Surrogacy
provides hope to women who cannot carry a pregnancy
to term and deliver a child. There are many reasons
why a pregnancy cannot be completed such as uterine
damage due to severe pelvic inflammatory disease,
cancer, birth defects, and many others. Surrogacy
is also sometimes recommended for women who have recurrent
miscarriages.
A
surrogate is a female who carries the baby for the
infertile couple. There are two types of surrogacy.
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate becomes pregnant
using her eggs either through insemination with the
father's sperm or through in vitro fertilization using
the father's sperm. The surrogate must undergo stimulation
with follicle stimulating hormone to develop multiple
eggs for use in the in vitro process.
In
gestational surrogacy, the infertile couple undergoes
a standard IVF cycle to produce viable embryos.
The
cycles of the surrogate and mother are synchronized
so that the embryos can be transferred to the surrogate
at the appropriate time. These embryos carry the genetic
material of both parents. The embryo implants, develops,
and is delivered at term.
A
surrogate can be a friend, family member, or another
volunteer. All surrogates undergo extensive physical
and psychological screening to insure their suitability.
Compensation is sometimes provided to the surrogate
but is rarely the motivating factor. Many private agencies
assist in the surrogacy process.
