT THE GENDER WITH PGT-A?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) can provide information about the sex (gender) of embryos. Since PGT-A analyzes the chromosomal composition of embryos, it can also determine the presence of sex chromosomes.

Question 15

EMBRYO TRANSFER

Accepted Answer

Embryo transfer is a key step in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, where one or more embryos are placed into the uterus of the intended mother or a gestational surrogate. This procedure is critical for achieving pregnancy after embryos have been created and tested with PGT-A testing.

Question 16

EMBRYO TRANSFER SUCCESS RATE IN GESTATIONAL SURROGACY?

Accepted Answer

The success rate of embryo transfer in gestational surrogacy can vary based on several factors, including the age of the egg provider (intended mother or egg donor), embryo quality, the health of the surrogate, and the overall quality of the fertility clinic's procedures.

Question 17

SURROGACY TIMELINES

Accepted Answer

The timeline for surrogacy can vary significantly based on several factors. On average it takes 16-18 months. Factors affecting are the specific circumstances of the intended parents and the surrogate, the legal processes involved, and the readiness of the fertility clinic.