What is Surrogacy: Who is it for and What is the Process?

Surrogacy is a method of Assisted Reproduction that involves a third party in the process. Here, intended parents collaborate with a surrogate mother, who carries and gives birth to their baby. This procedure involves negotiating and formalizing the Surrogacy Contract, creating an embryo via IVF, or utilizing a previously formed one and transferring the embryo into the surrogate’s uterus.

Surrogacy is categorized into Gestational and Traditional and can be either commercial or altruistic, determined by the Surrogacy Law in effect. The process might seem perplexing, but with the aid of a distinguished Surrogacy Agency, the journey can be straightforward and transparent. These agencies and Fertility Clinics specialize in facilitating legal procedures, acquiring birth certificates, and supporting in procuring the baby’s travel documents.

Gestational vs. Traditional Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy is predominantly more common and involves the surrogate mother carrying a pregnancy for the intended parent or parents without having a genetic connection to the child. This is achieved through either In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET), with the embryo containing genetic material from the intended mother or a donor.

Conversely, Traditional Surrogacy implicates the surrogate mother as the egg donor, making her genetically connected to the child. This method, fraught with legal complexities and complications, especially in securing parental rights, is infrequent.

Commercial vs. Altruistic Surrogacy

Commercial Surrogacy compensates the surrogate beyond her medical expenses, incorporating allowances for pregnancy-related costs, insurance, and other additional payments. Altruistic Surrogacy, on the other hand, is void of any financial gain for the surrogate, typically occurring amongst close friends or family members.

Candidacy for Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy serves as a beacon of hope for LGBTQIA+ couples, single individuals, or those who cannot conceive or sustain a pregnancy due to medical conditions like the absence of a uterus, uterine malformations, or risky diseases. This finding of a surrogate offers an alternate pathway to parenthood.

Surrogacy Process Step-by-Step:

• Document Preparation: 
  Intended parents liaise with a Surrogacy Agency to get advice on documentation, legislative nuances, and subsequent steps, including sperm donor and gestational carrier arrangements.
• Program Selection: 
  Tailored to personal needs, different programs are available, ranging from using their own gametes to involving donors and adopting embryos.
• Initial Visit: 
  Intended parents visit the agency to discuss further arrangements, meet the surrogate, and finalize the Surrogacy Contract.
• Embryo Creation and Transfer: 
  Embryos are developed and scrutinized before transferring to the surrogate’s uterus.
• Pregnancy Monitoring: 
  The agency is responsible for the health of the baby and the surrogate, conducting regular checkups.
• Birth of the Baby: 
  Intended parents should arrive before the due date to witness the birth and spend time with the newborn.
• Document Preparation for Departure: 
  All necessary documents are prepared for the baby by the agency’s lawyers.
• Embassy Visit: 
  The embassy issues the baby’s passport based on parental documents and a Genetic Testing Certificate, proving the genetic link to the intended father or mother.
• Journey Home: 
  The parents, with their newborn, can finally return home.

Society might view surrogacy skeptically for reproductive medicine, and it is prohibited in many European countries, forcing parents to seek surrogacy abroad. However, it remains a crucial option, alleviating the stress and sorrow associated with infertility and fulfilling parental dreams.

Conclusion

Surrogacy is a comprehensive journey from selecting a surrogate to welcoming a new life. It encompasses various crucial steps, from aligning with the surrogate to navigating the process's dense legal frameworks. The role of established agencies is pivotal in simplifying these intricate procedures and assisting intended parents in realizing their dream of parenthood.

The journey might be arduous and laden with myriad complexities, especially around legal navigations and societal perceptions, but the joy of holding one’s child overshadows these challenges, making surrogacy a worthwhile pursuit for many struggling with fertility challenges.