During a difficult surrogacy journey, encouragement can mean more when it comes from someone who has faced setbacks. Frank’s encouragement in this video comes from a personal place. His family’s path included five years, multiple egg retrievals, and seven embryo transfers. When he tells Intended Parents not to give up, he is sharing the hope that helped him keep going.
Your next decision still belongs to you. Another family’s eventual outcome cannot tell you what will happen in your journey or what choice is right for your circumstances.
Let hope and hard questions exist together
You can want to become a parent and still feel exhausted by the process. You can be grateful for support and disappointed by a setback. Those feelings do not have to be resolved before you ask for help or request a clearer explanation of your options.
Try separating the question “Do I still want this?” from “What am I able to take on next?” They may lead to different conversations about treatment, finances, timing, and emotional support.
Ask for a review before the next commitment
After a setback, ask the fertility clinic to explain the medical information and available options. Ask Golden how a proposed next step would affect agency coordination, matching, and the practical journey plan. If legal or financial responsibilities may change, include the appropriate professionals.
A written summary can be helpful: what is known, what remains uncertain, what each option would require, and when a decision is actually needed. This can reduce the pressure to make every decision in the first difficult conversation.
Finding support during a difficult surrogacy journey
- A reproductive mental health professional can provide a dedicated space to discuss the emotional experience.
- A trusted person can help take notes or accompany you to a conversation if you want support.
- Your Care Team can help you identify outstanding practical questions.
- A partner conversation can focus on what each of you needs before discussing the next commitment.
A pause can be part of a thoughtful decision
Some families continue immediately. Others need time, a revised plan, or a different path. Pausing or deciding not to continue is a personal choice, not a failure to care enough. Frank’s story offers encouragement without creating an obligation to repeat his experience.
If uncertainty between milestones is the hardest part right now, our guide to managing the waiting period offers a practical place to begin. You can ask for clarity about the next step without deciding the entire future of your journey today.
