Whether you are thinking of becoming a surrogate mother or you are an intended parent, it is essential to know the two types of surrogacy: gestational and traditional surrogacy. A surrogate carries the child to term in both. Contrarily, traditional surrogacy makes the surrogate the child’s biological mother by using her egg. The surrogate’s biological relationship to the child is the main distinction between gestational and traditional surrogacy. However, this slight distinction significantly impacts the surrogacy procedure in several ways.
Surrogacy Process Step by Step
Selecting Professionals for Surrogacy
Once you’ve decided to proceed with the surrogacy process, you must determine your objectives, expectations, and the professionals you’re willing to collaborate with. Essentially, finding an IVF clinic, a surrogacy agency, and occasionally an attorney if the agency doesn’t have one for you is the first step:
In vitro Fertilization (IVF) Clinic: This is the facility where IVF will be carried out.
Surrogacy Agency: They offer some or all of the services associated with surrogacy, such as case management, support counseling, and surrogate matching.
Attorney for Surrogacy: Surrogacy is a fertility therapy involving many legal issues. The legal task must be finished with the assistance of an attorney.
Choosing a Donor Egg
Egg donors might be brought by intended parents or chosen through a clinic or organization’s database. The applicant must pass a stringent medical examination in both scenarios. Before being admitted into the donation program, a reproductive endocrinologist should check their medical history.
Making a Gestational Carrier Decision
Like the previous step, intended parents have two options for their surrogates: choose a family member or friend or use an agency. The surrogate candidate will undergo a background check for their physical, mental, financial, and criminal well-being.
The agency makes a profile for both intended parents and gestational carriers. They will attempt to pair you up with a surrogate whose surrogacy goals are comparable to yours when it comes time to arrange a match.
Signing agreements
Each party with a stake in this stage of the procedure will have a lawyer who will represent their interests. Each side must sign the contract and agree to its terms before the embryo transfer procedure may start.
In the US, where the surrogate and the egg donor reside, attorneys must be licensed. Each party will carefully analyze the contract’s provisions beforehand to achieve this:
Surrogates’ rights: Compensation, potential risks, obligations, what to do in unforeseen circumstances, and abortion rights. Those carrying a pregnancy should pay close attention to these conditions.
Intended parents: It’s critical to clarify your financial obligations to your surrogate and your legal rights, including how to manage any risks.
Getting Medical Treatment
Transfer of the embryo and fertilization are the two most important stages.
Fertilization: The embryo is created using the intended parents’ sperm and eggs.
Embryo Transfer: The surrogate’s uterus receives the embryo or embryos.
Parental Rights, Pregnancy, and Birth
Your program coordinator’s responsibility is to support you and your gestational carrier once the desired pregnancy has been accomplished and to get you ready to give birth. Usually, intending parents want to visit the hospital with the surrogate to witness it firsthand.
You must carefully review all the documentation you complete and file to ensure that parental rights are appropriately established when the baby is delivered.
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Conclusion
It’s important to remember that surrogacy can take time and requires persistence if you’re thinking about it. It would be best if you were well-prepared to offer yourself the best opportunity of having a successful journey.