Surrogacy is a legal process in which two parties enter into an agreement. One is a surrogate mother, who agrees to conceive and deliver a child on behalf of another party or persons. The child’s ultimate parents will be the second party or parties. They are referred to as intended parents.
Becoming a surrogate is a tough decision. A pregnancy journey is full of stress and storms due to hormonal and physical changes in the women. Furthermore, conceiving and carrying a child for 9 months is a significant amount of time for a woman.
Intended parents consider surrogacy for a variety of reasons, including the inability of women to conceive, infertility in both partners, medical issues, single parents, homosexual couples (men or women), and so on. The first surrogacy term is that both the intended parents and the surrogate mother must agree on the same type of surrogacy process.
Surrogacy service providers assist intended parents in connecting with the most suitable surrogate mother.
Types of the Surrogacy Process
The surrogacy process is of mainly two types:
- Traditional surrogacy
- Gestational surrogacy
Traditional Surrogacy
Earlier traditional surrogacy was the most common type of surrogacy process. In this surrogate mother acts as both child carrier and egg donor. Intended parents want a physically fit and mentally sound woman with several capabilities to become a surrogate mother of their child. In traditional surrogacy surrogate mother is biologically connected to the child.
If the intended female parent has fertility issues or medical issues, the intended parents may consider traditional surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy is also being considered by a homosexual men couple. Traditional surrogacy results in transferring inherited characteristics from surrogate mother to child.
In traditional surrogacy, sperm cells (male gametes) from the male parent or sperm donor are transferred to the uterus of the surrogate mother. And it is there that fertilization occurs. Traditional surrogacy can also involve fertilizing the surrogate’s egg and male sperm in a lab via IVF and then implanting the fertilized egg (embryo) into the uterus of the surrogate mother.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy is considered partial surrogacy because the surrogate mother’s egg is not used. The surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child in gestational surrogacy. Many celebrities are considering gestational surrogacy, in which the newborn child processes the characteristics inherited from both parents.
In gestational surrogacy, the male parent or egg donor donates sperm cells to be fertilized in vitro with the egg donor’s or female parent’s egg. The fertilized egg or embryo is then transferred to the uterus of the surrogate mother (gestational carrier) for further growth and development. A child born through gestational surrogacy inherits the characteristics of the egg and sperm donors.
Surrogate Requirements
Certain conditions apply to surrogate mothers. She can only be a surrogate if she meets these terms and eligibility requirements.
Becoming a surrogate is a wonderful journey that requires a lot of emotional strength. To prove her ability to carry a child, a woman considering becoming a surrogate must undergo physical medical tests. The surrogate requirements are as follows:
- The typical age range for becoming a surrogate is 21 to 39 years. At this age, women are expected to be physically fit.
- She must have a healthy BMI and be in good physical and hormonal health to carry a child.
- She must be the mother of at least one child.
- She must not be taking any seductive or hypnotic medication (antidepressant) for at least 12 months prior to undergoing surrogacy.
- She must be psychologically stable.
- She must be free of any disease that could be passed on to the child during pregnancy.
These are the important terms for becoming a surrogate or gestational carrier.
Why Should You Go Through the Surrogacy Process With a Surrogacy Agency?
Whether you are an intended parent or a surrogate mother, working with a surrogacy agency will simplify your surrogacy journey. A good surrogacy agency can help you avoid any legal or personal issues. Surrogacy can be an overwhelming experience for both intended parents and surrogates, but it also involves legal complexities. A reputable surrogacy agency can assist you in finding a suitable surrogate who has passed all physical and psychological tests.
Surrogacy agencies screen surrogates at several levels. Their screening procedures include the following:
- Detailed background checking
- Family history
- Psychological evaluation
- Physical evaluation
Surrogacy agencies provide a transparent view of the upfront costs of the surrogacy process. It covers medication, doctor visits, prenatal and postnatal medical care, and travel expenses.
Rite Options is the best surrogacy agency in New York, assisting intended parents and surrogate mothers in finding the best match. Their legality and smooth operation reduce stress and strain for both parties. They guarantee you a wonderful surrogacy journey.
