Surrogacy / Gestational Carriers

Surrogacy is a process in which a carrier woman has a baby for another woman if she is unable to do so herself. There are two types of surrogacy:

Traditional surrogacy – where the surrogate is inseminated with the father’s sperm. This means the child is genetically related to the surrogate.

Gestational surrogacy – where another woman’s egg is fertilized with a man’s sperm and placed inside the surrogate. In this case, the surrogate is not related in any way to the child.[1]

There is still controversy in using surrogates, but surrogacy is available to couples who need it. This can include females with reproductive issues, same-sex couples, or couples who cannot adopt. Surrogates can be private via family or friends, or chosen through a surrogacy agency.

Legal issues may arise with surrogate use, so it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in reproductive law in addition to your doctor.[2]

[1] “Overview of the Surrogacy Process.” n.d. Human Rights Campaign. Accessed April 30, 2018. https://www.hrc.org/resources/overview-of-the-surrogacy-process.

[2] Johnston, Traci C. 2017. “Using a Surrogate Mother: What You Need to Know.” WebMD. 2017. https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/using-surrogate-mother#3-8.