Does a traditional surrogate mother share DNA with the baby?

Traditional surrogacy, also known as “genetic surrogacy,” in which the surrogate mother is genetically related to the child she is carrying as she shares DNA with a baby (the surrogate mother’s oocytes are used to create an embryo), is the less common nowadays than gestational surrogacy, primarily because of traditional surrogacy’s legal and emotional challenges and issues. However, it is still a viable option for some intended parents (single males, same–sex male couples, and heterosexual couples in which the woman cannot produce a healthy egg) because this type of surrogacy enables intended fathers who use their sperm to fertilize the surrogate mother’s oocyte to maintain the genetic link to their babies. Traditional surrogate mother conceives in two ways: either through IUI or IVF. If IVF treatment takes place, the surrogate mother undergoes medical procedures. After the embryo is created, it is transferred to the surrogate mother to carry a pregnancy and give birth. Surrogate mothers who conceive through IUI don’t have an embryo transfer as an embryo–making process happens naturally by gamete fusion.

Although traditional surrogacy statistics are difficult to find; still between 20 and 10% of surrogacy pregnancies are traditional. And most of these pregnancies are carried by women who are close friends or relatives of the intended parents.

Before taking the first step into traditional surrogacy, it is essential to consider all its challenges and benefits.

What Is Traditional Surrogacy?

In traditional surrogacy, the baby is genetically related to the surrogate mother because her genetic material containing DNA (egg) is used in embryo generation. Traditional surrogate mothers become pregnant via intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sperm from the intended father or donor. Most commonly, traditional surrogate mothers are family members or relatives who would like to help the intended parents fulfill their dream and do it altruistically as they love them.

This type of surrogacy is also called “genetic surrogacy” or “partial surrogacy” because the surrogate mother has a genetic link to the child she carries. In most cases, both the intended father (who provides his sperm) and the surrogate mother are genetically related to the baby. In a few cases, if the donated sperm is used to complete fertilization, only the surrogate mother is related to the baby. While this genetic relationship may legally and emotionally complicate surrogacy, it still can be considered a brilliant option for some intended parents.

Who Can Consider Traditional Surrogacy?

Single men (if they cannot find a suitable egg donor and would like their surrogate mother to provide her egg);
Same–sex male couples wishing to avoid egg donation or in cases when they have their family members or relatives wishing to become a surrogate mother (this also refers to cases when the male couple has a female friend who would love to help them);
Singles and couples who want to have a unique genetic link between the surrogate mother and their child that is impossible with a donated egg (in cases when the surrogate mother is a family member or relative of the intended parents, she will provide a unique genetic makeup; sometimes, a close friend can also be a surrogate mother);
Couples with ongoing fertility struggles who cannot find a suitable egg donor or do not want to use the eggs from an anonymous donor;
Anyone who is unable to carry a pregnancy to term safely.

Although traditional surrogacy enables intended parents to eliminate egg donor participation in the process or purchasing the donated egg, most heterosexual couples and intended mothers are turning to gestational surrogacy if they can produce an egg (but cannot safely carry a pregnancy to term) as this type of surrogacy allows these intended parents to be genetically related to their baby.

Single men, same–sex male couples, and women who cannot produce healthy oocytes may choose traditional surrogacy because if opting for gestational surrogacy, they will need a donor’s eggs anyway and not in all cases they can select an egg donor they like; in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is also the egg donor, simplifying the whole process of making an embryo.

Does A Surrogate Mother Share DNA With The Baby?

In traditional surrogacy, a surrogate mother shares DNA with a baby she carries because her egg (containing DNA) is used instead of the intended mother’s or donor’s to create an embryo. The surrogate mother’s egg is fertilized using the intended father’s or donor’s sperm via intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. The IUI process is less expensive and non–invasive (it follows natural conception as fertilization happens in the surrogate mother’s body after sperm is deposited in the surrogate mother’s uterus.) IVF procedure is more expensive, invasive, and complex (requires ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer); and doesn’t follow the natural conception as fertilization happens in the IVF lab, and the embryo is transferred into the surrogate mother’s uterus.

The egg and sperm each have one–half of a set of chromosomes, and their fusion gives the baby the full set of chromosomes. Chromosomes are threadlike structures made up of protein and a long single DNA molecule containing part of the genetic material. Each gamete (the egg and sperm) contains half of the required chromosomes, or 23, which should combine to create a healthy embryo with 46–chromosomes.

In the case of traditional surrogacy, the genetic makeup of an embryo consists of the surrogate mother’s genetic material encrypted in her oocyte (half the baby’s DNA comes from the surrogate mother), and genetic material encrypted in the father’s or donor’s sperm (half comes from the father or sperm donor).

This incomplete separation of surrogate mother–baby DNA is vital for intended parents who have their family members or relatives acting as their surrogate mother, as it allows them to maintain the unique genetic makeup of the baby by passing the DNA from the woman who belongs to their family. However, it’s essential to note that this genetic relationship may come with unique challenges and issues, including that the intended parents won’t have full legal custody when the baby is born, and adoption will be required; therefore, traditional surrogacies are rarely completed today except in some cases.

How Does Traditional Surrogacy Work?

In general, the traditional surrogacy process involves finding a traditional surrogate mother or asking a family member or relative to be a surrogate mother, completing legal contracts, creating the embryo via intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), and transferring the embryo to the surrogate mother in case of IVF. If the IUI procedure has been done, there is no embryo transfer as the embryo is created naturally in the surrogate mother’s fallopian tube and is transferred by her fallopian tube to her uterus. However, there are a few key ways in which the traditional surrogacy process differs from the gestational surrogacy process:

First, the intended parents don’t have to opt for egg donation services neither choosing the local or traveling egg donor for starting an egg donation process, nor purchasing the donated oocytes from the Oocyte Bank or shipping the donor eggs from abroad, because the surrogate mother’s eggs will be used instead. This means the intended parents only need to be matched to a surrogate mother who wants to complete a traditional surrogacy.
Once the intended parents find a perfect match (a traditional surrogate mother) they want to work with, legal contracts must be drafted and signed by both parties. Working closely with a lawyer experienced in traditional surrogacy agreements is essential because it is more legally complex than gestational surrogacy. Moreover, the intended parents may have to adopt the baby after the baby is born.

After signing the contracts, the surrogacy process can be started. In most cases, the traditional surrogate mother will be artificially inseminated using the intended father’s sperm via intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedure performed at a fertility clinic. IUI is less complicated, less expensive, less invasive, and involves fewer medical procedures than IVF. This process can be done two times per cycle (Double vs. single intrauterine insemination per cycle: double IUI increases clinical pregnancy rates) and repeated several times until a viable pregnancy is achieved. In some cases (if the intended father undergoes surgical sperm retrieval to provide a sperm sample, preimplantation genetic testing is needed, previous IUI failed, etc.), the surrogate mother will have to undergo IVF treatment and embryo transfer.

From there, the traditional surrogate mother will carry the baby like any other pregnancy. However, when the baby is born, the surrogate mother will have parental rights (as she is a biological mother), and the intended parents will have to terminate her parental rights and legally adopt the child.

Due to the legal and emotional intricacies involved in traditional surrogacy, many professionals prefer to work exclusively with gestational surrogate mothers and intended parents seeking gestational surrogacy. The optimal surrogacy process for you will depend on your circumstances and the laws in the country or state where the surrogacy process takes place.

Traditional Surrogacy: Legal Implications and Considerations.

Surrogacy is regulated by country/state laws, and in some countries or states, it is illegal. In certain counties or states where gestational surrogacy is allowed, traditional surrogacy may still be prohibited, and vice versa: in some countries or states, only traditional surrogacy is allowed, and sometimes, only if a surrogate mother is a family member or a relative of the intended parents.

Even in states where surrogacy contracts are recognized and permitted, surrogacy is a legally complex issue, and the laws governing it can be unclear. Traditional surrogacy involves additional legal complications and procedures, such as the termination of parental rights of the surrogate mother and stepparent adoption. Therefore, it is crucial to seek guidance from an experienced attorney at every stage of the traditional surrogacy process.

How Much Does Traditional Surrogacy Cost?

Traditional surrogacy costs depend on many factors, including the destination where the surrogacy process takes place, the type of surrogacy: altruistic or commercial, the surrogacy professional you are working with, the services you use throughout the process, the needs of your surrogate mother, and many others. Surrogacy can be a long, overwhelming, demanding, and expensive process that involves many types of professionals, single or double intrauterine insemination or multistage IVF cycle including, in some cases, surgical sperm retrieval to collect the intended father’s sperm, using the cryopreserved sperm to fertilize the surrogate mother’s egg, comprehensive genetic testing of an IVF–created embryo, etc.; and a yearlong commitment from a woman who will be a traditional surrogate mother and will be carrying a baby for another family.

Typical traditional surrogacy costs can vary widely from $40,000–$90,000, with the average cost of a successful first–attempt pregnancy starting at $60,000, including everything from the agency and legal fees to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process (agency fees, attorney fees, counseling costs, medical expenses, the surrogate mother’s living expenses and compensation.) Many of these expenses are variable; for example, IVF costs may be different depending on whether the intended father uses his sperm or donated sperm from a local or international donor, whether the intended father needs micro–TESE or other medical procedures to provide his sperm sample, whether the intended father has cryopreserved sperm banked for IVF, whether preimplantation genetic testing is required and so on; the surrogate mother’s monthly allowance may vary based on where she lives, and attorney fees may differ depending on country/state laws and legal processes. Traditional surrogacies that don’t involve an IVF cycle are less expensive, with the average cost of a successful first–attempt pregnancy starting at $40,000 or even less, including everything from the agency, legal fees, and IUI expenses. And if intended parents are working with an altruistic traditional surrogate mother and an attorney (without agency), the budget may be cut to $20,000 covering legal fees, fertility clinic fees (IUI), and other medical expenses.

In addition, insurance may not cover the medical expenses for intended parents and their surrogate mothers (some insurance plans cover only screening expenses, some may cover fertility assessment and egg retrieval, few cover one round of IVF, and a few cover full IVF cycle), and there are fewer financing options available to intended parents than to adoptive families.

In general, intended parents who choose traditional surrogacy can expect to cover the following expenses:

Medical expenses for the surrogate mother, including intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF)
Fees for attorney and surrogacy agency
Costs for counseling
Monthly allowance for the surrogate mother
Compensation for the surrogate mother (in cases of traditional commercial surrogacy)
Other expenses related to the surrogate mother’s pregnancy and delivery

The expenses listed above are not fixed and can vary significantly depending on factors such as the surrogate mother’s location, state/country laws, and individual circumstances. For example, the surrogate mother’s monthly allowance and compensation may differ based on location, and attorney fees can vary based on the legal processes required for your specific situation.

While surrogacy is generally expensive, traditional surrogacy is often a more cost–effective option than gestational surrogacy, as intended parents do not need to pay for an egg donation, and IUI is typically less expensive than in vitro fertilization (IVF).

To determine a more accurate estimate of the total cost for your surrogacy, it is important to speak with a professional who can provide personalized guidance and advice based on your specific situation.

Traditional Surrogacy Pros and Cons.

Traditional surrogacy is a complicated process with many benefits and challenges to consider before proceeding. Below are some of the most frequent pros and cons of traditional surrogacy.

Pros of Traditional Surrogacy:

Traditional surrogacy allows infertile couples in which women cannot produce healthy oocytes, single males, and same–sex male couples to make their families complete.
Traditional surrogacy is less expensive than gestational surrogacy that is why intended parents wishing to save the budget or having a limited budget may prefer it.
Gestational surrogacy allows the intended father to have a genetic link to their child (if his sperm is used to fertilize the surrogate mother’s egg).
The surrogate mother will use her eggs in traditional surrogacy, and this may be a wonderful option for singles and couples who don’t want to use the eggs donated by the anonymous donor, would like to eliminate egg donation, or cannot find a suitable egg donor.
Intended parents who want to have a unique genetic link between the surrogate mother and their child that is impossible with a donated egg (in cases when the surrogate mother is a family member or relative of the intended parents, she will provide a unique genetic makeup), may opt for traditional surrogacy.
Traditional surrogacy is a brilliant option for intended parents who have a close female friend wishing to be their surrogate mother will choose this form of surrogacy.
Intended mothers who want to eliminate the IVF cycle may opt for traditional surrogacy instead of using their eggs.

Cons of Traditional Surrogacy:

Traditional surrogacy is banned in many countries and states.
Most surrogacy professionals avoid or do not handle traditional surrogacies, while many surrogate mothers may find gestational surrogacy more comfortable.
Traditional surrogacy is a legally more complicated process than gestational surrogacy because the baby is genetically related to the surrogate mother, and the intended parents will have to terminate her parental rights and legally adopt the child.
A traditional surrogate mother is the biological mother of her child, meaning she has parental rights and may wish to keep the baby. The intended parents would then need to go to court to gain custody of the child.
Intended mothers cannot be genetically related to their children in traditional surrogacy because their eggs will not be used to create the embryo.
Using the donor’s sperm in traditional surrogacy can make it more legally intricate because the surrogate mother has a genetic relationship with the child, and the intended father doesn’t. It can lead to complicated custody battles and legal disputes.
Having a baby via traditional surrogacy is less expensive, with the average cost of a successful first–attempt pregnancy starting at $60,000 in the U.S. and $50,000 outside the U.S. (including everything from the agency and legal fees to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gestational carrier’s monthly allowance and base compensation).
Altruistic traditional surrogacies are less expensive than commercial surrogacies. Depending on the attorney fees and medical services involved, they may cost between $20,000 and $40,000 outside the U.S. and $30,000 to $40,000 in the U.S.
Like gestational surrogacy, traditional surrogacy requires intended parents to relinquish some control as the surrogate mother carries the pregnancy.

Although traditional surrogacy poses various challenges, it remains a viable option for intended parents. However, it is the responsibility of each intended parent to carefully evaluate the associated risks before deciding to proceed with traditional surrogacy.

Traditional Surrogacy: Commercial or Altruistic?

Traditional surrogacy can be either commercial or altruistic, depending on the agreement between the intended parent(s) and the surrogate mother. In commercial surrogacy, the surrogate mother is compensated for carrying the child, while in altruistic surrogacy, the surrogate is not compensated or receives only reimbursement for expenses. This compensation can include payment for medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses associated with the pregnancy. In contrast, altruistic surrogacy involves a surrogate mother who carries the child without financial compensation, often out of a desire to help a family member or close friend who is unable to conceive.

Commercial surrogacy is legal in some countries and states, while it is prohibited in others. Altruistic surrogacy, on the other hand, is legal in most countries and states, but there may be some restrictions on compensation or advertising for a surrogate mother.

Both commercial and altruistic traditional surrogacy arrangements have their own unique considerations, challenges, and benefits that intended parents and surrogate mothers should carefully consider before entering into such an agreement.

Wrapping Things Up

Although traditional surrogacy is less expensive than other types of surrogacy, it comes with more emotional and legal challenges, making it a more complicated process. Nowadays, many intended parents prefer gestational surrogacy using the intended mother’s or donor’s eggs to simplify the process and establish their parental rights before the baby is born.

Nevertheless, if you find a traditional surrogate mother who is willing to complete traditional surrogacy, along with an agency and attorney experienced in traditional surrogacy arrangements, you can expand your family through traditional surrogacy.