Surrogacy-Which Type Is Best?

When All Else Fails, Surrogacy May Be An Option

Sometimes life throws a curve ball and a couple finds themselves making a decision they never dreamed they would face. When fertility treatments yield nothing-it is impossible to have a baby of your own and egg or sperm donation is not an option-then surrogacy may become a viable alternative. Surrogacy is another woman carrying and giving birth to a baby for a couple.

This is not an easy decision, nor is it a simple issue. There are myriad legal implications, which have to be resolved before embarking on the journey and having a good counselor as well as a lawyer make the process much less stressful. There are many questions to consider and a couple will have an opportunity to experience and handle emotions they may not have considered before. Nevertheless, when the couple makes the decision and the right people are in place, surrogacy can be a wonderful opportunity for them to realize their dream of having a child.

Straight Surrogacy-Biologically Connected To The Surrogate Mother

There are two different types of surrogacy, each with its own implications. Straight surrogacy, also known as Traditional or Partial surrogacy uses the egg of the surrogate mother and the sperm of the intended father. This process makes the baby biologically related to the intended father and to the surrogate mother. Conception occurs by artificial insemination performed at home or at a clinic. Even though this method is the least complicated in terms of conception, emotionally it has a much higher price tag. It may be a challenge for the surrogate mother to give up her biological child and equally, it can be difficult for the intended mother to receive a child fathered by her husband with another woman.

Gestational Surrogacy-No Biological Connection To The Surrogate Mother

The second type of surrogacy is Host surrogacy, also referred to as Gestational or Full surrogacy. In this case, the egg of the intended mother or a donor is combined with the sperm of her husband or donor sperm. Conception in this type of surrogacy always happens via in vitro fertilization in a clinic and it may require the sperm of the intended father to be frozen for several months. In this case, the baby has no biological connection to the surrogate mother. The Host method of surrogacy is a difficult way to get pregnant and the chance of it being successful is much lower than in straight surrogacy, requiring much more time and energy to accomplish. The up side is that everyone feels much better emotionally when there are no biological ties to the surrogate mother.

Take All Things Into Consideration

Surrogacy is a decision that will require a great deal of strength to complete and counseling is lengthy and comprehensive. Everyone concerned must understand fully the implications of what they are embarking upon and they must be 100 percent committed to the process. All people involved, including existing children, are spared undue stress when things are handled properly.