Surrogacy is not an isolated experience. Even though the phenomenon itself has a long-standing history, it still provokes moral dilemmas and conscious confrontations in society’s minds. The surrogacy agency World Center of Baby is here to shed light on the essence of the subject. Follow through the article to gain more in-depth insight into what is surrogacy process and why the surrogacy clinic is an essential element in it.

Origins of Modern Practice: What Is Traditional Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a performance of reproductive technology in which three main characters are participating in the child’s conception:

  • the genetic father who provides his sperm for fertilization;
  • the genetic mother provides her egg for fertilization;
  • the surrogate mother agrees to carry out and give birth to the child free of charge or on a fee basis from the genetic parents.

At the same time, both own sex cells of biological parents and donor material can be used.

The origin of surrogate motherhood dates back several thousand years, but initially, this method had little to do with its modern analog. In some countries (such as Ancient Greece or Rome), if a wife could not become pregnant, it was considered possible to have an heir by turning to a more prolific woman who, after childbirth, would give the baby to an infertile couple.

Oddly enough, the so-called traditional surrogate motherhood method, whereby a woman carries her genetic child, existed until the second half of the last century. The world’s first surrogate motherhood agency, opened by American lawyer N. Kean in 1976, has been practicing in vivo fertilization for a long time, which has met with no obstacles from the authorities.

The modern practice of surrogate motherhood is based on entirely different principles. Using extracorporeal fertilization, also referred to as gestational or full surrogacy, when bearing and birth by a surrogate mother of a child entirely genetically not related to her. The method-familiar to us was applied only at the end of the 20th century when IVF was invented, which is the fertilization of a woman’s oocytes in laboratory conditions.

The first “in vitro” child was the British Louise Brown, who was born in 1978. The surrogate IVF procedure was first conducted seven years later. A 22-year-old American carried the daughter of her 37-year-old friend with uterine atresia. The names of the participants of the program were not disclosed at their own request.

Surrogate motherhood became a saving solution for gay couples, single women, and men. Couples from countries where surrogacy is prohibited often move to other countries where surrogacy is permitted and can become parents.

Where To Address Best: Surrogacy Agency or Clinic?

Usually, a childless couple appeals to a surrogate agency, which provides the base of surrogate mothers and donors of egg cells (if required) and finds a suitable clinic. It also leads the whole process from A to Z, and provides legal, consulting, and other intermediary services. However, you can go straight to the fertility clinic. Note that there are clinics that don’t work directly with the client but through the agency. Let’s consider the core benefits of both options.

One of the main reasons why some couples prefer to turn to reproductive clinics directly is the perception that surrogate mothers and donors are subjected to more in-depth medical examinations as the clinic is personally interested in them. Besides, some people feel somewhat insecure about certain agencies’ price policies, expecting that there might be extra fees for specific services. However, the cost is justified by the quality and comprehensiveness of rendered services. Final expenses’ estimation built up by several factors:

  • the number of IVF attempts required;
  • use of own or donated biological material (oocytes, sperm);
  • reproductive actions, additional medical tests, examinations (PGD/NGS, sex determination), etc.

Mostly, the agency’s employees are experienced and competent, and thanks to extensive practice, they understand the client’s problems and doubts. Moreover, the surrogacy agency may offer a choice of several clinics as requested by the client. In some cases, they even deploy medical escorts of their own. For instance, the surrogacy agency World Center of Baby has its own private clinic (and one more in the process of construction). Hence, the agency covers a vast range of assistance services and forms a complete client support cycle.

Tips To Choose the Best Surrogacy Agency

People often wonder how to find a competent and reliable intermediary agency for surrogate process assistance. The following are the criteria for the reliability of a surrogate agency that you should take into consideration:

  1. The institution must possess all the necessary documents for intermediary activities in this field.
  2. Knowledge background and experience in the market of surrogate services.
  3. Feedback from former clients and reputation.
  4. Provision of a full range of services — from the implementation of the program to its final stages.
  5. Availability of a database of surrogate mothers and donors.
  6. Presence of international representative offices.
  7. Long-term cooperation with large surrogate maternity clinics.

Q&A

What Does Having a Baby by Surrogate Mean?

Having a baby by surrogate implies the type of pregnancy when a woman carries out and delivers a child to a person or couple who can not have children over certain medical conditions. In a nutshell, the procedure’s essence is as follows: the donor’s egg is fertilized with a donor’s sperm and later implanted in the surrogate mother’s uterus.

Having a baby by surrogate means that a woman, known as a surrogate, carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple, known as the intended parents. Surrogacy can be either traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate is also the biological mother of the baby, or gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate carries an embryo created using the intended parents’ egg and sperm or donated eggs and sperm.

Traditional surrogacy is less common and more complex than gestational surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is inseminated with the intended father’s sperm and her egg is fertilized. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries an embryo created using in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which is implanted into her uterus.

The process of surrogacy involves legal and medical considerations, such as the need for a legal agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate, and the medical procedure of IVF to create the embryo. The laws and regulations surrounding surrogacy vary by country and state, and it’s important to consult with legal and medical professionals before proceeding with surrogacy.

Surrogacy can be a viable option for individuals or couples who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term due to medical conditions or other reasons. It’s a complex decision that involves emotional, legal, and financial considerations, and it’s essential to seek professional guidance and support throughout the process.

Is a Surrogate Mother Related To the Baby?

No. According to the gestational surrogacy process, the surrogate mother has no genetic relations with the child she is carrying. Hence, she will not pass on any of her genetic traits to the baby.

A surrogate mother may or may not be related to the baby, depending on the type of surrogacy being used.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is the biological mother of the baby as she is inseminated with the sperm of the intended father, and her egg is fertilized. In this case, the surrogate mother is related to the baby.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries an embryo created using in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with the egg and sperm of the intended parents or from donors. The surrogate is not biologically related to the baby as the embryo implanted in her uterus is not formed from her egg. In this case, the surrogate mother is not related to the baby.

It’s worth noting that even though the surrogate mother may not be biologically related to the baby, the surrogacy journey can be an emotional and bonding experience for both the surrogate and the intended parents. Some surrogates may form a strong emotional connection with the baby and the intended parents, and may want to have an ongoing relationship with the child. 

She can be genetically connected only if she was one of the donors of the IVF procedure.

What Is the Difference Between Surrogacy and Test Tube Baby?

Test tube baby is a non-medical term for embryos created via the IVF method. It developed from the common perception that all laboratory procedures occur in tubes.

Surrogacy and test-tube babies (also known as in-vitro fertilization or IVF) are two different assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that are used to help individuals and couples who are unable to conceive naturally.

In surrogacy, a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple. This can be done through traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate is also the biological mother of the baby, or gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate carries an embryo created using the intended parents’ egg and sperm or donated eggs and sperm.

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure in which eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilized eggs (embryos) are then transferred to the woman’s uterus for implantation and pregnancy. IVF is used to help couples who have difficulty getting pregnant due to infertility or other medical conditions.

It’s a misleading conception that there is a difference between IVF and test-tube babies, and the latter is an incorrect term. So, in essence, in-vitro fertilization is referred to the method of an embryo’s forming and surrogacy to the process of carrying it. 

Last Words

In summary, surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries and gives birth to a baby for another person or couple, while IVF is a medical procedure in which eggs are fertilized in a laboratory and implanted in a woman’s uterus for pregnancy.

Both methods are used to help individuals and couples who are unable to conceive naturally, but the process and involvement of the carrier/birth mother are different.

Since surrogacy is still a somewhat unusual process, a few people who wouldn’t go through it might understand the ones who would. Discovering thematic forum-based sites or learning law-focused aspects might still hardly give one a perfect insight into the surrogate experience. You can address the surrogacy agency World Center of Baby for comprehensive information and qualified assistance.

Categories: Health

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].