What is My Surrogacy Journey?
My Surrogacy Journey (MSJ) is a UK not for profit surrogacy organisation, developed following our founders, Michael and Wes’s own surrogacy experience.
Our purpose
Our purpose is to ensure we define a parental pathway through surrogacy that includes everyone equally.
We guide and support all members with unrivalled levels of counselling and practical support, from a trusted network of surrogacy professionals and experts, medics and clinicians, utilising some of the latest technology platforms in the fertility industry. We have considered everything.
Why International
Surrogacy?
Depending on the pathway you choose when weighing up your surrogacy options, choosing international surrogacy is not the cheapest of options.
However, there are many benefits to going overseas for your family building journey, which is why it remains a popular choice.
Why are we tackling the challenges and delays with Canadian surrogacy?
• Average wait time for Canadian surrogates has increased since the pandemic
• Wait times for some intended parents are now exceeding three years
• Onerous surrogacy agency contracts mean intended parents are paying thousands in rematch fees
• Affordable alternatives and excellent standards of healthcare, all packaged in our surrogacy pathway – unrivalled in Mexico City
Mexico City pathway IP criteria
To meet our criteria for the Mexico City pathway, Intended Parents must:
• Be aged under 55 for single or combined age of under 110 for a couple
• Have the ability to get legal status in the country you are returning to
• Have a medical reason surrogacy is needed (psychological or physical)
• Have no relevant criminal convictions
• Participate in psychological evaluation
• Participate in a social & economic assessment
MEXICO CIT Y
Our personal story
Michael & Wes Johnson-Ellis
Michael and Wes are the co-founders of My Surrogacy Journey and are Dads through UK independent surrogacy. They have two children, Talulah was born in 2016, and Duke in 2019.
They built their family through friendship and developed a solid relationship with their gestational surrogate and her family. When it came to eggs, Michael and Wes also had additional help from two donors, one anonymous, and the other a friend.
Michael and Wes are also no stranger to campaigning for change in relation to the UK Law Reform and Healthcare policy, and they continue to work hard in this space.
They are passionate about developing an organisation which is balanced and supports everyone, and through realising the gaps in the journey process, My Surrogacy Journey was created.
When Michael and Wes began their journey, the demand on other not-for-profit organisations meant they had to explore independent surrogacy.
They dived deep into the online surrogacy communities, made a tonne of friends and contacts and began learning about surrogacy - the do’s and don’ts, the clinics who genuinely specialise in surrogacy, egg donor waiting lists, the current law and the reform, the Parental Order process and the limited professional counselling available.
It was clear there was an opportunity to create a new offering for anyone wanting to go down the surrogacy route, combining technology with support, experience with expertise, and ensuring everyone involved in the process is supported equally and has a voice.
They created a membership package unlike anything available, built an experienced team to help support every single member, and brought together a team of fertility and surrogacy experts to form one of the most enviable advisory boards for a surrogacy not-for-profit organisation. My Surrogacy Journey, the new face of surrogacy, was born.
Meet the team
Michael & Wes Johnson-Ellis Our founders
Michael and Wes founded the organisation at the beginning of 2021, following their successful careers within the surrogacy and fertility sector.
Parents via UK surrogacy to their two children, the couples ambition was to create a leading global surrogacy organisation with a difference, which has been undoubtably successful. With their unique outlook and their ability to drive change and improve surrogacy standards internationally. MSJ has become one of the most respected surrogacy organisations globally and our latest Mexico City office is paramount in driving change and improved standards across Mexico, offering surrogates a brand-new outlook and fully inclusive package, only working with exceptional partners and professionals.
Carly Dalgleish Membership Manager (Global)
Carly is very experienced in managing all aspects of a members journey and heads up the whole membership team.
Angela Pericleous-Smith
MSJ Counsellor
Angela Pericleous-Smith is a highly experienced Senior Specialist Fertility Counsellor (AMBICA) at My Surrogacy Journey and has been working with us since 2023.
Angela has specialised in fertility counselling since 2004, working in both the NHS and private practice. She offers counselling to individuals and couples experiencing infertility, secondary infertility, and those who are involuntarily childless. Her focus is on providing patient-centred counselling to help patients make informed choices as they navigate the challenges of fertility, both before, during, and after treatment. Angela is a respected leader in the field of fertility counselling. She is Chair of the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA), a counsellor representative for the British Fertility Society (BFS) and a Trustee for Fertility Alliance (FAUK).
She has worked across several areas of My Surrogacy Journey since she began working for us in April 2022. Carly has been involved in our Mexico City programme since the very beginning and therefore has an excellent understanding of all the legal processes, the healthcare system and the all-round knowledge required for a safe international journey. Her role ensures members have access to all our trusted partners and experts as well as ensuring her team monitor and manage all the necessary paperwork and administration.
Debbie
Evans RGN Clinical and Compliance Director
Debbie joined My Surrogacy Journey in early 2023, and became Clinical and Compliance Director in December.
Lisa Guilfoyle MSJ Counsellor
Lisa has been one of our counsellors since 2022 and is a BICA-approved specialist fertility counsellor who offers a compassionate and supportive approach to clients.
Debbie who is a Fertility Nurse, was the Clinical Services Director at Herts & Essex Fertility Centre from 2007 to November 2023. Debbie qualified as an RGN in 1985 and she specialised for 20+ years in fertility management. Debbie takes ownership of the day-to-day clinical management and compliance for My Surrogacy Journey and ensures both Mexico City and the UK operation have a seamless integration with all the clinical aspects. Debbie also ensures any of our members embryos that are ready for export also meet the necessary screening and compliance requirements.
With a focus on respect, confidentiality, and non-judgment, Lisa provides a safe and nurturing space for individuals at all stages of their fertility journey. Whether you’re considering having a child in the future, actively trying to conceive, undergoing fertility treatment, or exploring alternative options, Lisa is committed to supporting you every step of the way. She understands the range of emotions and challenges that can arise throughout the process. Beyond fertility counselling, Lisa is well-versed in supporting individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, work-related stress, and other life challenges. Her holistic approach ensures comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of your well-being.
Fernanda Lopez
Surrogate Membership Manager - Mexico City
Fernanda López is a feminist activist who believes in our purpose of creating a safe and supported pathway through surrogacy and helping people to fulfil their dream of a family.
Fernanda studied childcare and preschool education and worked for many years in baby care and as a Montessori guide. An egg donor herself, she became interested in the process and began to research and educate herself on the subject. Over time, she continued to donate eggs and help families and learnt more about the entire process of egg donation and surrogacy. Over the years she has helped many women to carry out their donation process safely as well as helping intended parents through surrogacy. Fernanda was an obvious addition to our team due to her desire to help us set the standard in Mexico City.
Dr Alejandro Leyva
Resident Medical Officer - Mexico City
Dr Alejandro Leyva is a certified general practitioner from Mexico City with a special interest in obstetrics and reproductive medicine.
Dr Leyva has a firm belief in quality, ethics and diversity and through this and his experience in training others, he hopes to help build a better understanding of the surrogacy process and to fulfil the dreams of our members on their journey.Through his passion to help others, he will provide professional, emotional and medical support to his patients through his with warm and personalised approach.
Andrea Vázquez López
Intended Parent Membership ManagerMexico City
Andrea fell in love with the world of surrogacy thanks to a family member who due to a medical condition was unable to carry a baby.
Andrea helped her cousin find a surrogate and through doing so she came to meet with other families in the same situation. Andrea went on to work in a clinic but she didn’t feel the surrogates were getting the support they deserved, but when she learnt about My Surrogacy Journey she immediately knew that this was a team she wanted to work with due to the support the surrogates receive. A mother of two children, she knows how wonderful it is to be a mother, so she loves to contribute something to change the opinion of surrogacy in Mexico and help more people share this incredible dream.
Jessica Blanco Intended Parent Concierge ManagerMexico City
Jessica became a mother at a very young age, and it was becoming one that led her to realise that bringing a child into the world is not as straightforward for everyone.
Jessica wanted to help others achieve their dream of becoming parents and explored how she might be able to. At first she tried to donate her eggs, but sadly found out that she was not a viable donor.Not one to give up that easily, Jessica continued to explore the world of donation, by doing what she could to raise awareness. Through doing so she learnt all about surrogacy and felt that she could support intended parents through their journey.Jessica is passionate about being a part of the My Surrogacy Journey team. A place where as she says “I found not only shared dreams and empathy but also the conviction to change the world of surrogacy for the benefit of future families.”
Also seen in
Why did we create a Mexico City pathway?
Family building for Canadian intended parents via international surrogacy has evolved since 2016 when India and Thailand were removed from the destination list, both of which were very popular destinations for those turning to surrogacy.
Since then, Canadian parents sought new riskier options. Ukraine, Greece, Georgia and Cyprus became the rapidly emerging destination for those parents who were working to a specific budget.
The US was seen as too expensive with costs over $250k for a single journey, and Canada’s long waits to be matched was no longer possible for many.
What is a travelling surrogate and why should I be concerned?
As a result, people are turning to several other emerging destinations, many of which are exploitative, (some already at risk of closure) which use travelling surrogates (also referred to as a ‘trafficked surrogate’) across various jurisdictions where a surrogate is made to live away from all of her support network and other children if she has more than one child (in the cases of Cyprus, Greece, Georgia and Ukraine).
My Surrogacy Journey and our Advisory Board do not recommend the above destinations.
Ultimate support; bundled in an inclusive costed and affordable package
At My Surrogacy Journey, we recognised that there was a need to provide our members with a safe pathway for international surrogacy. We spent time with fertility and medical professionals and a specialist human rights lawyer, all in Mexico City, to develop the Mexico City pathway for intended parents. A pathway that is:
Safe, supported, guided, detailed and covers every element of your journey
An inclusive destination, available for everyone
An option for people with a cost point
Ethical and non-exploitive
This reflects in the partners we have engaged; one in particular is a specialist human rights lawyer working to protect women in Mexico City.
When designing this pathway in 2022, we physically met with every single partner during our time in Mexico City, including all medical and fertility professionals and lawyers in Mexico City, to ensure our pathway is the safest and most efficient option for Canadian intended parents who are choosing a route to parenthood, other than in the Canada and North America.
Pre-birth orders in Mexico City
Surrogacy is legal in Mexico City, but it doesn’t have a specific law that governs it so this falls under the Mexico City family courts remit.
Essentially your Mexican lawyers will submit a prebirth order application to the courts when your surrogate is at 14 weeks gestation. This order asks the courts to recognise the surrogacy pregnancy and recognise the intended parents as the legal parents, not the surrogate, before birth and to issue an order to this effect.
There are lots of elements included within this application and the courts will look to ensure both the intended parents and the surrogate are being safeguarded and there are protections in place for everyone involved. They’ll also check that both parties are entering into this arrangement of their own free will and without coercion.
Both parties will need to have independent legal representation, have a contract in place between them, take part in a psychological assessment, a social and economic assessment and other documentation. We support you and our surrogate with all of this.
“For us, creating a safe pathway, that was available to all, that was both ethical and non-exploitative was always our ambition.”
Will the surrogate be listed as a parent on the birth certificate?
Mexico City can list the surrogate as a surrogate, which is a unique situation.
There are two elements to the birth. The first is the acknowledgment of the birth which lists the surrogate as a surrogate, along with the birth details. The second part of the birth certificate is the official birth certificate, and this lists the intended parents as the parents and does not mention the surrogate.
Therefore, by naming the surrogate as the surrogate, and getting your pre-birth order agreed in advance (submitted from 14-21 weeks gestation) in a court of law in Mexico City the surrogate has no legal parentage.
Naming the surrogate as a parent on the birth certificate and naming the biological father as the second parent is not recommended. Not only is this committing an offence in Mexico City, as you would be lying to a government official in Mexico City. It also means the surrogate has a legal right to the child.
Future parental orders will remove the surrogate as any legal parent in the IP’s home country.. So, in Mexico if you name her as parent, she remains a legal parent.
The exit process – returning home with your baby
Once your baby is born the hospital will issue a document which acknowledges the birth and detail all of the relevant information about the birth and the baby, this also details the surrogates name as a surrogate and not as the mother of the baby.
This document is then taken to the registry in Mexico City with your pre-birth order and they will then issue the official birth certificate with only the names of the intended parents on it.
The official birth certificate is then the trigger to be able to apply for passports or appropriate travel documentation for your baby in readiness to leave Mexico City and return home.
Access and eligibility to a Canadian passport will be assessed by us at the start of your journey to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for your child to get a Canadian passport in Mexico City. We need to ensure that we have a clear understanding of what your exit strategy is so we can be sure that we have considered every option available.
Proud to work with
Giving back
It’s always been really important to Wes and Michael that they are able to invest into Mexico City, by supporting other families.
That’s why we’re proud to be working with El Caracol, a charity based in Mexico City that provides psychological and emotional support to vulnerable children and families living on the streets in Mexico. City.
Your membership with My Surrogacy Journey
No other surrogacy organisation in the UK has been founded by parents through surrogacy. This is one of the main reasons people choose us and this is why you can be confident the team at My Surrogacy Journey knows how to navigate your care and keep you safe both emotionally and professionally.
We all know surrogacy can be a lonely place to navigate, and when you don’t know, what you don’t know how are you even meant to navigate a journey in another country, let alone when you can’t speak the language? That’s why we created this organisation; to give you all the guidance and professional and emotional support available but deliver it when you need it.
Our members come first and it’s important that you feel listened to, feel welcomed and feel understood – because our founders have been there too, and so have members of our team. Our membership is meant to feel special; we want you to feel exclusive, and the benefits we offer and the partners we work with are all from our founders personal network. Membership is considered, its innovative and its totally created around your needs to parenthood.
We offer the following pathways which come with their own membership benefits:
1. Intended parents concierge - Shipping embryos (those with embryos in Canada already wishing to import)
2. Intended parents concierge - Embryo creation (with or without an egg donor)
3. Surrogate membership
4. Parallel sibling journey (to achieve two pregnancies with two surrogates, with six months of each other)
Intended parents concierge membership
Our intended parents membership provides you with the safest and most efficient option for Canadian intended parents who are choosing a route to parenthood, other than in Canada and North America.
This is reflected in the partners we have engaged; one in particular is a specialist human rights lawyer working to protect women in Mexico City. When designing this pathway in 2022, we physically met with every single partner during our time in Mexico City, including all medical and fertility professionals and lawyers.
Parallel sibling journey membership (to achieve two pregnancies with two surrogates, with six months of each other)
One of the common questions we get asked is about twin pregnancies and does Mexico City allow double embryo transfers. In short, the answer is yes. However, we will always look to take clinical guidance especially connected to the safety of surrogates and the welfare of the child.
Twin pregnancies are risky, and when your surrogate is in a different country, managing your birth becomes more challenging and, in some cases, intended parents have missed the birth of their children as multiple births often arrive sooner, which may involve a stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Instead, we’re pleased to be able to offer the Mexico City Parallel Membership as an additional bolt on to our Mexico City Concierge and Mexico City Surrogate Memberships.
This option means that our Mexico City team would match you to two surrogates, within the required timeframe and manage both journeys to ensure both your embryo transfers happen together and we achieve a confirmed pregnancy for both surrogates. For you to qualify for the legal fees at the capped rates within the package the births would need to happen within six months of each other.
Supporting your surrogate
It is our promise to our members that surrogates are provided with the necessary emotional, practical, and logistical support at every stage of the surrogacy journey.
The safeguarding, education and health of your surrogate is at the heart of what we do and this is reflected in the partners we work with in Mexico City and Canada. The wellbeing of any woman will not be compromised in the pursuit of a surrogacy agreement.
All surrogates reside in Mexico City and they each will be represented legally by a specialist human rights lawyer to ensure there is zero exploitation or coercion involved in their decision making to be a surrogate.
Medical screening and background checks will take place to protect the safety of all women choosing to be a surrogate.
Timeline
The Mexico City pathway will take approximately 15 – 18 months.
Pre-birth
Month 1-3
IP onboarding surrogate screening and surrogate match
IP legal assessment for return process
Months 4-5
Embryo creation/shipping
Legal contracts in place – IPs & Surrogate
Preparing for Embryo Transfer
Embryo Transfer
Month 8
Pregnancy (12 weeks’ gestation)
Introduction to obstetrics team
Pre-birth order court application submitted
Month 12
Preparation with lawyers for legal process for return (26 weeks’ gestation)
Months 12-15
Preparing for birth (26-40 weeks’ gestation)
Post birth
Month 1
Birth certificate issued and passport application
Preparing for return home
Mexico City Concierge Membership Benefits Shipping Embryos
Getting started
• Welcome gift
• UK Based co-ordination team
• Translation services
• MSJ guide to Surrogacy in Mexico City
• MSJ “Your Journey” app
Clinical & Emotional Support
• Clinical consultation with MSJ Clinical & Compliance Director
• Embryo and Screening assessment
• Consultation with MSJ Embryologist to understand your embryo status
• Clinical consultation with Mexican Medical Director
– Mexican Clinic
• Four hours of specialist BICA accredited fertility and family forming counselling
The Legals
• Immigration assessment to understand your status at the start of your journey
• Legal consultation with your chosen Canadian lawyer to help you prepare for your return following the birth of your baby
• Legal consultation with your Mexican lawyer to help you understand the whole legal process in Mexico City
• Psychological assessment for Surrogate as part of the legal process in Mexico City, this includes legalisation and any translations costs
• Discounted will writing service
• Criminal records and identity check which is part of the legal process
Practical Support
• Mexico City office and dedicated in-county team to support you while you are in Mexico City
• Social and economic assessment which forms part of the legal process
• Document preparation assistance to help you be efficient with what documents are needed and in what format to facilitate your journey
• Accommodation support service for Mexico City
• Equipment loan service for when your baby arrives so you don’t have to take everything with you
• Mexican SIM card for your arrival to assist with communication when in Mexico City
• Assistance with international money transfer
• Airport meet and greet when arriving to prepare for the birth of your baby
• First night’s hotel accommodation provided when arriving to prepare for the birth of your baby
• VIB (very important baby) service to pick you up from the hospital and take you and your new arrival back to your accommodation
• Travel and new baby essentials list
• Travel concierge service to assist you with all your travel needs including changing airline tickets when your dates are hard to predict
• Payment schedule planning to help you manage your monthly journey related outgoings
• Baby discount directory
• Canadian Passport application, we will manage this on your behalf once a birth certificate has been issued
Clinic
• Management and shipping of your embryo/s via our hand carry shipping partner from Canada to our Mexico City partner clinic
• Fertility nurse support throughout
Pregnancy
• The Mindful Birth support package, to help you prepare for your surrogate’s pregnancy and your baby’s birth
• Baby first aid classes
• Postnatal education support
Birth & Post birth
• Preparing for your baby programme
• Three midwife home visits post-birth to support you in your first weeks as new parents
• Paediatric Consultants visit when preparing to travel back to your home country to ensure your baby is fit to fly
• Advise on your baby’s immunisations
• Intended Parent and baby gift
Corporate Social Responsibility
• Carbon offsetting for your flights to and from Mexico City including the flight that carried your embryos
• Charitable donation to MSJ’s nominated charity in Mexico City to ensure you are giving back to the local community
Mexico City Concierge Membership Benefits Creating Embryos
Getting started
• Welcome gift
• UK Based co-ordination team
• Translation services
• MSJ guide to Surrogacy in Mexico City
• Egg donor options consultation
• MSJ “Your Journey” app
Clinical & Emotional Support
• Clinical consultation with MSJ Clinical & Compliance Director
• Consultation with MSJ Embryologist to understand your embryo status
• Clinical consultation with Mexican Medical Director – Mexican Clinic
• Four hours of specialist BICA accredited fertility and family forming counselling
• Genetic counselling sessions for CGT plus carrier screening
The Legals
• Immigration assessment to understand your status at the start of your journey
• Legal consultation with your chosen Canadian attorney to help you prepare for your return following the birth of your baby
• Legal consultation with your Mexican lawyer to help you understand the whole legal process in Mexico City
• Psychological assessment for both intended parents as part of the legal process in Mexico City, this included legalisation and any translations costs
• Discounted will writing service
• Criminal records and identity check which is part of the legal process
Practical Support
• Parental rights in the workplace consultation
• Mexico City office and dedicated in-county team to support you while you are in Mexico City
• Social and economic assessment which forms part of the legal process
• Document preparation assistance to help you be efficient with what documents are needed and in what format to facilitate your journey
• Accommodation support service for Mexico City
• Equipment loan service for when your baby arrives so you don’t have to take everything with you
• Mexican SIM card for your arrival to assist with communication when in Mexico City
• Assistance with international money transfer
• Airport meet and greet when arriving to prepare for the birth of your baby
• First night’s hotel accommodation provided when arriving to prepare for the birth of your baby
• VIB (very important baby) service to pick you up from the hospital and take you and your new arrival back to your accommodation
• Travel and new baby essentials list
• Travel concierge service to assist you with all your travel needs including changing airline tickets when your dates are hard to predict
• Payment schedule planning to help you manage your monthly journey related outgoings
• Baby discount directory
• Canadian Passport application, we will manage this on your behalf once a birth certificate has been issued
Clinic
• Lab quality Semen analysis through one of our partner clinics
• Fit for fertility treatment assessment
• Pre Mexico-City trip screening through one of our partner clinics
• Fertility nurse support throughout
Pregnancy
• The Mindful Birth support package, to help you prepare for your surrogate’s pregnancy and your baby’s birth
• Baby first aid classes
• Postnatal education support
Birth & Post birth
• Preparing for your baby programme
• Three midwife home visits post-birth to support you in your first weeks as new parents
• Paediatric Consultants visit when preparing to travel back to your home country to ensure your baby is fit to fly
• Advise on your baby’s immunisations
• Intended Parent and baby gift
Corporate Social Responsibility
• Carbon offsetting for your flights to and from Mexico City including the flight that carried your embryos (if applicable) for this pathway route
• Charitable donation to MSJ’s nominated charity in Mexico City to ensure you are giving back to the local community
Mexico City Surrogate Membership Membership Benefits
Getting started
• Welcome gift
• Surrogate profile building and translation
• Surrogate compensation and expenses explained
• Relationship management support
• Surrogate identity and police check
• Support with working with international Intended Parents
• Dedicated Mexico City based MSJ Surrogate Concierge Manager
• MSJ “Your journey” app
Clinical & Emotional Support
• Clinical consultation with MSJ Mexican Clinical & Compliance Director
• Clinical assessment to proceed including screening
• Clinical consultation with Mexican Medical Director
– Mexican Clinic
• Five hours of specialist fertility and family forming counselling
• Surrogate home welfare assessment by a social worker
The Legals
• Surrogate appointed independent Mexican lawyer to assist with all legal aspects including a consultation to ensure she fully understands the legal implications of being a Surrogate
• Surrogate will undergo a legal assessment to ensure she meets the legal requirements for surrogacy and all of her documentation is checked ahead of being matched with Intended Parents
• Psychological assessment for the surrogate as part of the legal process in Mexico City, this includes legalisation and any translations costs
Practical Support
• 24 hour dedicated surrogate helpline
• Minor medical insurance cover
• Surrogate specific information events
• Social and economic assessment which forms part of the legal process
• Gold Annual pass for a family of 4 to 6 flags amusement park or a weekend break to the value of £500
• Transport service to and from appointments
• Android device for the duration of the journey including calls and data
Clinic
• Fit for fertility treatment assessment
• Education on the clinic process including medication
• Nutritionist and healthy eating support
• Fertility nurse support throughout
Pregnancy
• The Mindful Birth support package, to help your Surrogate prepare for your surrogacy pregnancy
• Information on nutrition and healthy lifestyle
• Midwife support throughout the journey
• Surrogate yoga and meditation classes
• Pregnancy massage
Birth & Post birth
• Dedicated MSJ birth coordinator to ensure everything is planned and everyone is communicated to
• The Mindful Birth support package, to help your Surrogate prepare for your surrogacy birth
• Lactation specialist support
• Breast pumping equipment loan service
• Post birth counselling
• Weight management support programme
• Surrogate pamper pack
• Transport to and from the hospital
Mexico City Concierge Membership Benefits
Parallel Sibling Journey
For Intended Parents
• Legal fees associated to international parental order application on return to the UK with your second baby*(conditions and exclusions apply)
• VIB (very important baby) service to pick you up from the hospital and take you and your new arrival back to your accommodation
• Three midwife home visits post-birth to support you in your first weeks as new parents
• Paediatric Consultants visit when preparing to travel back to your home country to ensure your baby is fit to fly
• UK Passport application, we will manage this on your behalf once a birth certificate has been issued
For your Surrogates
Getting started
• Welcome gift
• Surrogate profile building and translation
• Surrogate compensation and expenses explained
• Relationship management support
• Surrogate identity and police check
• Support with working with international Intended Parents
• Dedicated Mexico City based MSJ Surrogate co-ordinator
Clinical & Emotional Support
• Clinical consultation with MSJ Mexican Clinical & Compliance Director
• Clinical assessment to proceed including screening
• Clinical consultation with Mexican Medical Director – Mexican Clinic
• Five hours of specialist fertility and family forming counselling
• Surrogate home welfare assessment by a social worker
The Legals
• Surrogates appointed independent Mexican lawyer to assist with all legal aspects including a consultation to ensure she fully understands the legal implications of being a surrogate
• Surrogates will undergo a legal assessment to ensure they meet the legal requirements for surrogacy and all of their documentation is checked ahead of being matched with Intended Parents
• Psychological assessment for the surrogates as part of the legal process in Mexico City, this includes legalisation and any translations costs
Practical Support
• 24 hour dedicated surrogate helpline
• Minor medical insurance cover
• Surrogate specific information events
• Social and economic assessment which forms part of the legal process
• Gold Annual pass for a family of 4 to 6 flags amusement park or a weekend break to the value of £500
• Transport service to and from appointments
• iPhone or Android device for the duration of the journey including calls and data
Clinic
• Fit for fertility treatment assessment
• Education on the clinic process including medication
• Nutritionist and healthy eating support
• Fertility nurse support throughout
Pregnancy
• The Mindful Birth support package, to help your Surrogate prepare for your surrogacy pregnancy
• Information on nutrition and healthy lifestyle
• Midwife support throughout the journey
• Surrogate yoga and meditation classes
• Pregnancy massage
Birth & Post birth
• The Mindful Birth support package, to help your Surrogates prepare for birth
• Lactation specialist support
• Breast pumping equipment loan service
• Post birth counselling
• Weight management support programme
• Surrogate pamper pack
• Transport to and from the hospital
• Dedicated MSJ birth coordinator to ensure everything is planned and everyone is communicated to
Mexico City pathway partners
Surrogate Independent Legal Team
Sofia Aguiar
Sofia is a lawyer specialising in sexual and reproductive rights in Mexico.
She studied her LL.B. at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics and later studied the Psychosocial aid of victims of violence at Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA).
Within her professional experience, she has provided legal counselling and aid for sexual and reproductive rights.
She also collaborated in the Mexican Election Tribunal, where she focused on cases regarding political violence based on gender and civil and political rights of the LGBT+ community and indigenous communities in Mexico.
Ximena Mendoza Ramirez
Ximena is a human rights lawyer who has focused her practice on constitutional litigation.
She has studies in legal defence and support for victims of violence and currently defends cases related to reproductive rights.
She also works with the civil society organizations focused on the human rights of street populations, where she represents cases regarding family separation, motherhood and children’s rights.
Intended Parents Legal Team
Ayala, Arcipreste & Associates
Melissa Ayala García
Melissa is a lawyer specializing in constitutional law, human rights and feminist legal theory.
Within her professional experience, she has dedicated herself to the defense of sexual and reproductive rights and the eradication of political violence based on gender, as well as the development of tools to eradicate sexual harassment in universities and workplaces.
Her practice in the private sector has focused in the legal advisory and representation of fertility clinics, and both surrogates and intended parents involved in surrogacy agreements.
Enrique Arcipreste Morales
Enrique has undergone specialization courses in human rights, health, bioethics and biolaw at the American University Washington College of Law, the Universidad del Rosario and the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
He has collaborated with different Mexican civil society organizations, such as Sin Fronteras I.A.P. and the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights (CMDPDH), and international organizations including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as a specialist during the preparation of the National Report on the Exercise of Sexual and Reproductive Rights.
Likewise, he has taught classes at the bachelor’s and master’s levels at the Ibero-American University and specialized courses on surrogacy to judges of the Superior Court of Justice of Mexico City.
Mexican
Clinic - Embryo Shipping Fertilidad Integral
Dr José Gutiérrez
An exceptional and word class fertility clinic with a holistic approach to care and wellbeing.
Dr José Gutiérrez will manage all aspects of your treatment supported by his exceptional team of embryologists, nurses and nutritionist.
José is not only passionate about fertility and the coolest doctor, but also a true expert. He studied medicine at La Salle, gynaecology and obstetrics at Hospital Angeles Lomas, and reproductive biology at Hospital Angeles del Pedregal. He has done medical residencies at the fertility center of the Ku Leuven University Hospital in Belgium, attended the reproductive medicine seminar at the open medical institute in Salzburg, Austria, and worked at the fertility clinic of the ABC Hospital.
Obstetrician
Dr. Florencia Covarrubias Haiek
Dr Covarrubias is a Mexican board certified obstetrics and gynaecology specialist.
Born in Mexico City, she went through medical school and residency here, gaining two certifications in clinical sexology and now also works as a teacher in Anahuac University.
She runs a private practice in one of Mexico´s City most important hospitals, Hospital Angeles Pedregal. Dr. Covarrubias and her team specialise in respectful/ humanised childbirth, taking care of surrogate and baby from the first weeks of pregnancy. Not only this, but she believes that the IP’s are involved in the pregnancy and works with everyone to ensure this happens.
Mexican Clinic - Embryo Creation Umare
Dr. Edgar Alonso Cruz
Dr. Edgar Alonso Cruz is a highly experienced gynecologist specialised in reproductive and infertility problems, as well as assisted reproduction treatments.
After obtaining his medical degree from the Universidad La Salle , he completed post graduate studies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as well as a sub specialty degree in Biology of Human Reproduction, both with honours, at the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM).
Dr. Cruz furthered his studies with a master’s degree in e-Health: information technology and health management from Universidad Ramón Llull in Barcelona, and is currently completing a PhD program in Health Sciences at Madrid’s Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.
As a specialist in reproductive medicine, Dr. Cruz has worked at the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad in Madrid and Alicante, Spain, as well as at the Minifiv Reproduction Clinic in Madrid.
Los Angeles Pedregal Hospital
We’re proud to deliver your care with our Obstetrician, Dr Covarrubias, at the prestigious Los Angeles Pedregal Hospital to provide our surrogates and IP’s with the best level of care available.
Los Angeles Pedregal Hospital provides everything you need to take care of you and the baby. The most prestigious hospital in Mexico City, they have the most up to date technology and equipment as well as a network of the best doctors in Mexico.
We know that our members will be looked after and cared for to the standard we expect at My Surrogacy Journey.
“It’s so important to us that our members can be cared for at the best hospital in Mexico City, to provide surrogates with the highest level of care available”
Michael and Wes Johnson-Ellis
Surrogate obstetrics care and appointments that are included in your hospital care:
WK12
WK16
Obstetrics
Obstetrics
WK23-24 Foetal Medicine Specialist
WK27
WK31
Obstetrics
Obstetrics
WK34 Foetal Medicine Specialist
WK36
WK37
WK38
WK39
Obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics
Payment schedules
We recognise how important managing cost is when on an international surrogacy journey, we committed to try and make this pathway as accessible as possible, the only element we are not able to influence is the foreign exchange rates when paying for services in Mexican Peso.
The total price we have stated below is subject to FX changes and we have stated the FX rates are calculated on, your coordinator will be able to help you understand the payment schedule in more detail.
Mexico City Concierge Membership - Shipping Embryos Payment Type
Canadian Costs
Mexico City Concierge Membership
Stage 1 Payment - On signing contract
Stage 2 Payment - Prior to shipping
Mexico City Surrogate Membership
Stage 1 Payment - To start the surrogate search process
Stage 2 payment - Once matched with your surrogate Medical screening for surrogate - paid to MSJ once matched
Mexican lawyers’ fees (fixed fees) including surrogates legal fees
Stage 1 Payment - Surrogate has medical clearance, contracts preparation begins
Stage 2 Payment - when case is presented to the courts for pre-birth order
Stage 3 Payment - when birth certificate and passport is issued
Clinic fees
Embryo reception and storage per year
Embryo transfer
Medication on confirmation of a positive pregnancy and up to 12 weeks
Medical costs
Obstetrics monitoring the pregnancy including ultrasound scans and medication
Medical care at delivery, including C-section, anaesthesia, and medication
Hospital delivery room
Surrogate costs
Vitamin supplements during pregnancy
Maternity Clothing
Life Insurance (annual policy) - MSJ will start policy before matching
Major medical insurance - MSJ will start policy before matching
Surrogate compensation – monthly once heartbeat scan confirmation
Surrogate compensation
Month 1-10 (before the 5th of every month)
Final payment on completion of legal proceedings
Additional compensation
Embryo transfer including meals
Monthly compensation from signing contract to embryo transfer
USD$14,600
USD$7,950
USD$4,750
USD$17,100
USD$10,100
USD$7,000
MXN$19,000
MXN$193,000
MXN$77,200
MXN$57,900
MXN$57,900
MXN$20,000
MXN$48,340
MXN$15,720
MXN$32,000
MN$50,000
MXN$40,000
MXN$4,000
MXN$15,000
MXN$5,564
MXN$40,000
MXN$310,000
MXN$28,000 /month
MXN$30,000
MXN$15,000 MXN$1,000 /month
Mexico City Concierge Membership - Creating Embryos Payment Type
Canadian Costs
Mexico City Concierge Membership
Stage 1 Payment - On signing contract
Mexico City Surrogate Membership
Stage 1 Payment - To start the surrogate search process
Stage 2 payment - Once matched with your surrogate
Medical screening for surrogate - paid to MSJ once matched
Mexican lawyers’ fees (fixed fees) including surrogates legal fees
Stage 1 Payment - Surrogate has medical clearance, contracts preparation begins
Stage 2 Payment - when case is presented to the courts for pre-birth order
Stage 3 Payment - when birth certificate and passport is issued
Clinic fees
Embryo reception and storage per year
IVF Package - inc. MX Egg Donor, 3 embryo transfers and PGS testing (2 embryos)
Medication on confirmation of a positive pregnancy and up to 12 weeks
Medical costs
Obstetrics monitoring the pregnancy including ultrasound scans and medication
Medical care at delivery, including C-section, anaesthesia, and medication
Hospital delivery room
Surrogate costs
Vitamin supplements during pregnancy
Maternity Clothing
Life Insurance (annual policy) - MSJ will start policy before matching
Major medical insurance - MSJ will start policy before matching
Surrogate compensation – monthly once heartbeat scan confirmation
Surrogate compensation
Month 1-10 (before the 5th of every month)
Final payment on completion of legal proceedings
Additional compensation
Embryo transfer including meals
Monthly compensation from signing contract to embryo transfer
Potential additional costs to be aware of
Additional Surrogate compensation for multiple pregnancy
Additional Surrogate compensation for C-Section
Additional Surrogate compensation for hospitalisation pre-birth
Additional surrogate compensation for complete bed rest
Additional Surrogate compensation for cycle without transfer
Domestic assistance for Surrogate due to bed rest
Second Intended parent creating embryos
Second semen deposit
Sperm washing for HIV+ Intended Parents
Embryo reception and storage for second intended parent
Newborn insurance for your baby
USD$10,400
USD$17,100
USD$10,100
USD$7,000
MXN$19,000
MXN$193,000
MXN$77,200
MXN$57,900
MXN$57,900
MXN$10,000
MXN$215,000
MXN$20,000
MXN$32,000
MN$50,000
MXN$40,000
MXN$4,000
MXN$15,000
MXN$5,564
MXN$40,000
MXN$310,000
MXN$28,000 /month MXN$30,000
MXN$15,000
/month
MXN$120,000
MXN$37,000
MXN$1000 /day
MXN$8000 / month
MXN$7000
MXN$1440 /week
MXN£15,000
MXN£15,000
MXN$20,000
MXN$10,000 per year
USD$7000 - $9000
Egg donor outside of CDMX will have additional expenses for travel and accommodation, the cost will depend on her specific circumstances
Add on costs
NACE 24 – non-invasive prenatal screening test (after 10 weeks gestation)
Carrier Screening – CGT Plus for Egg donor
Carrier Screening - CGT Plus for Intended Parents
MXN$15,500
MXN$22,000
GBP£560 PGS Testing per additional embryo MXN$10,000
if
Mexico City Concierge Membership - Parallel Sibling Journey Payment Type
Canadian Costs
Mexico City Concierge Membership
Stage 1 Payment - On signing contract
Mexico City Surrogate Membership
Stage 1 Payment - To start the surrogate search process
Stage 2 payment - Once matched with your surrogate
Medical screening for surrogate - paid to MSJ once matched
Mexican lawyers’ fees (fixed fees) including surrogates legal fees
Stage 1 Payment - Surrogate has medical clearance, contracts preparation begins
Stage 2 Payment - when case is presented to the courts for pre-birth order
Stage 3 Payment - when birth certificate and passport is issued
Clinic fees
Embryo transfer
Medication on confirmation of a positive pregnancy and up to 12 weeks
Medical costs
Obstetrics monitoring the pregnancy including ultrasound scans and medication
Medical care at delivery, including C-section, anaesthesia, and medication
Hospital delivery room
Surrogate costs
Vitamin supplements during pregnancy
Maternity Clothing
Life Insurance (annual policy) - MSJ will start policy before matching
Major medical insurance - MSJ will start policy before matching
Surrogate compensation – monthly once heartbeat scan confirmation
Surrogate compensation
Month 1-10 (before the 5th of every month)
Final payment on completion of legal proceedings
Additional compensation
Embryo transfer including meals
Monthly compensation from signing contract to embryo transfer
USD$3,800
USD$13,300
USD$6,650
USD$6,650
MXN$19,000
MXN$140,000
MXN$48,000
MXN$46,000
MXN$46,000
MXN$48,340
MXN$15,720
MXN$32,000
MN$50,000
MXN$40,000
MXN$4,000
MXN$15,000
MXN$5,564
MXN$40,000
MXN$310,000
MXN$28,000 /month
MXN$30,000
MXN$15,000
MXN$1000 /month
Indicative cost USD$59,400
MEXICO CIT Y