In recent years, surrogate pregnancies have steadily been on the rise. Surrogates have allowed many couples to have a genetic child when they would have otherwise been unable to. Some of the many reasons why people opt to use a surrogate include it being medically impossible for a woman to carry her own pregnancy, pregnancy risks posing a danger to the mother’s health, and male same sex couples desiring a genetic child.
In general, a surrogate pregnancy involves having a woman agree to carry a pregnancy for another person or couple, who will be the newborn child’s parent(s) after birth. There are essentially two types of surrogate pregnancies. The most common form of surrogacy is a “gestational carrier”. A gestational carrier is woman who carries an embryo that is not genetically related to her. “Traditional surrogacy” on the other hand, involves fertilizing the surrogate’s own eggs by sperm from a man who is not her partner. She then carries the pregnancy and she agrees to give up all rights to the child at birth. Traditional surrogacies are very controversial, emotionally complex, and are illegal in many countries. So, most fertility centers will only participate in gestational surrogacies.
The number of surrogate pregnancies has risen in recent years for many reasons. Some of these include a significant increase in the success of IVF treatments over the years, increased awareness of surrogacy as an option, and increased acceptance of alternative ways of creating a family. In addition, fertility treatments and surrogacy procedures are safe and pose very few risks to the surrogate.
Although using a gestational surrogate is often medically necessary, this method of pregnancy is not often covered by insurance companies. This unfortunately, make using a gestational surrogate cost prohibitive for many people. Some couples resort to using surrogates from other countries because this can at times be significantly less expensive. For instance, India has become a popular destination for surrogacy because even with the cost of airline tickets, hotels, and procedures, it can be less expensive than in the U.S. That being said, medical regulations are not as strict as in the U.S. and fertility techniques may differ, so couples need to proceed with caution when utilizing this option.
Using a gestational surrogate is a big decision and one that most people don’t come to without significant consideration. If you’re considering surrogacy as an option, it’s important to speak with a reproductive endocrinologist to guide you through the process. It’s also important to find a fertility center with significant experience in third party coordination. This can make the difference between a smooth versus complicated process for the intended parents. At Reproductive Partners, we’re proud to have helped many couples achieve the families they desire via surrogate pregnancies.