Surrogacy: The Procedure, Benefits, And Considerations!
A woman becomes a surrogate by carrying a child for the benefit of the intended parent(s), also known as IP. People who have infertility or other issues that make carrying a pregnancy difficult or dangerous may choose to employ a surrogate. Cancer, the absence of a uterus, uterine damage, a chronic health condition, living in a single-family home, and infertility are examples of such circumstances.
What Exactly Is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is the agreement of one person to bear and give birth to a child on behalf of another. Following the birth of the child, the birth parent relinquishes custody and guardianship to the intended parent or parents. Surrogacy necessitates several legal and medical processes. Understanding the process, seeking professional advice, and developing supportive networks are vital.
A surrogate or birth parent undertakes to carry and give birth to someone else. The intended or commissioning parent(s) are the individual or couple who will receive the baby after it is born.
Many other individuals must be considered before making this life-altering decision, including the surrogate’s partner and children, other children of the intended parent(s), and egg or sperm donors (if any) and their families.
Why Would Someone Require Surrogacy?
Surrogacy allows those who cannot become pregnant to have a child and deal with infertility.
People who may be interested in surrogacy include:
A woman who has had a hysterectomy or is missing a piece of her uterus, ovaries, or other areas of the genital tract, or a woman with a medical condition that renders pregnancy dangerous, cannot become pregnant or carry a pregnancy.
A same-sex male couple wants to have a child using one of their partners’ sperm; a single man wants to have a child using his sperm; and a woman who has embryos frozen.
Important Considerations For A Successful Surrogacy Agreement
Among the factors that can contribute to a successful surrogacy relationship are:
- All parties must be in good physical and mental health.
- There must be open and honest communication between them.
- There must be boundaries and understanding between them regarding the relationship and interactions between the surrogate and her family.
- All parties must be thoroughly aware of the medical procedures involved and realistic about the timing.
- Being ready for the emotional reactions and responses that may occur during the process.
Agreement on what constitutes fair and reasonable payment of the surrogate’s feelings; awareness of and readiness for the associated financial costs; and agreement on how the pregnancy and birth will be managed.
Surrogacy Process
While comprehending the meaning of surrogacy is very simple, understanding the practice is a bit more difficult. Working with an experienced agency makes it easier to get through each step and offers support when you need it most during the often complex surrogacy process.
The following is a general outline of the surrogacy process:
- Surrogate and Parent Matching
- Medical screenings, surrogate medications, and embryo transfer
- Confirmation of pregnancy
- Pregnancy, building a relationship between Intended Parents and Surrogate
- Delivery day and beyond
- Circle is a relationship-based organization promoting deep bonds between intended parents and surrogates.
Deciding to transition from infertility to surrogacy is a major step. Intended parents frequently waste years and money attempting to conceive. It’s crucial to realize that while surrogacy may not offer you the pregnancy experience you desire, it can still provide you with the parental experience you desire.
IVF And The Process Of Gestational Surrogacy
The prospective parents can start the IVF cycle after selecting their surrogate and completing all required papers and screenings. This includes donor and surrogate tests and fertility drugs, egg harvesting from your donor or intended mother, and fertilization with sperm.
The fertility specialist will transfer the embryo into the surrogate’s uterus once it has been fertilized for implantation and successful conception. She will carry the baby for the duration of her pregnancy, after which she will give birth, and the intended parents will be able to take their new family member home.
What Is The Distinction Between A Gestational Surrogate And A Surrogate?
There are two types of surrogacy: gestational and conventional.
As a result of not donating the egg used for fertilization, gestational surrogacy is a type of surrogacy in which the surrogate (or pregnancy carrier) has no genetic ties to the fetus. In this type of pregnancy, either the egg of the expectant parent or a donor egg is used. The gestational surrogate carries the pregnancy and gives birth to the kid. This is the most common type of surrogacy. In most cases, at least one of the parents shares genetic ancestry with the child, although the carrier does not. The legal components of the process are, therefore, simplified.
What Is The Procedure For Utilizing A Gestational Surrogate?
The embryo is generated by IVF using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents (or donors) in gestational surrogacy. The embryo is subsequently given to the surrogate, who will carry the pregnancy. The procedure begins with the selection of a carrier. Following that, both the carrier and the intended parents sign legal contracts and undergo medical and psychological examinations. Once that is completed, the IVF therapy can begin.
Conclusion
Surrogacy is a contentious procedure mostly utilized to treat infertile women due to uterine issues. Despite the numerous arguments on surrogacy’s psychological, moral, legal, and ethical aspects, insufficient research has been conducted on the public’s opinion and its connected factors.
However, little study has been undertaken to investigate infertile women’s attitudes towards surrogacy and how satisfying this IVF approach is to them.
The majority of surrogacy studies contain substantial methodological flaws. According to this research, most surrogacy agreements are well conducted, and most surrogate moms are well-motivated and have no difficulty separating from the children born due to the arrangement. The children’s perinatal outcomes are equivalent to regular IVF and oocyte donation, and there is no indication that surrogacy causes harm to the infants born.
Surrogacy is a contentious topic, and additional research is needed to investigate infertile women’s attitudes toward surrogacy and its associated aspects. Despite the controversies, surrogacy agreements are successfully conducted, and most surrogate moms are well-motivated, with no indication of harm to the children delivered as a consequence of surrogacy.
