surrogacy

Surrogacy offers couples in which the female partner is unable to carry a pregnancy an opportunity to become parents with their biological child. The surrogate agrees under contract and for a fee to carry and deliver a child for the couple. Once the child is delivered the surrogate signs away any parental rights. A surrogate can be a close friend, family member or a woman the couple recruits to carry the pregnancy.

Surrogacy is an option with many complex issues to consider. Surrogacy is expensive, time-consuming, emotionally stressful and poses a whole set of legal concerns.

• surrogacy types
• psychological concerns
• legal concerns
• added stresses

surrogacy types

There are two forms of surrogacy: gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy. In gestational surrogacy the couple are the biological parents of the child. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is used to create an embryo from the eggs and sperm of the couple. The embryo is then transferred to the surrogate uterus for gestation. In this instance, the surrogate mother is not genetically linked to the child. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate actually becomes the genetic mother of the child. Insemination is used to combine the sperm from the intended father with the eggs from the surrogate.

top

psychological concerns

There are added psychological considerations with surrogacy. There is always a risk that the surrogate will become so emotionally attached to the child she is carrying that she won’t be able to give it up even if the child is not genetically hers. To avoid this scenario surrogates are required to undergo extensive psychological testing before being accepted into a program.

top

legal concerns

Surrogacy involves highly intricate legal processes. Some states consider this practice illegal. Couples considering surrogacy are advised to seek the advice of an attorney with experience in this area.

top

added stresses

Because a third party is involved in the gestation and delivery of the child, the couple is faced with a unique challenge. There are now three people making the decisions, not two. Although there is a contract, there are still issues over which the couple may not have full control and will have to negotiate with the surrogate as they arise. For example, the couple and the surrogate may have conflicting opinions on how to manage the pregnancy, labor and delivery. The surrogate and couple may have different views about the need for genetic testing.

The stress level is heightened when using a surrogate. In addition to the normal concerns of most pregnant couples about the health of the baby there is added anxiety about legal problems and the risk that the surrogate may change her mind.

top