The surrogacy process is a long and involved one, and it’s not a path you should consider without doing ample research.
Despite the fact that using a surrogate mother has become more popular in recent years and even possibly more mainstream, there are many questions you might have about the process.
It is important to realize that there is still some controversy surrounding using a surrogate mother to have a baby. The legal process can be very challenging because it varies from one state to another and that is a primary reason for people contemplating using a surrogate mother will reach out to an experienced attorney.
There are two different types of surrogate mothers; gestational surrogates and traditional surrogates. Gestational surrogacy involves the use of in vitro fertilization to gather eggs from the mother (or from an egg donor), to fertilize them with sperm from the father, and then place that embryo in the uterus of a gestational surrogate, meaning that the surrogate is not biologically related to the child. Traditional surrogacy, however, involves a woman who is artificially inseminated with the father’s sperm, meaning that the surrogate is the biological mom. She then carries the baby to term and delivers it for you and/or your partner to raise.
People consider using a surrogate for many different kinds of reasons, such as conditions that can make pregnancy risky or impossible, like severe heart disease, if you previously had your uterus removed in a hysterectomy or if you have medical problems for your uterus that could make it challenging for you to carry a baby to term. Furthermore, you might also want to contemplate surrogacy if you tried but were unable to get pregnant using a number of different assisted reproduction techniques, including IVF. Finally, surrogacy is the number one option available for gay couples, whether they’re single or married.
A consultation with a knowledgeable surrogacy director can help evaluate the questions and concerns you have surrounding the surrogacy process so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not this is right for you. Remember, when you speak to a surrogacy professional, be sure to find out how long they’ve been in business, what their protocol is for accepting surrogates, and what their costs are. This should get you well on your way to making a knowledgeable decision about how to proceed.