What Is The Difference Between IVF And Surrogacy Baby?
Are IVF And Surrogacy The Same?
There is one very commonly asked question: “is IVF and surrogacy same?” The short answer is no.
IVF is a fertility treatment. The egg and sperm are combined in a laboratory to make an embryo. This embryo is placed in the uterus of the woman who will carry the baby. She is usually the intended mother.
Surrogacy is different. Another woman carries the baby for someone else. The embryo is placed in her uterus because the intended parents cannot carry the pregnancy.
What is an IVF Procedure?
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) involves the patient taking medication to produce multiple mature eggs. This is called ovarian stimulation. A fertility doctor retrieves these eggs from the ovaries. Then the eggs are fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are grown for several days. Then one or more are chosen for embryo transfer into the patient’s uterus (womb). This procedure is performed at a fertility clinic. Normally, the egg travels through the fallopian tube to meet the sperm. But if the fallopian tubes are blocked or damaged (called tubal infertility), fertilization cannot happen naturally. IVF helps by skipping this step. The egg is fertilized outside the body, so blocked tubes are no longer a problem.
Therefore, it can be a good option for women with tubal infertility. The success of an IVF treatment depends on various factors. These include the patient’s age and the quality of the embryos.
What is a Surrogacy Procedure?
The process of surrogacy involves a surrogate mother who delivers the baby. She is not the biological mother. But she is the woman who agrees to carry the baby for the intended parents. Most of the time, the embryo is created using the intended parents’ eggs and sperms. This is carried out through IVF.
The embryo is then transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own egg is used. Legal agreements are signed between the intended parents and the surrogate to outline everyone’s roles. It is commonly coordinated by a surrogacy agency. The surrogate undergoes medical screening, psychological counselling, and insurance as the standard procedure. For carrying a pregnancy, it is important to ensure surrogate is ready in all aspects.
What is the Basic Difference Between IVF and Surrogacy?
Both procedures often use In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to create the embryo. However, surrogacy involves a third party carrying the pregnancy. This means surrogacy requires legal contracts and court orders to establish legal parentage. This is not typically needed for IVF. A surrogate option is generally chosen when a patient has a serious medical condition. It is also selected if the patient has had multiple failed IVF attempts. In these cases, fertilization is usually successful. But the patient is unable to carry the pregnancy. Surrogacy vs IVF is also decided based on the projected success rates. Comfort with involving a third party can influence the choice between IVF vs surrogacy.
Doctors often recommend surrogacy if the chances of a successful pregnancy with IVF are low. However, not everyone prefers surrogacy, as they may not feel comfortable with another woman carrying their baby.
Winding Up
IVF and surrogacy both offer different paths to parenthood. One focuses on conception, while the other helps with carrying the baby. The right choice depends on health, personal comfort, and medical advice. It is important to consult a specialist early to explore your options. Understanding the chances of a genetic link can help you plan the next steps more clearly.
Visit Archish Fertility for Infertility Treatment
Not sure which path fits you between surrogacy and IVF? Archish Fertility can unpack every IVF and surrogacy difference. Here, you get expert guidance tailored to your specific situation. We help you understand your choices and support you through each stage of the journey. Book a consultation and get clear advice and compassionate care.