The back to school season is the perfect time to learn about surrogacy basics

School is back in session for kids all around the United States. However, the Center for Surrogate Parenting team knows that learning doesn’t stop, even after you graduate from school. For this reason, we thought now is the perfect time to provide a quick lesson on surrogacy basics. Read on to learn more about gestational surrogacy and how it changes lives for intended parents and surrogates.

Taking a look at some surrogacy basics

Before we go any further, let’s talk about what surrogacy is. When someone talks about surrogacy, they’re generally referring to a process in which a woman agrees to carry a baby to term for someone else. After delivering the child, the baby goes home with the intended parents rather than the surrogate.

This is a beautiful act that helps intended parents overcome a variety of roadblocks on the path to parenthood. In addition to gaining the knowledge that she helped an individual or a couple have the baby of their dreams, a surrogate also receives generous compensation.

Diving deeper into topics like gestational surrogacy

Now that you know the surrogacy basics, let’s dive into some more information about this topic.

The types of surrogacy. There are two types of surrogacy, which include gestational and traditional. Most surrogacy agencies, including the Center for Surrogate Parenting, offer gestational surrogacy. In this arrangement, the genetic material for the pregnancy comes from the intended parents or a separate donor.

With traditional surrogacy, the surrogate also serves as the egg donor. This situation can result in various ethical dilemmas, which is why we do not offer it.

The fertility treatments. The process to welcome a baby using gestational surrogacy involves in vitro fertilization (IVF) and sometimes egg or sperm donation. The man providing his sperm for the pregnancy will give a semen sample. The woman providing her eggs will take fertility medications before undergoing a procedure to retrieve her mature eggs.

Laboratory professionals will combine the eggs and sperm. If fertilization occurs, the fertilized eggs develop into embryos. A fertility doctor then transfers an embryo to the gestational surrogate’s uterus.

The reasons to pursue surrogacy. There are plenty of reasons why intended parents decide to start or grow their family using surrogacy. For example, single men and gay couples need to use this option to have a biological child. Sometimes, women have medical or fertility issues that prevent them from carrying a pregnancy. Gestational surrogacy is a great option for these women.

If you would like to explore gestational surrogacy as a surrogate or an intended parent, the Center for Surrogate Parenting can help. Contact us to learn more than just the surrogacy basics and start your journey with us.