10 Things Most People Don’t Know About Surrogacy

Most People Don’t Know About Surrogacy but we are here to help with free surrogacy consultation

Surrogacy involves a woman who agrees to carries someone else’s baby to full term and gives birth to them. The birth mother transfers custody and care to the intended parent or parents after the baby is born. But as surrogacy is a complicated process and not commonly done, there are misconceptions about it and the majority of “things people don’t know about surrogacy”.

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A woman carrying another person’s baby is referred to as a gestational surrogate or mother of birth. A baby’s parent(s) born through an agreement of surrogacy are called intended parent(s). This is a basic understanding of the surrogacy process. However, there are many more complex things that are involved in the process of surrogacy which you may or may not know about.

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So, here is the list of 10 things that people may not know about the surrogacy process.

1. There are many types of surrogacy

For some parents, it takes years of infertility treatment before they know that surrogacy is their only hope for parenthood. There are basically two types of surrogacy – gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy.

In gestational surrogacy, the egg from the intended mother or from egg donor and sperms from the intended father or sperm donor and fused together to allow fertilization. This embryo is then planted in the gestational carrier’s uterus.

In traditional surrogacy, the egg used belongs to the surrogate only. The sperm used can be of the intended father or the sperm donor.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate does not have a biological relationship with the child, but in the case of traditional surrogacy, she has a biological relationship with the child.

Apart from these two, there is commercial surrogacy, altruistic surrogacy, and independent surrogacy as well. In commercial surrogacy, there is compensation or financial gain for birth mothers. Altruistic (non-commercial) surrogacy happens when there is no fee for the birth mother.

Any surrogacy arrangement in which the intended parents and surrogate mother do not operate with the help of a surrogacy agency is an independent surrogacy, sometimes also called private surrogacy.

2. Surrogacy is not just for wealthy and known people

The cost of surrogacy depends on various factors, such as where your surrogate is based and where you have done the IVF cycle, whether you are using an egg donor or a sperm donor, whether you are opting for traditional surrogacy or gestational surrogacy?

All these factors would contribute to the cost of surrogacy. But nowadays we tend to hear more about surrogacy help to expand families for intended parents. So, the planned parenting and surrogacy procedures are common as compared to a decade ago. Thus, the surrogacy process can be selected by anyone with enough financial resources.

3. Surrogacy is legal everywhere

Since surrogacy requires many legalities, it is not always available legally. It is not even approved in all 50 U.S. states. While the U.S. is statistically one of the most surrogacy-friendly countries in the world, centralized regulation is not given by federal law.

The growing states must adopt their own surrogacy laws, and some are more welcoming to the system than others. For example, states like California and Illinois have introduced a legal, regulated surrogacy program, while New York and Michigan explicitly forbid the practice. Homosexual and single parents are unable to opt for the surrogacy system in other countries like India, Ukraine, and Georgia.

 

4. Surrogates need to go for a trial before the actual pregnancy

During the process, the doctors give surrogates medications they would need to take — two weeks of estrogen, as well as progesterone — to ensure that the uterus lining is prepared well before the actual transfer takes place.

The purpose of this mock trial is to see if the uterus reacts properly and to ensure that there are no complications for the surrogate.

In addition to assessing the mother, the egg donor is also assessed and prepared for egg recovery by the specialist. A complete medical and physical examination should also be carried out by the intended parents. Semen analysis for the male partner should be obtained and ovarian function evaluation for the female partner should be carried out.

5. Surrogate can carry only once.

Just as you can be pregnant more than once, so surrogate can carry gestational surrogacy more than once depending upon surrogate health requirements and age.

Many people are also continuing their surrogacy with the same parents, but many women are not doing it more than once or twice as surrogacy is not the easiest thing to do. Typically, a woman becomes a surrogate four-time in her life.

6. Working with an agency might actually help

In fact, working with an agency can help you save time and money. While at the beginning it may sound expensive, it will pay for all the things you need during the surrogacy cycle, including emotional support and education.

Although it may seem easier and more cost-effective to work independently with an attorney, it is important to understand the role an organization plays in navigating possible roadblocks.

Only choose the experience and reliable surrogacy agency; their expertise will help you avoid problems such as failed medical testing, legal issues, and feasibility issues that might otherwise impede your surrogacy journey. As a surrogate carries a baby for the intended parents, the final goal of is surrogacy agency is to have a smooth and seamless surrogacy experienced for both the surrogate and would-be parents

7. The surrogate mother is just for money

At the end of the list comes the payment for most surrogates. It’s not easy to be a surrogate. She has to fulfill the stringent qualifications to be a surrogate.

A gestational surrogate has to adjust to her environment. She has to make adjustments in both her body and lifestyle. It also imposes strict requirements on the lifestyle, activities, and daily routine of a surrogate mother.

She’s responsible for another child’s well-being. The childbirth itself takes nine months of her life, integrating the whole legal and medical system into an operation that lasts over a year. And, the surrogates are not just there for the cash that is just a small portion of the surrogacy.

8. Does the Surrogate need to have a baby of her own before becoming a surrogate?

While it is ideal for a surrogate to have a baby before, but it is not always the case. For women who apply to be surrogates, gestational, or traditional, one of the main criteria is that they used to have a child. But surrogate who are available for independent surrogacy or surrogate who is relative or friend might not fulfill this requirement.

Women who are pregnant before is preferable because a woman without a child comes with many questions- Is she be able to carry a child, does she know the emotional aspects of the surrogacy, does she know the psychological and medical aspect of pregnancy? Therefore, women with previous successful pregnancies are preferred for being a surrogate. Also, they have had a successful pregnancy delivery.

The ideal age of the surrogate mother is from 21 to 37 years. She won’t take the baby away even if she doesn’t have a baby of her own. This is the most frequently anticipated concern among parents as if what happens when the surrogate changes their mind. While uncommon, such incidents can occur. To avoid such a situation, it is good if she has a baby of her own to take care of and fulfill emotionally after the surrogacy process. She understands the family’s meaning and wishes you the same.

 

More Resources to Read:

Guaranteed Surrogacy in Georgia

How Does Gestational Surrogacy Work in Georgia? Step-by-step Guidance

Surrogacy Cost in Georgia

Surrogate Mother Cost in Georgia

9. No surrogacy agreement needed

The surrogacy arrangement should be a collaborative effort, agreeing to the terms included by each party and their respective counsel.

Generally speaking, the planned parents will work with their attorney to draft the initial contract, which will then be sent for approval to the surrogate and her lawyer.

The surrogate will work with her attorney to ensure representation of her requests and interests, make any necessary changes, and return it to the attorney of the intended parents. The two lawyers will continue to negotiate the contract until all of them are satisfied with the terms included.

The legal aspect of surrogacy should not be overlooked in any case as it will lead to a complicated situation sometimes.

10. International surrogacy is not good

This is not true at all as most expected intended parents are unable to pay the ridiculously high cost of surrogacy in the USA. There are international surrogacy countries which have explicit surrogacy laws and affordable surrogacy cost as well. So, looking beyond the border can fulfill your dream of parenthood possible without sending the fortune.

There are legally secure and low-cost surrogacy countries like below.

Surrogacy cost in Ukraine
Surrogacy cost in Georgia
Surrogacy cost in India

Conclusion

If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at Complete Surrogacy. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.

Our team has over 14 years of experience facilitating surrogacy arrangements, egg donation, and serving as an advocacy resource for infertile couples and LGBTQ individuals seeking to build families. 

For more resources on IVF and Surrogacy, browse our other web page- IVF Conceptions

 

More reference:

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/9/6/georgia-plans-to-ban-commercial-surrogacy

https://ge.usembassy.gov/message-for-u-s-citizens-new-law-banning-surrogacy-planned-in-georgia/