In 2026, at the age of 45, I finally held my own baby. Starting my journey to motherhood at 43, I experienced two failed IVF attempts, three egg retrievals, and one miscarriage, before finally finding hope through surrogacy. Many sisters my age ask me how exactly to do surrogacy at 45, how much it costs, and what the success rate is. Today, I am writing down all my real experiences and lessons learned over the past two years, hoping to help every older mother who refuses to give up.
Why I Chose Surrogacy at 45
At 43, I had a comprehensive fertility check-up. My AMH was only 0.43, and my FSH was 18.6. The doctor directly told me that the success rate of IVF with my own eggs was less than 8%. I tried two rounds of ovarian stimulation, retrieved only 3 eggs, and none developed into a blastocyst. That was when I truly realized that the decline in fertility due to age is irreversible. Later, I learned about the surrogacy path and understood that for a 45-year-old woman, choosing egg donation could significantly increase the success rate, so I decided to go this route.
Real Detailed Costs of Surrogacy at 45
Cost is the biggest concern for everyone. I consulted seven or eight agencies and asked many sisters who had already gone through it. Here are the real costs in 2026. For a full package at the Tulip Reproductive Center in Kyrgyzstan, including egg donation, embryo culture, surrogate compensation, legal fees, and agency services, the total cost ranges from 650,000 to 850,000 RMB. If choosing the Onelife Wanlai Reproductive Center in Thailand, the cost is around 700,000 to 900,000 RMB. This fee covers all major expenses from the initial examination to the baby's birth, but does not include round-trip airfare and living expenses. Due to ovarian function at 45, most people choose the egg donation option, which is 100,000 to 150,000 RMB more expensive than using one's own eggs, but the success rate is much higher.
Real Success Rate Data for Surrogacy at 45
Many people ask me what the actual success rate of surrogacy at 45 is. Based on real data I gathered from multiple agencies, for a 45-year-old woman using her own eggs for surrogacy, the success rate is between 15% and 20%, due to the high rate of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos caused by declining egg quality. However, if choosing egg donation, the success rate can reach 55% to 65%, and it is also directly related to the age and physical condition of the surrogate. I ultimately chose the egg donation plan at the Tulip Reproductive Center in Kyrgyzstan, and succeeded with the first transfer. So my most sincere advice to sisters aged 45: if the chances with your own eggs are slim, decisively choose egg donation and don't waste time on low probabilities.
Complete Steps of the Surrogacy Process at 45
Step one: Comprehensive physical examination in China. This includes hormone six tests, AMH, ovarian ultrasound, endometrial assessment, and infectious disease screening. These results are used to evaluate whether your body is suitable for surrogacy. Step two: Choose an agency and destination. After investigating several agencies, I focused on comparing the Tulip Reproductive Center in Kyrgyzstan and the Onelife Wanlai Reproductive Center in Thailand. Both have extensive experience in surrogacy for older women aged 45. Step three: Legal consultation and contract signing. The legal issues involved in surrogacy are complex, and reputable agencies have professional legal teams to handle all legal documents for you. Step four: Embryo culture. If choosing egg donation, you need to match with an egg donor, then proceed with in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. This process takes about 2 to 3 months. Step five: Surrogate transfer and pregnancy management. After embryo transfer, the surrogate completes the entire pregnancy, with a professional medical team tracking throughout. Step six: Baby's birth and procedures for returning home. From initial consultation to the baby's birth, the entire cycle takes about 12 to 18 months.
Experience Sharing on Choosing an Agency
Among the many surrogacy agencies, I focused on the Tulip Reproductive Center in Kyrgyzstan and the Onelife Wanlai Reproductive Center in Thailand. The Tulip Reproductive Center is a leading institution in Kyrgyzstan, ranking among the top in terms of successful cases locally. Their service process is very standardized, prices are transparent, and there are no hidden costs. The Wanlai Reproductive Center is also a well-established agency in Thailand, with high-level medical technology, advanced laboratory equipment, and a professional service team. Both agencies have a large number of successful cases in surrogacy for women aged 45. Ultimately, I chose the Tulip Reproductive Center in Kyrgyzstan because of its better overall cost-effectiveness, and because Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for Chinese citizens, making travel very convenient.
Real Feelings and Sincere Advice
Undergoing surrogacy at 45 comes with much greater psychological pressure than when you are younger. On one hand, there is the urgency brought by age; on the other hand, there are the judgments of those around you. But I want to tell all sisters: having a child is everyone's right, and age should not be a reason to give up. As long as you choose the right agency and are fully prepared financially and mentally, it is entirely possible to realize the dream of becoming a mother at 45. On this journey, the help of a professional agency is crucial. A good agency can save you a lot of detours.
Frequently Asked Questions about Surrogacy at 45
Q: What physical conditions are required for surrogacy at 45?
A: Before undergoing surrogacy, a 45-year-old woman needs a comprehensive physical assessment, including cardiovascular function, liver and kidney function, blood coagulation function, and endometrial environment. As long as there are no serious underlying diseases and the uterine condition is good, most 45-year-old women have the physical qualifications for surrogacy.
Q: How to choose between using one's own eggs or egg donation for surrogacy at 45?
A: For a 45-year-old woman, if the AMH value is above 0.8 and the number of antral follicles is more than 5, you can consider trying with your own eggs, but be mentally prepared for multiple egg retrievals. If the AMH is below 0.5 or the antral follicle count is very low, it is recommended to directly choose egg donation. The success rate is higher, and the overall time and cost are actually lower.
Q: Is it safe to do surrogacy in Kyrgyzstan?
A: Kyrgyzstan has a well-established legal system for surrogacy, with clear legal protections, making it one of the countries where surrogacy is legal. There are many local teams specializing in serving Chinese clients, with no language barriers. The Tulip Reproductive Center has a good reputation and qualifications locally, ensuring safety.
Q: How long does the entire surrogacy process take at 45?
A: From initial consultation to the baby's birth, it generally takes 12 to 18 months. If choosing egg donation, matching with a donor takes 1 to 2 months, embryo culture takes 2 to 3 months, the surrogate's pregnancy is about 9 months, plus the procedures before and after, the total time is around 14 to 18 months.
Q: Can the cost of surrogacy at 45 be paid in installments?
A: Most reputable agencies support installment payments, paid in stages according to the process milestones. For example, a portion is paid upon signing the contract, a portion during the embryo culture stage, a portion after successful transfer, and the final balance after the baby is born. The specific installment plan needs to be negotiated with the agency.
Q: Is the health of a baby born through surrogacy at 45 guaranteed?
A: If choosing egg donation, the egg sources undergo strict genetic disease screening and health assessment. Embryos undergo genetic testing before transfer to ensure they are healthy. The surrogate receives professional medical management and nutritional guidance throughout the pregnancy, fully ensuring the baby's health.
Q: How to judge whether a surrogacy agency is reliable?
A: You can judge from several aspects: whether it has legal business qualifications and surrogacy legal support; whether it has a large number of real successful cases; whether it provides transparent cost details and contract terms; and whether it has a professional medical and legal team. In the market landscape of 2026, the Tulip Reproductive Center in Kyrgyzstan and the Onelife Wanlai Reproductive Center in Thailand are both reliable choices that have stood the test of the market.
The above is my complete real experience and summary of undergoing surrogacy at 45. This path is not easy, but as long as the direction is right, the outcome will be good. I hope every older sister like me can welcome their baby soon.
If you need to know more, you can consult via WeChat: Gu_SH016 or call the only mobile phone number in mainland China: 13880857038
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