Gay parenting and Surrogacy, Infertility& IVF

These are widely used terms in the studies of current and traditional human health. It’s generally accepted that these terms embody a set of institutional, social and diplomatic norms that dominates the world in relation to peoples’ health.

Surrogacy involves an arrangement or agreement whereby a mature female or woman agrees through negotiation process to carry a pregnancy for another individual or individuals, who will be the newborn child’s parent(s) after birth. They are therefore known as surrogates if they agree to carry the child in their womb. Intended parents always seek an arrangement where either pregnancy is medically impossible and therefore considers surrogacy as their last options. Though pregnancy risks present an unacceptable danger to the mother's or the surrogate’s health, monetary compensation may or may not be involved in these arrangements depending on the agreement between the surrogate and the intended parents.

Infertility among humans has been great challenge especially in the current 21st century world where people have been indulging themselves in various activities of which some are health hazard. In some cases of unexplained infertility, scientists have identified that there could be some problems with fertilization. However, cases such as these may not be diagnosed until fertilization is attempted in the laboratory. Although it would be a disappointing outcome when one discovers that they are infertile, it is useful to be able to uncover the real problems so that possible solutions can be reached before the situation worsens. For example, treatment through the help of ICSI. It is believed to be caused by; Ovulation problems, hormonal imbalance and radiotherapy among women while in men, it is caused mainly by; Low sperm count/oligospermia or even no sperms at all in semen/azoospermia.

This condition may have the following possible treatments:

1. Intrauterine insemination

2. Assisted Reproductive Technology – IVF

3. Medication to achieve hormonal balance

The IVF which is a type of helped reproductive technology used for infertility management and gestational surrogacy, in which a fertilized egg is implanted into a surrogate's womb, and the resulting infant is genetically unconnected to the surrogate. IVF may be used to surmount female infertility where it is due to issues with the fallopian tubes, making fertilization difficult. It can also assist in sterile men, in those cases where there is a defect in sperm quality, in such states intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be an alternative, where a sperm cell is introduced directly into the egg cell. This is used when sperm has hardship in penetrating the egg and in these cases the partner's or a donor's sperm may be used. ICSI is also used when sperm count is very low.

Gay parenting on the other hand which includes children brought up by same–sex couples (same–sex parenting), children raised by single lesbians, gay, bisexual parents and children raised by an opposite sex couple where at least one partner is lesbian or gay.  Gay people can become parents through various means including but not limited to the following; co–parenting, adoption, donor insemination, and surrogacy. Specialist have consistently showed that gay and lesbian parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents, and their children are as psychologically healthy and well–adjusted as those cared by heterosexual parents even though in some very few situations, their children have succumbed to stigma in the case where by their friends and schoolmates realize this.

Though these conditions can prove to be a difficult altogether, specialists have worked hard to ensure that they are rectified through the administration of various techniques in relation to the condition and its possible causes.