Surrogacy

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The cheaper availability of surrogates in India is attracting a lot of interest. Below are frequently asked questions on the surrogacy procedure & an overview on how the surrogacy process takes place in our network of hospitals in India.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction. The word surrogate originates from Latin word surrogatus (substitution) – to act in the place of. The term surrogacy is used when a woman carries a pregnancy and gives birth to a baby for another woman.

Surrogacy is gaining popularity as this may be the only method for a couple to have their own child and also because adoption, process may be a long drawn out process.
Testicular sperm can be recovered surgically from some but not all men with azoospermia (absence of sperm in the semen). Testicular sperm, when present, are usually suited to cryopreservation but will be few in number and will therefore require in vitro fertilization with ICSI to attempt to create a pregnancy. Our Virginia fertility clinic provides semen cryopreservation services.

It is generally believed that the cryopreservation process itself does not increase the risk of birth defects in children conceived with thawed sperm.

What are the Types of Surrogacy?

IVF / Gestational surrogacy

Traditional / Natural surrogacy

IVF / Gestational surrogacy

This is a more common form of surrogacy. In this procedure, a woman carries a pregnancy created by the egg and sperm of the genetic couple.
The egg of the wife is fertilized in vitro by the husband’s sperms by IVF/ICSI procedure, and the embryo is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus, and the surrogate carries the pregnancy for nine months.
The child is not genetically linked to the surrogate.

Traditional / Natural surrogacy

This is where the surrogate is inseminated or IVF/ICSI procedure is performed with sperms from the male partner of an infertile couple.
The child that results is genetically related to the surrogate and to the male partner but not to the female partner.

To whom Surrogacy is Advised?

IVF Surrogacy
Traditional Surrogacy

IVF Surrogacy

Primarily, IVF surrogacy is indicated in women whose ovaries are producing eggs but they do not have a uterus.

For e.g., in the following cases:

Congenital absence of uterus (Mullerian agenesis)
Surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) due to cancer, severe hemorrhage in Caesarian section or a ruptured uterus.
A woman whose uterus is malformed (unicornuate uterus, T shaped uterus, bicornuate uterus with rudimentary horn) or damaged uterus (T.B of the endometrium, severe Asherman’s Syndrome) or at high risk of rupture, (previous uterine surgeries for rupture uterus or fibroid uterus) and is unable to carry pregnancy to term can also be recommended IVF surrogacy.
Women who have repeated miscarriages or have repeated failed IVF cycles may be advised IVF surrogacy in view of unexplained factors which could be responsible for failed implantation and early pregnancy wastage.
Women who suffer from medical problems like diabetes, cardio-vascular disorders, or kidney diseases like chronic nephritis, whose long term prospect for health is good but pregnancy would be life threatening.
Woman with Rh incompatibility.

Traditional surrogacy

Women who have no functioning ovaries due to premature ovarian failure. Here egg donation also can be an option.
A woman who is at a risk of passing a genetic disease to her offspring may also opt for traditional surrogacy.

What are the advantages of surrogacy

This may be the only chance for some couples to have a child, which is biologically completely their own (IVF surrogacy) or partly their own (gestational surrogacy)
The genetic mother can bond with the baby better than in situations like adoption.