How Does Surrogacy Work?
Infertility affects about 10% of women in the United States. Not only does it carry an emotional toll, but women often have to fight off stigmas associated with infertility.
Surrogacy can be the answer for women who have infertility. But what is surrogacy, and how does it work?
Let’s explore surrogacy so you can find out if it’s an avenue to help you complete your family.
What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an agreement, often involving legalities, between two parties that allow a woman to carry their child for them. Once the woman carrying the child gives birth, the opposite party becomes the child’s parents.
There are two types of surrogacy, traditional and gestational.
Traditional surrogacy involves a woman becoming impregnated with her partner’s sperm or the man chosen to be the father. She is the biological mother of the child.
Gestational surrogacy is where an unrelated egg and sperm are fertilized and inserted into the woman. She is called the “birth mother” but has no biological ties to the child.
How Does Surrogacy Work?
The United States favors surrogacy. However, it’s not legal in every state. At the federal level, there is no set law so that each state can create its laws. Be sure to check the laws in your specific state before moving forward with surrogacy.
There are a couple of ways to choose a surrogate. You can go through an agency that comes alongside you and walks you through the surrogacy process. They do the work of finding a surrogate for you and act as a middleman between the couple and the surrogate.
You can also ask your friends and family to consider being a surrogate for you. While some family members are happy to oblige, it can get tricky, especially with all the laws surround surrogacy. Though some people prefer to stay close to their surrogates, so keeping it in the family saves money and keeps the connection.
Can I Be A Surrogate?
For those thinking of becoming a surrogate, there are some requirements, and they will differ between agencies if you choose to go that route. Typically, there are a few suggestions:
1. Ideally, you should be under the age of 36
2. You should have given birth at least once, so you’re able to understand the risks associated with pregnancy, and these pregnancies must be free of complications.
3. You’re already a mother and are currently raising children.
4. You are healthy, both physically and mentally, and have cleared a medical exam.
Once you are cleared for pregnancy, you can move forward with surrogacy.
What is The Cost of Surrogacy?
The cost of surrogacy ranges due to location, but generally, you can expect to pay $80,000 and upwards. Medical insurance does not cover surrogacy, so the intended parents might have to pay for their surrogates’ insurance coverage if hers is not applicable.
Surrogacy: A Way to Complete Families
Surrogacy may have some obstacles to overcome, but in the end, it will all be worth it. Finding a surrogate that has your best interests at heart is the key to making your family whole.
