SURROGATE PARENTING ARRANGEMENT

Surrogacy is donor insemination in reverse. It is an option when the female partner cannot ovulate and cannot carry a fetus because of the woman has experienced unexplained pregnancy losses; has a diagnosed uterine problem, such as fibroids or endometriosis; has undergone a hysterectomy; was born with a congenital defect afficting her ability to carry a pregnancy to term; has a health condition that contraindicates pregnancy; or is required to take medication that should be harmful to a developing fetus. Finding a suitable surrogate is alittle more complicated than finding a suitable male donor because there is far more involvement with the surrogate, who will complete the pregnancy and give birth to the child. There are two basic types of surrogacy: gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy. In gestational surrogacy, the intended fathers sperm fertilizes either the intended mothers eggs or donor (usually anonymous donor) eggs via in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this case, an IVF procedure is performed with the womans own eggs and her partners sperm. The embryo is transferred into another womans uterus, who will than carry the baby to term. In traditional surrogacy the intended fathers sperm fertilizes the surrogates egg via artificial insemination. Accordingly, the surrogate will not only gestate the child, she will also be the genetic mother of the child.