Infertility can affect every aspect of your life, from your relationships and career to your finances and emotions. If you have been struggling with fertility problems, know that there are treatment options out there. In addition to more common methods like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and adoption, there are third-party reproduction options like surrogate parenting.
Gestational surrogacy can be a complex topic and many interested couples don’t know where to even start. How do you find a surrogate? What legal avenues do you need to consider before paying out money? Before taking a step towards gestational surrogacy, it is important to speak with your doctor, a therapist, and an attorney who have experience dealing with surrogacy and reproductive issues.
Types of Surrogates
There are two main types of surrogates, each with their own set of unique legal and medical ramifications. These include traditional surrogates and gestational carriers. At ALLcare, we work solely with gestational surrogates.
With gestational surrogacy, the gestational carrier carries a child that has been conceived with an egg and the sperm from two other individuals. These other individuals are usually the intended father and mother and/or a sperm donor and egg donor. The sperm and egg are fertilized using in vitro fertilization and then transferred into the gestational carrier. Most often, the intended mother is able to have her name printed on the child’s birth certificate without going through the adoption process.
Why Couples Choose Surrogacy
While surrogacy is not right for everyone, it is the best option in certain circumstances. Many couples struggling with infertility have trouble in one or multiple aspects of the ovulation, fertilization, implantation, or the gestation phases which can make conception difficult. When this occurs, surrogacy can be a viable option.
Many couples also turn to surrogacy when the intended mother does not have a uterus or if her uterus does not function properly. Other reasons for surrogacy include the occurrence of multiple miscarriages, implantation issues, or difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term.
Best Candidates for Gestational Surrogacy
After talking to your doctor about the medical aspects of gestational surrogacy, you will want to sit down with your partner to determine if this option is best suited for you. Gestational surrogacy is an excellent option for parents who wish to have a genetic connection with their child and want the opportunity to be involved in the pregnancy and birth of the child.