Surrogacy

Surrogacy

Surrogacy refers to a contractual agreement in which a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy for a person or couple who intends to be the legal parent(s) of the child.

In a surrogacy arrangement, an embryo is created using donor sperm and either the surrogate’s own eggs or donor eggs. The surrogate then carries the pregnancy until the baby is born.

Types of Surrogacy

• Gestational or Full Surrogacy: The surrogate does not provide her own eggs. The embryo is created using eggs from the intended mother or an egg donor.
• Traditional or Partial Surrogacy: The surrogate is also the genetic mother, providing her own eggs. This is typically done through artificial insemination with sperm from the intended father, though it may also involve IVF.

When is Surrogacy Needed?

Surrogacy is often pursued by same-sex male couples who are unable to conceive naturally. However, heterosexual couples may also consider it for reasons such as:

• Medical conditions that make pregnancy risky for the mother or baby
• Absence of a uterus
• Repeated IVF failures
• Recurrent miscarriages
• Uterine abnormalities

Single women and same-sex female couples with these conditions may also benefit from surrogacy.