Surrogacy is one way for a couple who are unable to conceive to have a child. The process involves a contract between the couple and a woman who agrees to become pregnant, carry the fetus to term and turn the baby over to the couple almost immediately after birth. While there are other ways for a couple to become parents, such as adoption, surrogacy allows the couple to have a genetic link to the baby.
Traditional Surrogacy
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother has an egg that is fertilized with the sperm of the intended father. The artificial insemination can be performed in a number of ways. It can be performed with an intrauterine insemination, a cervical insemination or a home insemination. The surrogate mother typically charts her ovulation times with an ovulation prediction kit.
Gestational Surrogacy
Another type of surrogacy is gestational surrogacy. In gestational surrogacy, the eggs are fertilized using in vitro fertilization. Fertilized eggs are then implanted into the uterus of the surrogate mother. Depending on the fertility status of the intended parents, donor eggs or donor sperm may be used. When this method is used, the surrogate mother is usually prepared for the embryo transfer by daily hormone injections, according to The National Adoption and Surrogacy Center. This allows the uterine lining to build up in preparation for implanting the embryo.
Surrogate Mother Requirements
According to the Human Rights Commission, most fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies have certain requirements for a woman to be deemed qualified to become a surrogate mother. The woman must be under 43, have carried and delivered at least one child, be a nonsmoker, not abuse alcohol, have had pregnancies that were carried to term and were free of complications, be in a stable living arrangement and be in good general health.
Contract
The surrogacy contract will outline the rights and responsibilities of the surrogate mother and the intended parents. The contract will outline any compensation that the surrogate mother will receive, issues of confidentiality, the contact that the intended parents will have with the surrogate mother during the gestational period and the number of artificial insemination attempts or embryo transfers covered by the contract.
Emotional Issues
Surrogate mothers may grow emotionally attached to the growing fetus, which can cause emotional issues upon having to give up the baby after its birth. The surrogate mother and intended mother may also have different belief systems, which can cause conflict. The intended parents may have the decision-making power during delivery, despite the surrogate's desires.
