Surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries the child of another couple in her uterus. The child does not belong to the surrogate genetically and legally. Through in-vitro fertilization using both parents’ gametes (sperm and egg), the developing embryo is transferred to the uterus of a surrogate mother.
The surrogacy process benefits intended parents who cannot conceive a child for medical, personal, and other reasons. This is also known as assisted conception option. Intended parents switch to surrogacy due to following reasons:
- Serious health issues due to pregnancy
- Reoccurrence of miscarriage
- Failure in IVF treatment
- Narrow fallopian tubes
- Absence of uterus
- Dysfunctional uterus
- Avoid transmitting genetic disorders (Male or female parents can use egg or sperm donors in this situation instead of providing their eggs or sperm.)
A surrogate helps intended parents to create their family by carrying a child in her uterus. The decision to be a surrogate is quite challenging. Still, some women show courage to help willing parents to have their children.
Types of the Surrogacy Process
The surrogacy process is of two types:
1. Straight Surrogacy
In straight surrogacy, the surrogate provides her egg for fertilization. In this case, either artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization can be achieved by collecting sperm and egg samples in a fertility clinic. Then the fertilized embryo is placed in the surrogate’s uterus. In straight surrogacy, there is a genetic connection between a child and a surrogate.
2. Host Surrogacy
In this surrogacy process, the surrogate does not provide her egg sample. Invitro fertilization is used, using egg and sperm samples of intended parents. If parents cannot provide their gametes for fertilization, they can go for egg donors and sperm donors, who provide their gametes for fertilization.
When choosing an egg donor or sperm donor to raise a child, intended parents look for the donor’s nationality, height, weight, physical appearance, interest, and inherited qualities. Intended parents consider all these aspects of having a physically healthy and mentally sound child.
Surrogacy Agreement Between Parents and Surrogate
A surrogacy agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate ensures a smooth surrogacy process. A surrogacy agreement includes:
- Details of intended parents
- Details of surrogate
- Preconception arrangements
- Arrangements during the conception like (embryo creation in a specific fertility clinic and number of embryos transferred)
- Pregnancy arrangements like health, regular check-up arrangements, and arranging essential belongings required in pregnancy)
- Birth arrangement (arranging fertility clinic equipped with all the facilities)
- Post birth arrangements (arranging medication and essential belongings required after the delivery of the child)
- Expenses and cost of the surrogate and her treatments
- Legal cost
- Surrogate compensation cost
A surrogacy agreement makes the path of the whole process clear and smooth.
The surrogacy process for intended parents, not only couples but also single parents and homosexual couples, brings hope in their life to start their adorable families.
Gestational surrogacy allows couples to be biological parents of the child. Furthermore, they can raise a healthy, brainy, and strong child by turning to an egg donor or sperm donor of desired characteristics. In surrogacy, there are minimal chances of miscarriage and other pregnancy-related issues because a surrogate undergoes several emotional and physical tests.
Rite Options is a leading agency that connects the intended parents to the best surrogate, egg donor, and sperm donor. You can grow your family happily by choosing the right option at Rite Options.
