Over the years there have been amazing strides in the medical field and surrogacy is one of them. Surrogacy is one of the safest ways to achieve a pregnancy and have a child without physically carrying the child.

If you’re considering surrogacy, there are some basic things you have to know. In this blog, we’ll cover all the details. Whether it’s for fertility reasons or personal preferences, surrogacy is a great option for having your child. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a pregnancy that is achieved through in-vitro fertilization also known as IVF or intrauterine insemination (IUI). The sperm used can be gotten from the intending father or a donor. Previously, the only option was for surrogate mothers to donate their eggs and also carry the pregnancy. But today, using a modern technique, the egg can be gotten from the intending mother and fertilized with the intending father’s sperm.

The process where the mother’s egg fertilizes an intending father’s sperm is known as traditional surrogacy. A traditional surrogate mother is the biological mother of the baby because she still has genetic ties to the baby. The other process where the intending father’s sperm fertilizes the intending mother’s eggs is known as gestational surrogacy.

Gestational surrogacy uses the IVF technique while traditional surrogacy uses the IUI technique. The IVF technique brought a wide range of possibilities for surrogacy. For instance, the intending mother’s eggs can be fertilized with the intending father’s sperm or the other way around. After the fertilization process, the embryo is then placed in the uterus of the gestational surrogate.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic ties to the child because her egg was not fertilized with the sperm. The surrogate mother carries the baby until birth time and hands the baby over to the biological mother.

Recently, gestational surrogacy has become more popular because of the genetic freedom and the ease of the legal aspects. The surrogate mother is literally just housing or incubating the baby for the biological mother, which makes the legal process much easier.

When should you choose surrogacy?

Couples and individuals choose surrogacy for a variety of reasons because it gives everyone an equal opportunity to build a family. Regardless of your sexual orientation or background, with surrogacy, you can have a baby to call your own.

You should choose surrogacy if;
• You’re a married couple having fertility issues
• You’re an intending mother with no desire or the ability to carry a child.
• You’re a parent with health issues that can be genetically passed down.
• You’re a gay couple with the desire to have a genetic link to your child.
• You’re an intending mother with a problem in the uterus or you’ve had a hysterectomy.
• You struggle with a health condition that makes pregnancy very risky
• You’ve tried different assisted reproduction techniques without positive results.

Now that there are many different sexual orientations, surrogacy removes the barrier of wanting kids. Your decision to go with either gestational or traditional surrogacy is just one aspect of the journey.

The Legal Aspect of Surrogacy

The legal aspect of surrogacy is very important because the laws guiding the entire process vary from state to state in America. In other parts of the world, there are also laws guiding surrogacy. Extensive legal work is required for the child to become completely yours.

Depending on where the child is born, intending parents may have to sign papers of consent and relinquishment. Both parties need to come with their attorneys to negotiate the terms, responsibilities, and compensation. The rights of the child, the intending parents, and the surrogate have to be protected throughout the entire legal process. So, in this case, an attorney who specializes in reproductive law is always the best option.

To avoid legal issues after the birth of the child, especially for traditional surrogacy, a clear contract has to be drawn up. The contract has to cover the variety of issues or possibilities that may arise during and immediately after the pregnancy.

How to find a Surrogate and Surrogacy Services

Some people are lucky enough to have family members become their surrogates while others have to do a bit of searching. Either way, there is always a medical and legal aspect to consider when choosing a surrogate mother.

The best way to find a surrogate mother or surrogacy services is to use a surrogate agency. Agencies handle all the intricacies and ups and downs associated with having a surrogate. The process involves screening, matching, counseling, and settling the financial aspect. With the right fertility or surrogate agency, the whole process will be a breeze.

If you carry out your surrogacy journey independently, you can look for the services on your own. But if you decide to trust professionals with your journey, you won’t have to search for any of these surrogacy services. In the end, the choice is yours to make!

We have made the surrogacy process easy with our all-in-one platform for everyone in need of options for fertility. We can provide you with access to the best surrogacy services regardless of your location. Got any questions or inquiries about how to become a part of our move? Get in touch with us to learn more!

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