Surrogacy
Many are trying to fulfill their dream of parenting. In the past, the natural spontaneous way was the only one to fulfill this dream. With time and the development of science, reproductive medicine had developed treatments for all the aspects of infertility in order to fulfill the parenting whish. Surrogacy is one those treatments,. To simplify the process and facilitate the delivery of information, in this article we will answer the common questions about surrogacy.
What is surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a process in which the female partner’s egg is fertilized with the male partner’s sperm in a laboratory (in vitro fertilization). The fertilized egg develops to an embryo, biologically belonging to the intended parents. This embryo is transferred to the surrogate woman’s womb. The surrogate will carry the pregnancy , give birth to the baby and deliver him to the intended parents, immediately after the delivery.
When surrogacy is needed?
When carrying a pregnancy is impossible as a result of health problems of the female partner, irreparable womb problems, after womb resection or recurrent failure of fertility treatments referred to a uterine or endometrial unsolvable problem.
Who is the surrogate?
A surrogate is a woman who will carry the intended couple embryo in her womb on a volunteer basis or for a fee. The woman can be an acquaintance of the intended parents or, alternatively, a stranger. Anyway, the surrogate’s status, rights, and obligations are enshrined in a legal agreement before the surrogacy process begins.
What is a surrogacy agreement?
Because this is a complex process, which involves many emotions, stress, anxiety, anticipation, sometimes involving people who do not know each other at all, the legislature requires that even before the process begins, a risk-taking process is carried out between the parties involved: the surrogate mother and the intended parent or parents. The content of the agreement and its reservations will be personalized on a case-by-case basis, however, there are issues that are essential to be signed in the beginning, such as, who’s subject and costs, parental responsibility for the newborn to come and more.
The surrogacy process, how is it actually done?
Once the agreement is approved and signed by the parts, reproductive medical clinics will manage the process. The medical team will accompany, conduct and synchronize the treatments, for the surrogate mother and the intended parents: from initial medical tests and examination of the surrogate mother and intended parents, through the in vitro fertilization process and embryo transfer to the surrogate womb, follow-up of pregnancy, to the long-awaited delivery of a healthy baby. At the last stage of the process, the baby will be handed over to his parents and will be registered as the intended parent/s baby.
What are the types of surrogacy available?
“Partial surrogacy” or by its accompanying name “Traditional surrogacy” is surrogacy in which the pregnancy result from the sperm of the male intended partner and the surrogate mother’s egg. This method is not legal in everywhere. Sometimes a parentship agreement which ensure the new born transfer to the intended father, may bypass the legal problem.
“Full surrogacy” or its accompanying name “surrogate pregnancy” is surrogacy as described above.
Each state whether and when the surrogacy process is approved has a constitutional process that the process seeks.
