Gestational Carrier.com

Many people ask what is the difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy. It is a very common question for couples who are considering using surrogacy in order to have a child. Both types of surrogacy involve the use of a surrogate mother who carries the child, but that is where their similarities cease.

The Parents

With gestational surrogacy, the child’s parents are the man and woman from the intended couple. The intended father contributes the sperm, and the intended mother contributes the egg. The surrogate mother in this case is not related to the child she is carrying. Some couples choose this form of surrogacy when the intended mother cannot carry a child for whatever reason. For example, some women cannot carry a child to full term because of a past illness or injury. When the child is born, the surrogate gives it to the parents, and she has no legal right to the child.

With traditional surrogacy, which actually dates back to biblical times, the surrogate is the child’s biological mother. The man from the intended couple contributes the sperm, and the surrogate contributes the egg. Couples might choose this form of surrogacy if the intended mother is infertile or has had a hysterectomy that resulted in the removal of her uterus and her ovaries. When the child is born, the surrogates signs the child over to the intended mother who legally adopts it.

The Process

The process used to create the child or impregnate the surrogate is different as well. In gestational surrogacy, doctors have to use IVF or in-vitro fertilization to create the child. Both eggs and sperm are collected from the intended parents, and they are mixed in the lab to create embryos. Some of the embryos are used as soon as possible and others are frozen in case the first attempts at IVF are unsuccessful. The doctor takes the few days old embryo from the lab and implants it using a special catheter into the surrogate’s uterus. Usually a couple of embryos are implanted at one time. In a few weeks, the doctor will be able to give the surrogate a pregnancy test.

In traditional surrogacy a process called artificial insemination is used to create the child. In this method sperm is collected from the father, and it is inserted into the surrogate using a special catheter. This is more likely to result in a pregnancy than IVF, and it easier to repeat.

The Cost

Traditional surrogacy is much less expensive than gestational surrogacy. In both cases, the couple will likely have to pay the surrogate. Even in cases of altruistic surrogacy, the couple will need to pay for the medical expenses surrounding the surrogacy and the pregnancy. Additionally, IVF is more expensive than artificial insemination, and this is the reason that gestational surrogacy is often more expensive. IVF can require more attempts to produce a pregnancy as well because the surrogate’s body has to accept an embryo, which is not natural for the body to do. Deciding which type of surrogacy is right for you and your spouse is a very personal decision that requires a lot of careful consideration.