ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership Releases Policy Report on Gestational Carrier Pregnancies
January 27, 2026
For Immediate Release
Washington, DC — The ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership (CPL) released a new report examining gestational carrier policy in the United States, offering an evidence-based framework and key policy considerations for lawmakers. Gestational carrier (GC) arrangements provide a family-building option for patients with documented medical indications using embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) transferred to the uterus of a GC who is not the genetic parent of the child.
The report, Gestational Carrier Policy in the United States: Regulatory Overview and Key Considerations for Policy Development, outlines key policy considerations for lawmakers evaluating gestational carrier legislation, informed by clinical guidance from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, including:
“As policymakers and courts grapple with questions surrounding gestational carriers and assisted reproduction, it is critical that they ground policy decisions in clinical data and established medical standards,” said Rebecca O’Connor, JD, Director of the ASRM CPL. “This report is intended to help decision-makers separate anecdotes from evidence, protect patients and gestational carriers, and avoid unintended consequences that could undermine access to medically indicated care.”
Gestational carrier pregnancies remain rare in the United States, occurring at a rate of approximately 13.7 per 100,000 deliveries nationwide. While use has increased gradually over time, gestational carriers account for just 1.5 percent of assisted reproductive technology cycles, underscoring that these arrangements represent a highly specialized form of medically indicated care rather than a widespread practice. For some hopeful parents, including many same-sex couples and patients who cannot carry a pregnancy, gestational carriers are the only pathway to having a biologically related child.
The full report is available here.
For Immediate Release
Washington, DC — The ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership (CPL) released a new report examining gestational carrier policy in the United States, offering an evidence-based framework and key policy considerations for lawmakers. Gestational carrier (GC) arrangements provide a family-building option for patients with documented medical indications using embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) transferred to the uterus of a GC who is not the genetic parent of the child.
The report, Gestational Carrier Policy in the United States: Regulatory Overview and Key Considerations for Policy Development, outlines key policy considerations for lawmakers evaluating gestational carrier legislation, informed by clinical guidance from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, including:
- Weighing the real-world consequences of new laws, including how they impact patients, healthcare providers, and taxpayers, to ensure that any resulting costs are clearly justified by a demonstrable public benefit.
- Ensuring transparency, informed consent, and access to independent legal counsel so gestational carriers and intended parents clearly understand their rights and responsibilities.
- Aligning laws with established medical standards, including evidence-based screening, testing, and psychological evaluation, to protect the health of gestational carriers and support safe, healthy family building.
“As policymakers and courts grapple with questions surrounding gestational carriers and assisted reproduction, it is critical that they ground policy decisions in clinical data and established medical standards,” said Rebecca O’Connor, JD, Director of the ASRM CPL. “This report is intended to help decision-makers separate anecdotes from evidence, protect patients and gestational carriers, and avoid unintended consequences that could undermine access to medically indicated care.”
Gestational carrier pregnancies remain rare in the United States, occurring at a rate of approximately 13.7 per 100,000 deliveries nationwide. While use has increased gradually over time, gestational carriers account for just 1.5 percent of assisted reproductive technology cycles, underscoring that these arrangements represent a highly specialized form of medically indicated care rather than a widespread practice. For some hopeful parents, including many same-sex couples and patients who cannot carry a pregnancy, gestational carriers are the only pathway to having a biologically related child.
The full report is available here.
For almost a century, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has been the global leader in multidisciplinary reproductive medicine research, ethical practice, and education. ASRM impacts reproductive care and science worldwide by creating funding opportunities for advancing reproduction research and discovery, by providing evidence-based education and public health information, and by advocating for reproductive health care professionals and the patients they serve. With members in more than 100 countries, the Society is headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional operations in Birmingham, AL. www.asrm.org
For media inquiries regarding this press release contact:
Sean Tipton
ASRM Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer
E: stipton@asrm.org
Anna Hovey
Advocacy Engagement Specialist
E: ahovey@asrm.org
J. Benjamin Younger Office of Public Affairs
726 7th St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Tel: (202) 863-2494
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