Reasons to consider surrogacy, understanding how surrogacy can help you grow your family
Surrogacy has been a topic of fascination for a long time and has recently become a hot discussion as celebrity couples and everyday families share their personal stories. Recent statistics suggest that about 15% of couples will struggle with infertility and, for some of them, their best or only option may be surrogacy. Currently, in the US about 750 babies are born with the help of a surrogate and the number of babies continues to grow.
While some people may still consider surrogacy controversial, many families that have chosen surrogacy would consider this assisted reproduction option to be a gift.
Why surrogacy?
Patients who desire to grow their family have options that include Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Unfortunately, even with those forms of assisted reproduction, some patients are unable to become pregnant due to cancer, disease, birth defects, or other illnesses. Surrogacy makes it possible for LGBTQ and traditional couples as well as single-intended parents to have a child using their own DNA.
What is a surrogate?
A surrogate mother is a woman who carries and delivers a baby for another person. There are two types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational. Gestational is the most common form of surrogacy. During gestational surrogacy the child has no biological ties to the surrogate, instead the surrogate mother is fertilized through IVF using the sperm and egg from the biological parents or donor (if needed). Traditional surrogacy uses the sperm of the father to fertilize the surrogate. The surrogate mother then delivers the child for the parents to raise.
Reasons to consider surrogacy:
- No success with IVF or similar assisted reproduction
- Medical problems with the uterus
- Hysterectomy that removed the uterus
- Medical conditions that prevent or cause a dangerous pregnancy
- Inability to adopt due to age, sexual orientation, or marital status
Patients considering surrogacy at our Connecticut fertility treatment center can use a friend or family member, or our staff can help you find another volunteer. Before a surrogate is approved, extensive psychological and physical screening is provided. Contact our office to learn more about using surrogacy to help grow your family. Reach our Fairfield, Norwalk, and Trumbull offices at 855-901-BABY (2229) or contact us.
