From Arizona to Saipan: A Surrogate's Remarkable Journey for Embryo Transfer

April 18, 2025

The path to surrogacy often involves dedication, sacrifice, and sometimes extensive travel. Today on the Patriot Conceptions blog, we're honored to share the remarkable journey of Diana Lopez, a surrogate who traveled nearly 7,000 miles from Arizona to Saipan for her embryo transfer.

An Extraordinary Commitment

When Diana Lopez agreed to become a gestational surrogate, she knew she was making a significant commitment to help create a family. What she didn't initially expect was that this commitment would involve crossing the Pacific Ocean for her embryo transfer.

"Hi, I'm the surrogate that traveled to Saipan from Arizona to do my embryo transfers," Diana shared with us. "It was my first time traveling this far—6,900 miles from Arizona to Saipan."

Diana's journey exemplifies the extraordinary lengths surrogates often go to in order to help intended parents realize their dreams of having a child.

The Trans-Pacific Journey

The logistics of Diana's journey were challenging, involving multiple flights and crossing numerous time zones.

"I went from Phoenix to Colorado, Colorado to Tokyo, Tokyo to Saipan," Diana explained. "Three flights to get here with a 20-hour flight time just to reach my destination."

This type of long-distance travel for fertility treatment has become increasingly common in global surrogacy arrangements, where specialized clinics or specific legal frameworks may necessitate international travel for optimal care.

The Medical Process

Two days after her embryo transfer, Diana reached out to share her experience. "I'm day 2 post-transfer. They said my transfer was a success, and now I'm hoping for a positive test soon."

The embryo transfer procedure is a critical milestone in any surrogacy journey. It involves carefully placing previously created embryos into the surrogate's uterus in hopes of achieving pregnancy. While the procedure itself is relatively quick—typically taking less than 30 minutes—the preparation is extensive, including hormonal treatments to prepare the uterine lining and careful timing to optimize chances of implantation.

International Surrogacy Considerations

Diana's journey highlights some important considerations for international surrogacy arrangements:

1. Travel Logistics: Coordinating long-distance travel around precise medical timing requirements

2. Medical Coordination: Ensuring consistent care between local monitoring and the transfer clinic

3. Recovery Time: Building in adequate rest after transfer before undertaking return travel

4. Communication: Maintaining clear connections between surrogate, intended parents, and medical teams across time zones
   

Supporting Surrogates Through Their Journey

Stories like Diana's remind us of the dedication surrogates bring to their role in helping create families. At Patriot Conceptions, we believe in providing comprehensive support for surrogates undertaking these journeys, whether they're traveling across town or across oceans.

This support includes:

• Travel coordination assistance

• Local medical monitoring arrangements

• Clear communication protocols between all parties

• Emotional support throughout the process
  

The Waiting Period

Now that Diana has completed her transfer, she enters the two-week waiting period before pregnancy can be confirmed—a time filled with hope and anticipation for both surrogates and intended parents.

"Wish me luck," Diana shared as she recovers from both her journey and the transfer procedure.

This waiting period following transfer is often emotionally charged, as all parties hope for successful implantation and the beginning of a healthy pregnancy. During this time, surrogates typically return to normal activities while avoiding strenuous exercise and following their clinic's specific post-transfer protocols.

Looking Forward

Diana's willingness to travel such a significant distance demonstrates the meaningful connections that often form between surrogates and intended parents. Her journey represents the global nature of modern family building and the lengths to which dedicated surrogates will go to help create families. We look forward to following Diana's journey and sharing updates as her surrogacy story continues to unfold.

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   If you're considering surrogacy—either as an intended parent or as someone interested in becoming a surrogate—contact Patriot Conceptions to learn more about the process and how we support all parties throughout these remarkable journeys.

Citations

1. American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2024). "Recommendations for International Reproductive Care." Fertility and Sterility, 121(4), 678-685.

2. International Federation of Fertility Societies. (2024). "Global Perspectives on Cross-Border Reproductive Care." IFFS Surveillance Report 2024.

3. Journal of Travel Medicine. (2023). "Long-Distance Travel Considerations for Fertility Procedures." Journal of Travel Medicine, 30(2), 45-52.

4. Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy. (2025). "Best Practices for International Surrogacy Arrangements." SEEDS Clinical Practice Committee Report.

5. Lopez, D. (2025, April). Personal communication with Patriot Conceptions.