What is surrogacy?

Women who are surrogates or gestational carriers are often used when a person or couple cannot or chooses not to have a child on their own. Whether they are a different-sex or same-sex couple, medically cannot have a child, or choose to become a single mother or father, surrogates and gestational carriers allow them to become a parent. There is a difference between a surrogate and a gestational carrier. Both are women that carry a fetus for someone else:

• A surrogate is someone who carries the child with her own egg; she is genetically linked to that baby. 

• A gestational carrier or surrogate carries a child of someone else’s egg. She is not genetically linked to the baby.

There are many kinds of surrogacy, involving any combination of eggs and sperm. Here’s a breakdown:

Gestational carrier or surrogacy (GS)

A gestational carrier is implanted with an embryo created by IVF from someone else’s egg and sperm. The resulting child is genetically unrelated to the surrogate. There are several sub-types of gestational surrogacy:

• Gestational carrier with an embryo from both intended parents (GS/IP): A gestational carrier is implanted with an embryo created by IVF, using the intended father's sperm and intended mother's eggs.

• Gestational carrier and egg donation (GS/ED): A surrogate is implanted with an embryo created by IVF, using the intended father's sperm and a donor egg where the donor is not the carrier. The resulting child is genetically related to the intended father and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.

• Gestational carrier and donor sperm (GS/DS): A surrogate is implanted with an embryo created by IVF, using the intended mother's egg and donor sperm. The resulting child is genetically related to the intended mother and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.

• Gestational carrier and donor embryo (GS/DE): A donor embryo is implanted in a surrogate. Such embryos may be available when others undergoing IVF have embryos left over, which they opt to donate to others. The resulting child is genetically unrelated to the intended parent(s) and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.

Traditional surrogacy (TS)

This involves naturally or artificially inseminating a surrogate with her own egg and with the intended father's sperm. With this method, the resulting child is genetically related to the intended father and genetically related to the surrogate.

Traditional surrogacy and donor sperm (TS/DS)

A surrogate is either artificially inseminated with donor sperm or an embryo is implanted after IVF using one of these methods:

• Intracervical insemination (ICI): sperm is placed into the cervix using a small tube

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): sperm is placed directly into the uterus

• At-home insemination: ejaculate with sperm is placed into the vagina (can be done at home)

• In vitro fertilization (IVF): the surrogate’s egg is fertilized outside her body with sperm from a known donor (intended  father) and then the embryo is implanted

In vitro fertilization (IVF): the surrogate’s egg is fertilized outside her body with sperm from a donor other than the intended father and then the embryo is implanted

Laws regarding surrogacy vary by country and state, therefore, it is essential to conduct thorough research prior. There are many different kinds of surrogacy, involving any combination of eggs and sperm. 

With surrogacy, the resulting child may or may not be genetically related to the intended parent(s) but is genetically related to the surrogate. In many jurisdictions, the 'commissioning parents' will need to go through an adoption process in order to have legal rights with respect to the resulting child. Many fertility centers that provide for surrogacy will assist the parties through this process, and different states may have different laws.