Surrogacy is when another woman carries a baby for an infertile woman.
Reasons for choosing surrogacy:
A couple may be drawn to surrogacy for many reasons. The infertile woman may have no womb, making traditional IVF impossible, or an abnormally formed womb which would prevent a pregnancy from going to term.
She may have health conditions, such as a heart problem, which may make it too dangerous to carry a baby, or in some cases may have been trying IVF for years with no success. Once doctors have said they have done all they can, surrogacy can seem like the last chance of becoming a parent.
Why not just adopt a baby?
Many people are put off by the extensive 'red tape' involved in the adoption procedure. A lot of people are automatically barred from becoming adoptive parents, for instance, if they're disabled, overweight or have a previous history of depression. Other couples want to try every avenue at having their own biological child before they try adoption.
What types of surrogacy are there?
There are two types of surrogacy, straight and host.
Straight surrogacy is where the surrogate mother uses her own egg which is then fertilized with the infertile woman's husbands sperm. This is sometimes done with an articificial insemination kit at home.
Host surrogacy is where the intended mother's eggs and her husband's sperm are used to impregnate the surrogate. This is always done at an IVF clinic and the child would be biologically related to his mother.
Is it legal?
Surrogacy is legal in the UK and USA, as well as other countries such as Australia, Norway, Holland, Israel etc.
However, it is only legal if the surrogate is not paid anything other than expenses for her services and if the intended parents do not advertise for a surrogate to obtain one.
A surrogate should be sought through a reputable agency, where they will have taken a full history and blood tests prior to accepting the person as a surrogate.
For more information, please call COTS on 0844 414 0181 or if outside the UK, 0044 1549 402777.
