Surrogacy, like any other medical procedure, has its pros and cons. Both potential fathers and surrogate mothers should consider them before entering the program. Let’s consider the pros and cons of surrogacy honestly, with facts, statistics and based on scientific data.
Surrogacy: advantages and disadvantages for parents
Surrogate motherhood is used by those people whose infertility cannot be cured by medication, surgery or other methods. For them, it is without exaggeration the only chance to become the genetic parents of the child.
Advantages of surrogacy
- Family addition. One child or two? Boy or girl? Modern technologies allow you to choose. Doctors can transfer two (or in some cases three) embryos to a surrogate mother at the same time. In some countries, it is allowed to choose the sex of the embryo for transfer. In addition, PDG (technology for detecting genetic abnormalities in the embryo) is usually performed, which allows only healthy embryos to be transferred. This increases the chances of a successful pregnancy.
- Genetic connection of the child with the parents. The embryo is cultivated according to one of three schemes:
- Egg cell of biological mother + sperm of biological father
- Egg cell of the biological mother + donor sperm
- Donor egg cell + sperm of biological father
Thus, a child born from a surrogate mother necessarily has a genetic connection with one or both parents.
- Participation in each stage of the procedure. Potential parents are involved in the pregnancy. They can accompany the surrogate mother literally at every stage: from the moment of embryo transfer to childbirth. Of course, if both the parents and the surrogate mother are comfortable with it.
- Guarantee of success and quality of clinic services. The percentage of successful pregnancies in surrogacy programs is 81%. In 61% of cases, the first embryo transfer of one’s own embryos is successful. If donor material is used for embryo cultivation, the success rate increases to 89%.
Surrogacy offers many chances if the first attempt fails: culture the embryos again, try another donor, another surrogate mother, etc.
Clinics engaged in reproductive medicine usually provide high-level services. This field requires the latest equipment, advanced technologies and qualified personnel, so it simply cannot be otherwise. You can view clinics and their ratings on Family Pathway.
Disadvantages of surrogacy
- Cost of surrogacy. It ranges from 36 000€ in Eastern European countries to 145 000€and above in the USA and Canada. Health insurance usually does not cover these costs. The cost of some programs includes only one cycle of embryo transfer. That is, if pregnancy does not occur the first time, you will have to pay extra for a repeat embryo transfer. However, in some programs, parents pay for the result — that is, pregnancy. Doctors will repeat attempts until the moment of pregnancy.
- A complex process. It takes at least 12 months from the time of application to childbirth. The process is accompanied by the signing of several contracts (with a surrogate mother, a clinic, an agency). If the parents are going through the program abroad, the processing of documents for the child at the embassy may take some time. However, surrogacy agencies usually provide comprehensive legal information on these issues and help with legal support.
- Public opinion. Some parents may encounter a prejudiced attitude towards surrogacy. This is usually associated with a misunderstanding of the procedure (allegedly, the child is “bought”, “taken from the real mother”, etc.) or with religious views. Most religious denominations, although encouraging people to become parents, condemn surrogacy. As awareness of assisted reproductive technologies increases, the level of prejudice is gradually decreasing.
- Complexities of legislation. Some countries have complicated procedures for legalizing a child in their parents’ home country. For example, Spain recognizes as the mother the woman who gave birth to the child (i.e. surrogacy mother), even if the egg of the biological mother was used. Therefore, after returning home from a foreign surrogacy clinic, Spanish mothers have to adopt their own child. Legal procedures can be complex, but they exist and are successfully practiced.
Surrogacy for a surrogate mother
The surrogate mother is a key figure in the program. Let’s consider surrogacy: pros and cons for the potential surrogate mother.
Advantages of surrogacy
- Help to an infertile couple. 1 in 6 couples in the world face infertility. Some cases are incurable. A healthy woman can literally fulfill the dream of an infertile family and give them the happiness of parenthood.
- Financial reward. A surrogate mother receives a fee for her help: from 14 600€ in Eastern European countries to 55 000€ or more in the USA and Canada. In addition, a woman can receive compensation for food, accommodation, travel, etc. during pregnancy. You can view agencies, clinics and the rewards they offer on Family Pathway.
- Legality of the procedure. A surrogate mother is protected by law in countries where the procedure is allowed (Украина, Georgia, the Czech Republic, some US states). This means that she will definitely receive a reward, medical care and that the parents will definitely take the child. Under no circumstances, a surrogate mother cannot and should not be responsible for the child born to her.
- Ability to experience the pregnancy process. Many women enjoy the process of pregnancy, and the program is another chance to experience these feelings.
Disadvantages of surrogacy
- Difficulty of carrying a child. Pregnancy can be stressful for the body. 8 out of 10 women feel weak and nauseous at some point in pregnancy. Up to 10% of pregnant women have excessive nausea and vomiting (hypermesis). To support the body, surrogate mothers take medicines and vitamins.
- Psychological factor. Some women may feel emotionally attached to the child they are carrying. To reduce the likelihood of this, only those women who have children of their own are invited to the program. Potential surrogate mothers are examined by a psychiatrist and a psychologist. During the program, they also receive the support of a psychologist.
- Ethical problems of the procedure. Opponents of surrogacy talk about the objectification of human life, the inadmissibility of in vitro conceiving and procedures in general from a religious point of view, etc. When weighing the ethical aspects, a surrogate mother should keep several things in mind. She is not related to the child she is carrying. Real parents are waiting for their child and are ready to give it all their care. A surrogate mother brings happiness to an infertile couple.
There are advantages and disadvantages of surrogacy in all areas: medical, legal and ethical. In practice, most of the challenges of surrogacy can be solved with the help of qualified doctors, lawyers and psychologists. However, the decision is always up to the potential parents and potential trumpets. You should enter the program only when, for you personally, the “for” arguments outweigh the “against” arguments. You can choose the right program on Family Pathway.