What is Gestational Surrogacy and How Does it Differ from Traditional Surrogacy?

In the surrogacy world, two types of surrogacy are usually discussed – gestational and traditional surrogacy. We have already discussed traditional surrogacy in a previous blog post. Here, we will cover some of the factors and issues involved in the gestational surrogacy process and how it differs from traditional surrogacy. If you are interested in becoming an intended parent, read on to learn about the gestational surrogacy process and how it can benefit you.

What is Traditional Surrogacy?

As mentioned in a prior blog post, today, traditional surrogacy has been all but eradicated in the United States.  At one time, traditional surrogacy was the only choice intended parents had when deciding to increase the size of their families through surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is always biologically related to the child she is carrying. In this way, she is acting not only as the surrogate mother/gestational carrier, but also as the egg donor. This method of surrogacy can have legal implications, since the surrogate mother is biologically related to the child. This is one reason why the traditional surrogacy process is generally no longer used in the United States.

What is Gestational Surrogacy?

Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, involves a surrogate mother who is not biologically related to the child she is carrying for the intended parents. In the gestational surrogacy process, intended parents have a fertilized embryo implanted into a surrogate mother, who then carries the child for nine months’ gestation. Gestational surrogacy is legally less complicated than traditional surrogacy. Today, in the United States, almost all of the surrogacy cases are gestational.

In Vitro Fertilization

Gestational surrogacy involves the use of in vitro fertilization, also known as IVF. Eggs and sperm from the intended parents or from egg and/or sperm donors are used to create an embryo in a laboratory. Then, that embryo is implanted into the uterus of the surrogate mother, who will carry the child for nine months. In gestational surrogacy, one of the intended parents may or may not be biologically related to the child. The surrogate mother, however, is never biologically related to the child in gestational surrogacy.

Who Can Benefit from Gestational Surrogacy?

One of the benefits of gestational surrogacy is that any and all intended parents can have a child through this process. At Simple Surrogacy, we welcome intended parents of all sexual orientations, marital statuses, religions and ethnic backgrounds. We have worked with intended parents who are gay, straight, single, and married in assisting them in having a child of their own. Gestational surrogacy is the ideal method for intended parents to have their own baby.

How Much Does Gestational Surrogacy Cost?

The cost to intended parents of gestational surrogacy varies depending upon the state in which they or their surrogate mother lives. If you choose to work with Simple Surrogacy, you will benefit from the advantages of our agency being in Texas. Because we are based in Dallas, we can easily work within any state in the country in which gestational surrogacy is legal. In fact, we work with surrogate mothers not only in Texas but in many other states on both coasts, including, but not limited to, California, Oklahoma, and Florida. Our agency fees are far lower than other surrogacy agencies due to our Texas advantage, that of being based in a state that has no state income tax. Therefore, we can pass that savings on to you, the intended parents. Our agency fees for intended parents start at $24,250. This price does not include legal fees, fees involved in the egg donation process, the payment of insurance premiums for the surrogate mother, some screening and medical expenses, and miscellaneous expenses of the surrogate mother during pregnancy. Please visit Simple Surrogacy’s website for a breakdown of fees and costs involved in gestational surrogacy. Contact us if you would like to discuss our fees for gestational surrogacy in further detail.

What Are My State’s Laws Regarding Gestational Surrogacy?

Most states in the United States regard gestational surrogacy favorably. Those that don’t view it favorably often don’t have any laws or statutes about gestational surrogacy on the books at all. Simple Surrogacy has worked in every state that is gestational surrogacy friendly, and the attorneys with whom we work have the advantage of prior experience navigating state laws. If you are unsure of the laws regarding gestational surrogacy in your state, contact Simple Surrogacy. We can assist you in deciphering and navigating state laws so that you are able to have a child of your own through the gestational surrogacy process. Keep in mind that gestational surrogacy is not as legally complicated as traditional surrogacy, in which the surrogate mother is biologically related to the child. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother has no biological ties to the child, and therefore most state laws and courts favor intended parents.

Where Can I Find More Information if I Still Have Questions?

Do you have more questions about the gestational surrogacy process? We at Simple Surrogacy are happy to help answer any further inquiries you may have! We have been in business for over 17 years and have assisted many intended parents, like you, in having a child of their own. Our agency is a member of the Better Business Bureau as well as RESOLVE (The National Infertility Association) and the American Fertility Association. The following websites can also offer additional information on gestational surrogacy:

• The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (asrm.org)
• Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (org)
• The American Fertility Association (theafa.org)
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association (resolve.org)
• INCIID: The International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination (inciid.org )