FAQ’s on Surrogacy

The current and more accurate term for surrogate is “carrier”. A surrogate is a woman who agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person or couple, called the intended parent(s).

The typical surrogate is a woman in her mid 20’s to early 35’s married and the mother of her own children. Although compensated, surrogates generally provide their services to help other loving, committed couples experience the same joy they have as parents.

To become a surrogate the woman should fulfil the following criteria:

• Age between 21 & 35 years old.
• A non smoker, non drug user who maintained a healthy life style.
• Must have successfully carried at least one child of her own to term.
• In a stable living situation.
• If married, have a spouse who’s supportive of her decision to become a surrogate mother.
• Have a healthy, weight/height ratio.
• Willing to give up caffeine and alcohol for the duration of the pregnancy.

Surrogacy agreements are the first stage in a two step process. The purpose of the surrogacy agreement is to allow each party to state their intentions and their responsibilities to one another. The agreement will clearly state that the surrogate does not intend on parenting any resulting children and does not wish to have physical or legal custody of any children. The surrogacy agreement will also define the right and responsibilities of the assisted parents.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not biologically related to any resulting children. This type of surrogacy requires the use of a third party egg donor (either anonymous or known), and the procedure to establish the pregnancy is called “In Vitro Fertilization” or IVF.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogates own eggs are used to conceive the child, so she is biologically related to the resulting children.The procedure used to establish the pregnancy is generally referred to as “artificial insemination” or IUI.

A surrogate needs to undergo the following tests:

• Complete medical & family history.
• A test through physical & psychological examination & evaluation.
• Blood test for HIV, hepatitis B & C & other sexually transmitted disease.
• Cervical cultures organisms such as Chlamydia urea plasma.
• An evaluation of the uterus by hysteroscopy.
• Blood test for prolactin and thyroid stimulation hormone.

The reason for going towards surrogacy includes:

• Woman without uterus- by birth or by hysterectomy.
• Woman with some uterine disease (adenomyosis, multiple fibroids, endometrial damage).
• Woman with chronic ill health (uncontrolled diabetes & hypertension, heart disease, seizer’s disorders, physical disability etc). The prospective parent may be a single man or a male couple who would like to become parents.