10 Facts About Surrogacy That Parents Should Know
Are you considering going for a gestational surrogacy parenthood journey Well, your first step starts with hours of research to gather the information that might be important for you. Gestational surrogacy is a complex and long process and you might not like to overlook “facts about surrogacy” that can make or break your surrogacy baby dream.
Surrogacy is a process that allows individuals or couples who are unable to carry a pregnancy to term to have a child. It involves the assistance of a gestational carrier, also known as a surrogate, who carries and delivers the child on behalf of the intended parents.
Having said that, surrogacy is a long and complicated process in terms of a medical, legal, and financial enterprise. No matter how prepared you are, it is an unpredictable and unique parenthood journey for each parent. However, knowing the true facts about surrogacy might help you in making the right decision.
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Here is summary of surrogacy facts that intended parents should know:
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| #1. Two Types of Surrogacy | – Traditional Surrogacy: The surrogate’s egg is used, creating a genetic link to the child. Typically done via IUI. |
| – Gestational Surrogacy: The embryo is created using the intended mother’s or donor’s egg and intended father’s or donor’s sperm. No genetic link to the surrogate. IVF is used. | |
| #2. Surrogacy Agencies Save Time & Money | Agencies offer services like screening, legal assistance, and matching, helping avoid potential legal, medical, or compatibility issues. |
| #3. Surrogacy Is Not Legal in All U.S. States | Some U.S. states, like Illinois and California, support gestational surrogacy, while others, such as New York and Michigan, ban surrogacy. |
| #4. Independent Surrogacy May Lead to Legal Issues | Independent surrogacy can result in legal complications, especially if state laws aren’t followed. Agencies ensure all parties are protected. |
| #5. Surrogacy Isn’t Just for the Wealthy | Surrogacy isn’t limited to the rich; many average families opt for it. Most surrogacy cases are for childless couples, not celebrities. |
| #6. Surrogates Must Have Their Own Children | Most surrogacy programs require surrogates to have at least one child of their own to ensure they understand pregnancy and childbirth. |
| #7. Surrogates Don’t Affect Parent-Baby Bonding | Intended parents can bond with their baby during pregnancy by attending medical appointments, ultrasounds, and other experiences with the surrogate. |
| #8. Surrogates Do Not Want to Keep the Child | Surrogates understand the baby is not theirs and are psychologically evaluated to ensure they are emotionally ready for surrogacy. |
| #9. Surrogates Are Not In It Just for the Money | Compensation is part of the process, but surrogates often do it for emotional reasons and a desire to help childless families grow. |
| #10. Surrogacy Costs May Be Lower Than Expected | While U.S. surrogacy is expensive, affordable options are available in countries like Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Georgia, which offer legal security. |
Facts about surrogacy that would-be parents must know:
#1. There are two types of surrogacy
When most people think of surrogacy they usually think about traditional surrogacy where the sperm of the intended father or from the donor is utilized to fertilize the surrogate eggs. Here the surrogate has a genetic relationship with the child since her egg is used. The procedure was performed through Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).
However, in recent decades, the option of gestational surrogacy come into place. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries the child that has been conceived with the egg of the intended mother or from a donor’s egg and the intended father’s sperm or a sperm donor. Here, the gestational carrier does not have any biological relationship with the child. The embryo is transferred to the surrogate using In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
Read more:
All about traditional surrogacy
All about gestational surrogacy
#2. Working with a surrogacy agency can save money and time
The surrogate agency can play an important role in planning your surrogacy process. While it may seem that it is cost-effective to go for private surrogacy or independent surrogacy, it is important to understand the role of an agency.
The agency can provide you with a range of services from screening and matching to legal advice and medical assistance. So, you can benefit from the expertise of the agency experts, which will help you to avoid certain pitfalls like legal problems, failed medical testing, and compatibility issues that might ruin your surrogacy journey.
Read more:
How to choose a surrogacy agency?
#3. Surrogacy in the US is not legal in all 50 states
The US is considered the most friendly surrogacy country in the world, but there are still some states in the US that do not allow surrogacy.
Every state in the US has its own rules around the process of surrogacy. Some are more friendly while others are less friendly. For example, states like Illinois and California have made it compulsory to opt for gestational surrogacy, while states like New York and Michigan do not allow surrogacy to be performed in their state at all.
#4. Independent surrogacy can lead to legal issues
Surrogacy is a complicated procedure not just in emotional terms but also in legal terms.
While going for surrogacy independently, may save a lot of your expenditure it might result in a myriad of legal issues. These can be both before the birth of the child and afterward.
Depending on the state for which you are choosing surrogacy, the documents may not encompass all proper protection for the intended parents or the surrogate. That could lead to delayed parentage. The agency keeps all of the parties on the same page so that both parties can focus on a healthy baby.
#5. Surrogacy is not for just rich and powerful
There are times we have heard that surrogacy is only for the rich and powerful. But this is not the case. Infertility can hit anyone and does not discriminate between rich and poor. More childless couples are opening to surrogacy now than before.
A lot of planning in terms of emotional, financial, and legal parts is needed for the surrogacy process. Around 90% of people who opt for the gestational surrogacy process, are just like us.
Each year thousands of couples experience parenthood due to surrogacy. There are only a handful of cases of celebrity surrogacy as compared to the general public.
Read more:
12 tips to reduce surrogacy costs in the US.
Top 4 cheapest countries for surrogacy
#6. The surrogate will have a child of her own
This is a general requirement in most of the countries along with the age bars. The surrogate must be between 21 to 40 years of age. She should be non-smoking. She must have a child of her own before becoming a surrogate for the other.
Medically, this is important to ensure the fertility of the surrogate and her body’s response to pregnancy. Emotionally it is important because it is difficult to do something for someone else that you wouldn’t have experienced yourself.
#7. The surrogate presence will not affect the bonding with the baby
Some intended parents have the feeling that they might feel unattached to the child, or they might not be able to bond. However, the case is utterly different.
You can bond with the baby while the child is in utero. Also, you can attend all the medical appointments along with the surrogate. Take pictures of the ultrasound or record their voices. Even if you are not doing these things that don’t mean that you won’t be able to bond with your child.
#8. The surrogate wants to keep your child
Ideally, she might be having a child of her own, so she knows what it feels like to have a child. She knows the importance of the family and wishes the same thing for you.
Some of them might be grateful for having relatively easy pregnancies. Thus, they are doing a great job to help the other family grow. She knows that the child doesn’t belong to her, and she is carrying the child for the intended parents. Counseling and psychological evaluation is an important parts of surrogacy eligibility to make sure she is balanced emotionally and mentally.
#9. She is not in for money
For most of the surrogates, the compensation comes at the end of the list. Having said this, surrogate compensation is an important part of the surrogacy process but not only governed by this.
Being a surrogate is not at all easy. She must meet the stringent qualifications for being a surrogate and needs to adapt to her environment. She has to make some bodily as well as lifestyle changes. So, the surrogates are not just here for the money which forms only a small part of surrogacy.
There are many women who enjoy being pregnant and want to see childless couples grow their families.
#10. The average cost of surrogacy can be less than you think
#10. The average cost of surrogacy can be less than you thinkIt is true that surrogacy cost in the USA is exceptionally high and many intended parents are unable to afford it. But, they need to know that there are many options that are affordable ( almost 70% of USA surrogacy cost) and legal.
The concept of cross-border surrogacy in Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina can help you find the cheapest surrogacy program with legal security.
Some international surrogacy countries like Georiga offering affordable surrogacy for hetero couples for a long time now.
If you are a hetero couple, doing surrogacy in Ukraine or surrogacy in Georgia is the best option.
More surrogacy resources for Affordable International Surrogacy:
Cheapest surrogacy for gay couples in Colombia.
Surrogacy In Mexico-Everything Intended Parents Need To Know
Surrogacy in Argentina- A Comprehensive Overview for Intended Parents.
How Much Does Surrogacy Cost? Everything You Need To Know (in 2023)
Top 4 Cheapest Countries For Surrogacy That Parents Should Know (in 2023)
Conclusion
At IVF Conceptions, we understand the deep desire to become a parent and the challenges that can arise along the way. Infertility can be a heartbreaking journey, but we are here to offer you a ray of hope.
Surrogacy provides an alternative path to parenthood, and we want to share some surprising facts about surrogacy that will empower you to embark on this incredible journey of building your dream family.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy services to build families with love.
Get in touch for a Free Surrogacy Consultancy:
📲 +91-8800481100 ( WhatsApp, Line, Viber)
FAQ About Surrogacy Facts
What is a fact about surrogate mothers?
Surrogate mothers are the most important part of any surrogacy journey. She is not biologically connected with the baby and is a gestational carrier only. In Traditional surrogacy, she is genetically connected, but this form of surrogacy is not common.
Yes, the baby is genetically related to the intended parents, however, if they wish, they can use an egg donor or sperm donor or both, if needed.
Celebrities use surrogacy for a variety of reasons, including being a same-sex couple, being a single parent, and struggling with infertility.
