Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve collected some of the most common questions we hear from Canadian and U.S. families looking at IVF, surrogacy, PGT-A and fertility preservation in Colombia and South America.

General Questions

Why focus on South America, particularly Colombia?

Colombia offers a combination that has become increasingly difficult to find elsewhere: modern IVF care, a legally defined surrogacy framework, and overall cost structures that are significantly lower than those typically seen in North America.

Many established fertility centers in Bogotá operate IVF laboratories built to U.S.-aligned standards, with embryology teams trained in techniques and protocols commonly used across American fertility clinics.

When considering cross-border fertility treatment, what matters most is not geography, but alignment. The medical structure, legal environment, and clinical practices must align with a family’s specific medical profile, goals, and constraints — and not every region meets those criteria for every situation.

The objective is not to promote a destination, but to clarify when a program is medically appropriate, legally sound, and financially realistic.

IVF / ICSI

IVF safety depends on the clinic, the laboratory standards and how well each case is planned and coordinated. The Colombian clinic we work with operates an IVF laboratory built to U.S.-aligned standards, using modern equipment, validated protocols and embryology techniques common in North American programs.

As a senior IVF embryologist, Ethan reviews the medical plan with each family, ensuring that expectations, risks and procedures are aligned with what is considered safe and evidence-based.

The focus is not claiming that Colombia is “the same” as Canada or the U.S.—but confirming that the specific clinic meets the level of medical rigor appropriate for your situation.

In many cases, yes. Routine bloodwork and ultrasounds can often be completed in Canada, the U.S., or your home country, depending on your local provider’s facility and reporting standards. Travel is generally required for embryo creation, transfer and other essential clinical procedures performed at the Colombian clinic.

Before planning travel, Ethan reviews your medical history and the timing of each test or procedure, ensuring that the parts done locally and the parts done in Colombia fit safely into one coordinated plan.

Existing embryo from 3rd party Country and transfer to surrogate in Colombia

In some cases, yes. Intended parents who already have embryos created and stored outside Colombia may be able to transfer those embryos to a gestational surrogate in Colombia. Availability depends on the Colombian clinic’s acceptance criteria, the condition and documentation of the embryos, and compliance with medical, regulatory, and legal requirements at the time of treatment.

Cross-country embryo transfer typically involves coordination between the original IVF clinic, an approved medical transport provider, and the receiving clinic in Colombia. This includes verification of embryo records, cryostorage conditions, chain-of-custody documentation, and import approvals where required. Not all embryos or storage situations are eligible, and each case is reviewed individually.

CanBaby Surrogacy helps intended parents understand whether cross-country embryo transfer is feasible and how it fits into the overall medical plan. The physical transport, regulatory approvals, and legal documentation are handled by licensed medical transport providers and qualified legal professionals, while the Colombian clinic confirms acceptance and transfer readiness.

This option is most often considered by intended parents who have already completed IVF elsewhere and wish to proceed directly to surrogacy in Colombia, rather than repeating an IVF cycle locally. A medical review is required to determine whether this approach is appropriate for your situation.

Self Egg & Self Sperm IVF + Surrogacy (Colombia)

The program includes IVF using your own eggs and sperm (consultation, fertility evaluation, standard stimulation monitoring and lab procedures, embryo creation, and embryo vitrification), plus the surrogacy clinical program (surrogate screening, endometrial preparation, up to three embryo transfer attempts, pregnancy-related clinical care, and procedural/legal process support as defined in the program framework).

Total cost is USD $62,000, structured as USD $7,000 for the IVF component (Self Egg & Self Sperm) and USD $55,000 for the surrogacy program component.

Up to three (3) embryo transfer attempts are included. If additional transfers are required, they are billed separately at USD $3,990 per transfer.

No. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A / PGT) is not included in the IVF component. If requested, it requires separate arrangement and additional cost.

Intended parents who plan to undergo IVF locally in Colombia using their own eggs and sperm, followed by surrogacy within Colombia, and who want a single-country, clinically coordinated process with clearly defined inclusions and costs.

Families typically choose this pathway when they want embryo creation and surrogacy managed within one program in Colombia, with transparent scope, defined screening protocols, and a clear transfer and pregnancy-care structure.

Donor Egg IVF + Surrogacy (Colombia)

The program includes IVF using donor eggs and the intended parent’s sperm , plus the surrogacy clinical program in Colombia.

This typically covers donor screening and matching in accordance with local regulations, IVF consultation and fertility evaluation, standard stimulation monitoring and laboratory procedures, fertilization via IVF/ICSI, embryo creation and vitrification, as well as the surrogacy clinical pathway including surrogate screening, endometrial preparation, embryo transfer, pregnancy-related clinical care, and procedural/legal process support as defined within the program framework.

The total program cost is USD $75,000, structured as a bundled package that includes the donor egg IVF component and the surrogacy program component in Colombia. With guaranteed birth of one living child.

Final confirmation of the treatment plan follows medical record review and clinic approval.

Unlimited transfer until one living birth child. 

No. Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A ) is  included in the standard program with up to 10 embryos for each patient.

This program is best suited for intended parents who require donor eggs to achieve pregnancy and wish to complete both embryo creation and surrogacy within Colombia, using a clinically coordinated, single-country approach with clearly defined program scope and costs.

Families commonly choose this pathway when donor eggs are medically indicated and they prefer embryo creation, donor coordination, and surrogacy to be managed within one integrated program in Colombia, with defined screening standards, structured clinical workflow, and predictable program-level pricing.

Working with CanBaby

CanBaby Surrogacy does not charge intended parents for medical consulting. Our guidance is provided at no cost to families. All medical and legal fees are paid directly to the Colombian clinic and authorised legal providers. There are no bundled packages, no markups and no hidden charges.

That’s completely fine. Many intended parents begin with a simple conversation to understand the medical approach, timeline and overall structure before deciding anything. The purpose of the initial call is clarity—not commitment. You can take the time you need to think, compare and decide what feels medically and financially right for your family.

Ready to explore whether Colombia could be a real option for you?

If you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or simply gathering information, you’re not alone. Book a free, no-obligation consultation and go through your options clearly, calmly, and without pressure.