Some women or couples are unable to conceive a pregnancy. However, with changes in technology and medical science, they can still have a child through surrogacy. Let’s understand what is surrogacy, one of the most popular assisted reproductive methods. A gestational surrogate is a woman willing to carry and deliver the child. She takes an embryo created from the biological parents’ sperm and egg (also called donor gametes) by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Despite carrying the pregnancy to term, the surrogate is genetically unrelated to the child. Here is an overview of gestational surrogacy, what is the procedure of surrogacy, its risks, and benefits.
What is the difference between a Surrogate and a Gestational Surrogate?
To understand how surrogacy works, knowing the difference between its types is necessary. The following pointers make it easier to understand the differences between a gestational surrogate and a surrogate:
1.Gestational surrogate
- IVF and Embryo Transfer: The surrogate gets an embryo (when an egg starts developing into a baby) created in vitro with the sperm and egg of the biological parents. The gestational carrier then takes the child after embryo transfer.
- Genetic relation: Despite carrying and delivering the child to the full term, the surrogate is not biologically related to the child.
- Emotional and legal safety: There are no legal and emotional conflicts regarding guardianship. The parents retain their rights, and the surrogate is not related to the child.
2.Traditional surrogate
- Sperm transfer: Sperm is injected into the surrogate mother, and her donor eggs are used. This makes the surrogate the mother of the child.
- Genetic relation: The surrogate mother uses her own egg with the sperm of the father. This creates a biological relation of the surrogate with the child.
- Legal and emotional complexities: All legal procedures become more complex for the parent as the surrogate is the biological mother.
What is the Process of Gestational Surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy has several organized steps recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). These steps guarantee a safe and easy journey for all parties involved. Let’s see what the surrogacy process is:
- Consultation and evaluation: The intended parents consult a fertility specialist to understand what is meant by surrogacy, their options, and a series of medical and psychological tests to assess suitability.
- Legal agreements and consent: Legal documents are drafted and signed after the consultation when a couple is declared eligible for surrogacy. These documents guarantee a legal agreement between the parents and the surrogate mother regarding their rights, expectations, and obligations.
- Ovarian stimulation and egg removal: The intended mother, or the egg donor (a young woman who donates her eggs), is stimulated in the ovaries to produce more eggs. These eggs are extracted and fertilized using the intended father’s sperm. The procedure involved is called IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation).
- Embryo transfer to surrogate: The healthiest embryo is chosen and is planted in the gestational carrier’s uterus using medical procedures like hormonal preparation.
- Confirming pregnancy: Blood tests and ultrasounds are used to confirm pregnancy after embryo transfers. The surrogate mother receives extensive prenatal care to observe the pregnancy and ensure the baby’s health.
- Pregnancy and delivery: The surrogate mother stays under medical supervision for 9 months until she delivers the baby. After birth, biological parents assume all the legal rights of the baby as per agreements.
After the baby is born, there are a number of post-birth procedures and legal obligations to attend to. Depending on the jurisdiction, these include issuing birth certificates to formalize the intended parents’ parental rights. The surrogate mother needs to be a part of all these procedures and cooperate with the biological parents. One gestational carrier can help many families give birth.
How does a gestational carrier get pregnant?
A gestational carrier, or a surrogate mother, gets pregnant with assisted reproductive technology. This technology is called In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). An embryo is created with the biological father’s eggs and sperm. Surrogate mothers use hormonal treatment to prepare their uterine lining for pregnancy. Then, the embryo is implanted inside the gestational carrier’s uterus.
A pregnancy is confirmed after ultrasounds and blood tests. Prenatal care starts after the gestational carrier successfully becomes pregnant. As she is not related to the embryo, the role of the gestational carrier is only to carry and deliver the baby safely after 9 months.
What are the risks of using a gestational carrier?
Gestational pregnancy is generally considered safe, but there are still some risks associated with it. What do you mean by gestational surrogacy? It is when a woman carries out a pregnancy for an individual or a couple. She may face the following risks:
- Side effects of hormonal treatments include mood swings and feeling bloated.
- Complications in embryo transfer, pregnancy, miscarriage, etc.
- Pregnancy risks like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (causes high BP and organ damage).
- Emotional bonding with the baby during pregnancy.
- Legal risks regarding parenting rights of the baby.
What are the benefits of using a gestational surrogate?
According to the Society for Reproductive Medicine, gestational surrogacy offers a secure and dependable route to parenthood for infertile and same-sex couples, along with those who suffer from health issues. It allows parents to be biologically related to the child and develop an intimate bond while eliminating all the reproductive health issues involved. Assisted reproductive methods like IVF increase the chances of conception. Continuous observation and medical and psychological assessment of the surrogate mother ensures a safe and sound pregnancy.
It also benefits women with uterine problems (conditions that affect the uterus’ working.), miscarriages, and hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus to make pregnancy impossible).
Conclusion
Gestational surrogacy is a very secure and reliable method for individuals or couples who can’t conceive. It creates a biological and genetic bond between the baby and the parents while eliminating any health risks involved for the parents.
Archish IVF has been the best clinic in Bangalore for fertility-related issues for the past 10 years. We are known for the kindest and most ethical IVF treatment, managed by the top embryo specialists. For your reproductive needs, contact us now!
FAQs
1.Why Choose Archish IVF for This Procedure?
At Archish IVF, we believe in working ethically and kindly. We are driven by top embryologists, follow ethical practices, and are 100% transparent. We are changing the way fertility care feels by making it more human.
2.Can a gestational surrogate keep the baby?
No. A gestational surrogate has no legal rights over the baby. To avoid conflicts, various legal agreements are signed between the surrogate and the intended parents.
3.What does a gestational surrogate cost?
The cost of gestational surrogacies varies primarily based on the location, surgeries involved, and the surrogate’s compensation. The average price is INR 18-20 lakhs.
4.What are the success rates for gestational surrogacy?
In India, the success rates of IVF or gestational surrogacy are as high as 60-70%.
5.Are there legal considerations?
Yes. There are legal considerations involved with gestational surrogacy. Agreements are signed between the intended parents and the surrogate mother regarding the parental rights of the baby. It is regulated with strict guidelines to ensure complete transparency between all parties involved.
6.What is gestational diabetes?
It is a type of diabetes diagnosed in women during pregnancy. Gestational pregnancy is characterized by high blood sugar. It gets resolved after birth but has many impacts on the mother and baby if left untreated.