Intended parents who cannot conceive on their own may consider surrogacy. Surrogacy is where a woman agrees to carry a child to term for another family. Once the baby is born, it becomes the legal child of the family. Surrogacy is a wonderful option for people looking to have a biological link with their child but may not otherwise be able to conceive. Surrogacy has both benefits and downsides. If you’re considering surrogacy, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of surrogacy. Here are the pros and cons to consider when deciding if surrogacy is right for growing your family.
What Are The Types Of Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a medical, legal, and logistical process. Thus, there are many types of surrogacy. Understanding the different types of surrogacy can help you learn which surrogacy is right for your family. Here are the types of surrogacy to consider:
The medical types of surrogacy:
- Traditional Surrogacy: With traditional surrogacy, doctors artificially inseminate the surrogate with the intended father’s semen, making her the biological mother of the child. Traditional surrogacy uses intrauterine insemination (IUI) and may include donor sperm. Physicians use the surrogate’s eggs, making her genetically linked to the child.
- Gestational Surrogacy: Gestational surrogacy starts with the implantation of an embryo into the uterus of the surrogate created via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Physicians create the embryo using the egg and semen from the intended parents or their donors, ensuring that the surrogate has no genetic connection to the child.
The legal types of surrogacy:
- Commercial Surrogacy: Commercial surrogacy is a financial agreement where the surrogate mother receives monetary compensation beyond medical and legal expenses.
- Altruistic Surrogacy: Altruistic surrogacy is characterized by the surrogate mother not receiving financial compensation beyond reimbursement for pregnancy-related expenses.
- Agency-Assisted Surrogacy: Agency-assisted surrogacy is when a professional surrogacy agency facilitates the entire surrogacy process, including matching intended parents with surrogates, coordinating medical and legal procedures, and providing ongoing support throughout the pregnancy.
The logistical types of surrogacy:
- Domestic surrogacy occurs when the intended parents and the surrogate mother reside in the same country. Domestic arrangements simplify legal processes, reduce logistical complexities, and meet national surrogacy regulations.
- International Surrogacy: International surrogacy supports intended parents seeking surrogacy services in a different country. This type can offer cost advantages or different legal frameworks but introduces complexities related to cross-border legal issues, travel, and cultural differences.
It’s important to note that you can mitigate some of the cons of surrogacy by choosing a different type of surrogacy.
The Pros Of Surrogacy
Surrogacy offers many benefits. Here are the main pros of surrogacy:
- Excellent Family Building Option: Provides an avenue for individuals and couples, including those facing infertility, same-sex couples, and single parents, to build their families.
- Establishes A Biological Connection: Allows intended parents to have a biological connection to the child, particularly in gestational surrogacy, where physicians create the embryo using the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material.
- Offers A Controlled Environment: Allows intended parents to have more control over the pregnancy and prenatal care, as opposed to adoption, where the birth mother’s lifestyle and choices are less controlled.
- Provides Legal Protections: Many countries with regulated surrogacy offer laws to protect the rights of intended parents to ensure they are recognized as the legal parents from birth
- High Success Rates: Advances in medical technology and fertility treatments have increased the success rates of surrogacy, making it a reliable option for family-building
Surrogacy agencies and support groups provide comprehensive assistance, from legal to emotional support, ensuring a smoother journey for both intended parents and surrogates.
The Cons Of Surrogacy
There can also be some downsides to surrogacy. Here are the cons of surrogacy:
- Legal Complexity: Surrogacy involves navigating complex legal frameworks that vary by country and state. A surrogacy agency provides legal expertise, ensuring all contracts are legally sound and that intended parents’ rights are protected from the outset to post-birth recognition.
- Emotional Challenges: The surrogacy journey can be emotionally taxing for both intended parents and surrogates. Agencies offer counseling and emotional support services to help all parties navigate the emotional complexities of the process.
- Difficult Matching Process: Finding a compatible surrogate can be challenging. Surrogacy agencies use thorough screening processes to match intended parents with suitable surrogates, ensuring compatibility and shared expectations.
- Complicated Travel Logistics: For international surrogacy, travel arrangements can be complicated and costly. Agencies assist with organizing travel plans, accommodations, and necessary documentation to streamline the process.
You can overcome most of these cons with the aid of a knowledgeable surrogacy agency that can help you choose the right type of surrogacy for your family’s goals, budgets, and needs.
Our team at SurMom is standing by to help. With a dedicated staff of legal, medical, and logistical experts, we can help you through all the challenges of surrogacy. If you’re considering surrogacy, give us a call. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and help you further explore your family planning options.