Surrogacy has a long history, and as science has evolved we have developed new ways to bring life into the world that can help surrogates and intended parents in the process. Laws regulating both forms of surrogate journeys are strict anywhere in the world because of differing opinions on family planning, adoption, and whether surrogacy is considered a transaction.
Traditional surrogacy was the first kind that we implemented; the surrogate was related to the intended parents and carried a baby to term that was a mixture of their genetics and the father’s genetics. The child that resulted was still genetically related to both families involved in the intended parent couple but with the added issue of being directly related to the surrogate.
In some places, like India, Traditional surrogacy is allowed but gestational surrogacy is not. Lawmakers decided that because of their political views and moral objections to a surrogate receiving compensation, they would outlaw it in the country. Traditional surrogacy is also the most commonly portrayed surrogacy in the media, with compassionate and caring siblings and cousins offering to carry a struggling couple’s child for them.
Gestational Surrogacy is the modern process that we know and promote today. With advanced techniques like IUI (Inter-Uterine Insemination) and IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization), it’s becoming easier to have a child by a surrogate that only has DNA from the intended mother and father. In Gestational Surrogacy, the surrogate gets inseminated with an embryo created with DNA from the intended parents. The surrogate may be carrying the child, but they are not genetically related.
This process is restricted in some places, like Ireland, because of political objections. There are distinct benefits to Gestational Surrogacy like a genetic separation from the child during the pregnancy, which would make it easier to deliver the child to their intended parents. There is also no issue with the adoption of this child, as they already genetically belong to the intended parents.
Simple Surrogacy works primarily with Gestational Surrogates. To see if you qualify to become a surrogate, please visit the link here and reach out!
Go backThis article continues our series on informational articles about surrogacy. After a successful pregnancy is achieved, the surrogate is released to her regular OB/GYN and fertility medications are discontinued gradually. The first ultrasound usually happens between 6-8 weeks, and that…
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