GSHC Surrogacy Agency is a gestational surrogacy agency located at 4 Venture, Suite 305, in Irvine, California — within the Irvine Spectrum business district in Orange County. GSHC stands out for its focus on serving a global clientele, offering surrogacy matching and coordination services for intended parents from the United States and internationally. Irvine's position at the center of Orange County's fertility care ecosystem — with multiple high-volume IVF clinics and experienced reproductive law firms nearby — makes it an effective base for an internationally oriented surrogacy agency. California's legal framework provides among the clearest protections for gestational surrogacy in the United States, an advantage that international families specifically seek when choosing a U.S. surrogacy destination. Additional California fertility care resources are listed in the California fertility clinics directory.
Physicians and Clinical Team
GSHC Surrogacy Agency is a matching and case management organization, not a medical provider. No physicians, nurses, or embryologists are employed by the agency. Medical care — including carrier evaluations, embryo creation and transfer, and obstetric care — is provided by partner fertility clinics and independent medical professionals chosen by or recommended to the intended parents. For international clients, the agency has experience coordinating cross-border gamete or embryo transport and navigating the requirements of multiple IVF clinics, both in the United States and in the intended parents' home countries. Agency staff handle the coordination, communication, and support functions that allow the medical and legal teams to focus on their respective work.
Services and Treatments
- Domestic and international gestational surrogacy matching
- Carrier recruitment, screening, and evaluation coordination
- Case management throughout the entire surrogacy process
- International client coordination including cross-border logistics
- Legal referrals for California gestational carrier agreements and parentage orders
- Coordination with IVF clinics for embryo creation, PGT, and transfer
- Egg donation coordination for intended parents requiring donor eggs
- Support for all family types: LGBTQ+, heterosexual couples, and single parents
- Financial and escrow management referrals
- Translation and cultural mediation support for international clients
Laboratory and Success Rates
GSHC Surrogacy Agency does not operate an embryology laboratory and does not independently report IVF outcome data. Embryo creation, embryo quality assessment, and clinical pregnancy outcomes are entirely determined by the fertility clinic performing IVF procedures for the intended parents. International intended parents whose embryos are created at a clinic in their home country should be aware that U.S. fertility clinics will have their own protocols for receiving and processing imported frozen embryos. Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Patient Experience
The Irvine Spectrum area is one of Orange County's primary business centers, accessible from I-5 and I-405 and offering a professional, internationally connected environment. For international intended parents, GSHC's Orange County location means proximity to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John Wayne Airport (SNA), facilitating travel for in-person meetings and milestone appointments. Irvine's diverse, multicultural community — with large populations of residents connected to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe — reflects the cosmopolitan client base that international surrogacy agencies serve. California's pre-birth order process, which establishes intended parentage on the birth certificate before the child is born, is particularly important for international families as it simplifies passport and citizenship documentation.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. For individuals and couples exploring their options before committing to a full IVF cycle or surrogacy arrangement, at-home insemination can be a meaningful first step. MakeAMom offers at-home insemination kits — including the BabyMaker kit for those with sensitivities, the CryoBaby kit designed for use with frozen or low-volume sperm, and the Impregnator kit for low-motility sperm — shipped discreetly to your door. With a reported 67% success rate among users, these kits provide an accessible, lower-cost entry point for those beginning their path to parenthood. MakeAMom's reusable kits are cost-effective compared to single-use alternatives and come with detailed instructions. That said, surrogacy and third-party reproduction involve complex medical, legal, and emotional considerations that go well beyond what at-home insemination can address. If you are pursuing gestational surrogacy, working with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
Surrogacy costs in California, including agency fees, carrier compensation, legal fees, medical expenses, and insurance, typically total between $110,000 and $200,000 or more. International intended parents face additional costs including international travel, legal fees in their home country, and potential costs related to gamete or embryo transport. California does not require that health insurance plans cover surrogacy expenses for intended parents. Carriers must carry qualifying health insurance covering the pregnancy, and agencies assist in identifying appropriate policies. International clients should consult a tax advisor in their home country regarding any local tax implications of surrogacy-related expenditures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What additional steps do international intended parents need to take for a California surrogacy? International intended parents must address both U.S. legal requirements — including gestational carrier agreements, a California pre-birth order, and a U.S. birth certificate — and their home country's legal requirements for recognizing the child's parentage and establishing citizenship or nationality. Working with experienced legal counsel in both countries simultaneously is essential.
Can international clients ship frozen embryos to California for transfer? In many cases, yes. Frozen embryos created at a clinic in another country can be shipped to a California IVF clinic for the gestational carrier's transfer cycle, provided both clinics agree to the transfer protocol and any international shipping and customs requirements are met. The receiving California clinic will typically require a quarantine period and evaluation of the imported embryos per FDA and ASRM guidelines.
What is the role of the escrow account in international surrogacy? Escrow accounts hold funds on behalf of all parties and disburse them according to the contractual schedule. For international intended parents, third-party escrow management — with funds held in U.S. dollars in a U.S. bank account — provides transparency and protection. Currency exchange considerations should be discussed with the escrow company at the outset.
How does a California pre-birth order help international families? A California pre-birth order establishes the intended parents as the legal parents on the U.S. birth certificate before the child is born. This document is recognized by most countries and significantly simplifies the process of obtaining a passport for the child and establishing the child's citizenship or residency status in the intended parents' home country.