Pros and Cons

As the government prepares to enact a new legislation on surrogacy, it is important to understand various aspects related to the issue of choosing a surrogate mother to give birth to your child
By Team Double Helical

Over the years, the process of using a surrogate mother has become a way for parents to have a child by using a third party to carry the child until birth. Although this can be an ideal solution, the concept of surrogacy is an extremely controversial issue.
One of the key issues is the surrogacy procedure itself. While the process makes it possible for parents to have a child that possesses genes from one or both “biological” parents, it can also put in motion many emotional and psychological ups and downs for the intended parents.
In addition, even if both parents of the child are on board with using a surrogate mother, there are instances where it may be difficult to family members that this is the right choice. Therefore, it is essential to take the time to thoroughly think through the entire surrogacy process and to consider all of the pertinent factors before moving forward.
The process of choosing who will act as the surrogate mother can also bring up some controversy. In some cases, the biological parents may opt to use a friend or relative for this role. This, however, could cause some potentially negative issues down the road if not handled correctly medically, emotionally, and legally.
The biggest advantage to the surrogacy process has the potential to outweigh any of the disadvantages in that regardless of the time, cost, and other factors that are involved, a loving parent or parents will soon have a child to love.
Having the ability and willingness to provide an infertile couple with a child is essential to successful surrogacy. Surrogate mothers play an invaluable role in growing families all across the world. Those who are considering using or serving as a surrogate mother should carefully weigh the pros and cons of the situation before making a decision to have a baby this way.
Potential surrogate mothers are required to go through a series of medical tests and procedures to ensure that their bodies are fit to carry and give birth to a healthy child. The specific medical procedures used will vary from case to case, but will help confirm that the surrogate’s reproductive system is in good functioning condition. It’s important to keep in mind that many couples decide to use a surrogate mother because of the frustration of not being able to conceive in the first place.
No matter how professionally a surrogate mother views her arrangement with the couple for whom she is carrying a child, emotional attachments to the child are always a risk. A surrogate must be emotionally prepared to deal with these feelings. If you have any reservations about your ability to relinquish a child you have carried for another couple, surrogacy is not for you.

Types of surrogacy
Before we proceed it’s important to mention that there are different types of surrogacy. Some types of surrogacy refer to the genetic circumstances and others types refer to the types of arrangement. There are 3 types of genetic surrogacy circumstances:

Genetic surrogacy or partial surrogacy: This is the most common type of surrogacy. Here the egg of the surrogate mother is fertilized by the commissioning male’s sperm. In this way the surrogate mother is the biological mother of the child she carries.
Total surrogacy: Here the surrogate mother’s egg is fertilized with the sperm of a donor – not the male part of the commissioning couple.
Gestatory surrogacy or full surrogacy: Here the commissioning couple’s egg and sperm have gone through in vitro fertilization and the surrogate mother is not genetically linked to the child.