Surrogacy is when one woman agrees to carry and deliver a child to another person or couple who will be the child’s parents once it is born. People will choose this option to have children when there are factors that prohibit this from happening. The reasons that this may not be possible for someone may be due to medical issues making pregnancy very risky for the mother. It is also the choice when a single male parent or same-sex couple wishes to have a child. Surrogacy is one of the many considered reproductive technologies.
 
There are many reasons a woman or couple may choose surrogacy. If a woman has had health issues that prohibit this, then surrogacy is a good option. Reasons for making this choice may be due to an abnormal uterus, or the lack of one may be from a hysterectomy. Implantation failures or a history of having miscarriages or other health concerns can make pregnancy dangerous, making surrogacy a good option.
 
A single man or same-sex couple, who is biologically incapable of having a child and still want children will find this option very helpful.

Every surrogacy situation is unique and costs can depend on several factors. The first will be the agency fees. There may be travel expenses in addition to the agency fees. It also depends on the type of donation that is needed, whether it is an egg or sperm donation. It can depend on the number of IVF cycles needed to achieve pregnancy. It may also be affected by the need for additional techniques.
 
The average range of price in the US runs from $110,000 to $170,000. These costs include agency fees, compensation and expenses for the surrogate, legal fees, and costs for medical treatment at a fertility clinic.

There are generally two types – traditional and gestational surrogacy. 
 
Traditional surrogacy is when the woman is impregnated artificially with the sperm of the father. The woman then carries the child to deliver it for the father and partner to raise. In traditional surrogacy, the woman carrying the child is also the biological mother. It was her egg that was fertilized from the sperm donation. 
 
The other type of surrogate is called a gestational surrogate. In the case of a gestational surrogate, “in vitro fertilization” is used to impregnate the woman. Eggs from the mother or egg donor can be collected and sperm from the father or donor can be used to fertilize the egg. The embryo is then placed in the gestational surrogate. The woman carries the child to birth and delivers the baby to the parents. The woman has no biological connection to the child in this surrogacy. The woman giving birth is considered the birth mother, but the woman whose egg was used is the biological mother.

There is no law that puts a limit on how many times a woman can act as a surrogate. There are guidelines that have been set by medical professionals. It is recommended that a woman not have more than six pregnancies, including previous pregnancies. For example, if a woman has five children of her own or previously for others, it would be recommended that she only have one more pregnancy. 
 
If you or someone you know is thinking about surrogacy, contact the surrogacy specialists at New Hope Center for Reproductive Medicine who will guide you through the process. We serve patients from Virginia Beach VA, Rudee Heights VA, Lynnhaven VA, Linkhorn Estates VA and Dam Neck VA.