Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman—sometimes called a surrogate, surrogate mother, or gestational carrier—carries and delivers a baby for someone else, who then raises the child.
There are two types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational. These two types differ in procedure, benefits, and risks. Whether you are considering becoming a surrogate or looking for a surrogate to carry a child for you, it is important to understand the differences between these types and what you can expect from each.
Traditional Surrogacy
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is the genetic mother of the child she carries. Her egg is fertilized via artificial insemination. The genetic father may be either the intended father or a sperm donor.
One of the main benefits of traditional surrogacy is its cost. Artificial insemination is relatively inexpensive compared to IVF, the method of fertilization used in gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy can also be physically easier on the surrogate, as she typically does not need to undergo the fertility drugs and monitoring required for IVF. And if a pregnancy is not achieved or carried to term on the first try, the wait time between attempts can be shorter than with gestational surrogacy.
While the physical and financial burdens of traditional surrogacy may be lower than in gestational surrogacy, the legal and emotional risks can be significantly greater. Some surrogate mothers struggle to distance themselves from a genetically related child, and experience grief over the parting. Many intended parents, meanwhile, are uncomfortable with the idea of a surrogate sharing a genetic bond with their child that they themselves may not have. And because of that genetic bond, the legal rights of the intended parents are not as clear or as easily protected as in gestational surrogacy.
Gestational Surrogacy
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child. She is impregnated via IVF (in vitro fertilization) using the egg and sperm of the intended parents, donors, or some combination.
One of the greatest benefits of gestational surrogacy is the possibility for both intended parents to be genetically related to the child. Even in cases where a donor provides the egg or sperm, many intended parents prefer knowing that the surrogate does not have a genetic relationship to the child. They also have greater security and peace of mind about their rights, since the legal parentage of intended parents is usually established before the birth of the child.
For surrogates, gestational surrogacy can also be easier emotionally. Most gestational surrogates find that they do not bond with the babies they carry in the same way they did with their own children, and can focus on the gift they are giving the intended parents instead of feeling a loss of their own.
Both types of surrogacy have benefits and drawbacks. What type is right for you and your family depends on what your priorities are and what you are looking for in your surrogacy experience.