ACRC Surrogacy and Egg Donation is located at 18881 Von Karman Ave, Suite 1240, in Irvine, California, within the heart of Orange County's business district. ACRC (Advanced California Reproductive Center) operates as a fertility services coordination and agency entity rather than a full-service IVF clinic with physicians and laboratory. Its focus is on connecting intended parents with gestational carriers and egg donors, and coordinating those relationships with partnering fertility clinics and reproductive attorneys. Irvine's position at the convergence of I-405 and I-5 makes it accessible from across Orange County and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. California is one of the most surrogacy-friendly states in the nation and does not restrict surrogacy by marital status or sexual orientation. For a broader list of California fertility options, visit the California fertility clinics page.
Physicians and Clinical Team
ACRC functions as a coordination and agency entity; its core team consists of case coordinators, donor program specialists, and administrative staff rather than physicians. Medical care—egg retrieval, embryo creation, embryo transfer, and obstetric management—is performed by physicians at partnering reproductive endocrinology practices. Intended parents typically select a Southern California fertility clinic to work alongside ACRC, and ACRC coordinates the timing and communication between all parties.
Services and Treatments
- Gestational carrier matching for intended parents in California and nationally
- Egg donor recruitment, screening, and matching
- Coordination of FDA-mandated infectious disease and genetic screening for donors
- Legal process coordination (gestational carrier agreements under California law)
- Psychological evaluation coordination for carriers and donors
- Communication and timeline management across fertility clinic, legal, and escrow parties
- Support for international intended parents pursuing California surrogacy
- Post-birth parentage order guidance
Laboratory and Success Rates
As an agency and coordination entity, ACRC does not maintain a laboratory or report cycle-level outcome data. Clinical outcomes are determined by the partnering IVF clinic's laboratory performance, the quality of embryos created (which depends on the egg source and sperm quality), and the gestational carrier's uterine environment. California-based fertility clinics generally report strong laboratory benchmarks.
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
Irvine is a planned city with excellent infrastructure and is home to many biotech and healthcare companies, making it a logical base for a reproductive services organization. ACRC's Von Karman Ave address sits near UC Irvine and a dense cluster of medical office buildings. Intended parents working with ACRC can expect ongoing case management communication, support during the matching phase, and coordination throughout the pregnancy. California's robust legal protections mean pre-birth parentage orders are routinely available.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.
At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.
If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
California does not have a universal state fertility insurance mandate for private insurers, though a 2023 law (SB 729) took effect January 1, 2025, requiring large fully-insured group health plans to cover IVF. Gestational surrogacy costs are substantial: agency fees, legal fees, carrier compensation, medical costs at the fertility clinic, and escrow management collectively represent a significant financial commitment. Many intended parents use surrogacy financing companies or home equity. Consulting a financial advisor and a reproductive attorney simultaneously is advisable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California the best state for surrogacy? California is widely regarded as the most surrogacy-friendly state in the US. Courts routinely grant pre-birth parentage orders regardless of genetic relationship, marital status, or sexual orientation. California also has a deep bench of experienced reproductive attorneys and fertility clinics.
What is a gestational carrier agreement and is it legally binding in California? A gestational carrier agreement (GCA) is a contract between the intended parents and the gestational carrier—and often their respective spouses or partners—that establishes parental rights, carrier compensation, medical decision-making authority, and other terms. California courts enforce GCAs and use them as the basis for pre-birth parentage orders under the California Uniform Parentage Act.
Does ACRC work with international intended parents? Many Orange County surrogacy agencies work with international clients because California surrogacy law is favorable and pre-birth orders are internationally recognized. Confirm directly with ACRC about their international client process, legal coordination, and travel logistics.
How long does the surrogacy process take from matching to birth? The full process—from matching through carrier clearance, legal agreement, IVF cycle, embryo transfer, pregnancy, and delivery—typically takes 18 to 24 months. Individual timelines vary based on matching availability and medical factors.