A traditional surrogate becomes pregnant using her own eggs combined with the intended father's sperm using either intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). A child conceived using a traditional surrogate therefore has the genetic material of the intended father and surrogate.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate undergoes ovulation induction with follicle stimulating hormones. This causes the development of multiple follicles, each of which contains an egg. If IUI is used, an injection of hCG is given to trigger ovulation and an insemination is performed. If IVF is used, the surrogate must also undergo an egg retrieval, and embryo transfer. Once retrieved the eggs are combined with the father's sperm and the resultant embryos are transferred back to the surrogate.