The Surrogacy is a process where a woman agrees to carry an intended parent’s baby in her womb so she is referred as a surrogate mother and she may or may not be compensated for her services.
Following are two types of Surrogacy:
Gestational Surrogacy
A gestational surrogate is not genetically related to the surrogate baby as intended mother provides her egg s or donor eggs to be fertilized with intended father’s sperms or donor sperms in case of single mother or a lesbian couple or due to infertile male partner through IVF (in-vitro fertilization) process in a lab to create embryo later to be transferred in the surrogate mother’s womb(prepared to carry a healthy pregnancy).
Traditional Surrogacy
In traditional surrogacy the surrogate is genetically related to the surrogate baby as in this process her own eggs are used to fertilized with intended father’s sperm s to form embryos Via IVF or intrauterine insemination (IUI). This process is done in case of intended single father, intended mother with infertile eggs or some genetic disorders to avoid or gay couples.
Surrogacy for whom?
Intended parents who are unable to have a child due to some medical conditions or they are single/gay/lebian/transgender etc.
Some more reasons to be more clear to opt for surrogacy are:
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine states that gestational carriers may be used when there is a clear and definitive medical indication that prevents the intended couple from carrying a child. Examples of some such conditions include:
- A female partner unable to carry a baby due to some uterus problems or due to absence of it.
- Health Risks in carrying pregnancy.
- Singles, lesbians, Gays or Transgender require other gender to have a child.
- Failed pregnancies or multiple miscarriages.
Finding a Surrogate
Generally a surrogate agency helps in finding a surrogate mother as they generally maintain a database of willing surrogates with a proven records of carrying healthy pregnancies or the fertility arranges a surrogate mother or it can be a friend or family who agrees to carry the pregnancy.
A surrogate may or may not be compensated as she agrees.
Things to know before considering surrogacy
Before opting for Surrogacy an intended parent must know of legalities, costs, ethics, costs, and documentations. The cost of surrogacy may range somewhere between 45000 US$ to 120000 US$ or may vary based on situations.
An intended parent must be aware of all contracts and Surrogacy laws of the destination country and of course the exit policy and parental rights of the baby.