Do You Have Fertility Issues? Are You Afraid of Pregnancy?
Don't worry! You can use a surrogate. Surrogacy is a reproductive assistance method in which an embryo, created from the egg and sperm of a couple, is implanted into a third person’s uterus, where it will grow until birth. For more details, stay with Saeed News.
Surrogacy is a solution increasingly used by individuals facing fertility issues or those who, for any reason, do not wish to carry a pregnancy themselves. Essentially, couples who cannot conceive or carry a baby in the mother’s womb can contract a third party for this purpose. Statistics show that about 75% of those who use this method succeed. Interestingly, between 1999 and 2013, approximately 184,000 babies were born through surrogacy. But what are the main reasons for this, and what are its legal and procedural conditions?
Surrogacy means that a person agrees to carry and give birth to another couple’s baby in exchange for compensation. A contract is established between the parents and the surrogate, stating that she must hand over the baby’s custody to the intended parents after birth. If a woman is unable to conceive or carry a baby, the fertilized egg is implanted into a third party’s womb, where she cares for it until birth. In some cases, external fertilization (using a donor egg or sperm) is necessary before implantation.
Surrogacy is typically performed in two ways:
Gestational Surrogacy: The egg and sperm of the intended parents are fertilized in a lab and then transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. In this case, the surrogate has no genetic relation to the baby. If the father has fertility issues, donor sperm can be used in the IVF process.
Traditional Surrogacy: When the intended mother cannot produce viable eggs, the surrogate provides both the egg and uterus. Fertilization is done through intrauterine insemination (IUI), where the intended father's sperm is inserted into the surrogate’s womb.
There are many reasons why individuals or couples might opt for surrogacy, including:
Uterine abnormalities or diseases
High-risk pregnancy conditions
Untreatable uterine adhesions
Infertility
Failed fertility treatments
Absence of a uterus
Severe diabetes
Ovarian and uterine cancer
Cystic fibrosis
Lupus
Kidney and heart diseases
The success rate of surrogacy depends on several factors, including:
The clinic where the procedure is performed
The physiological condition of the surrogate
The health and quality of the intended parents' sperm and eggs
The method of fertilization and implantation used
Surrogacy generally follows a five-step process:
Consulting a Fertility Clinic
The intended parents visit a clinic that performs IVF and discuss legal procedures at a fertility institution.
2.Selecting a Surrogate
After initial assessments, the surrogate and (if needed) an egg donor are selected. Some cases may use egg banks.
Signing a Contract
A legal agreement is established between the intended parents and the surrogate, outlining responsibilities and rights.
Medical Procedures
Fertilization takes place in a lab.
The surrogate takes specific medications to prepare her uterus for implantation.
The fertilized embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s uterus.
In some cases, multiple attempts may be necessary to increase pregnancy chances.
A pregnancy test is conducted after 15 days.
Birth of the BabyBirth of the Baby
The fertility clinic supports both the surrogate and the intended parents until birth.
After birth, legal documents are signed to transfer custody to the intended parents.
Surrogacy laws vary by country and must be conducted under strict legal supervision. Generally:
The surrogate has no parental rights over the child.
A contract must be signed before pregnancy, ensuring:
No abortion without parental consent
Availability during pregnancy
Compliance with health and hygiene measures
Timely handover of the baby
Legal requirements may include:
Court approval
Infertility certification from a doctor
Good moral standing
Citizenship status (varies by country)
No history of drug addiction
A formal agreement between the surrogate and the intended parents
To qualify as a surrogate, a person must meet specific criteria, including:
Being between 21 and 40 years old
Leading a healthy lifestyle
Having at least one previous successful pregnancy
Passing psychological and medical screenings
Many couples who cannot conceive naturally use surrogacy. The success of the process depends on the expertise of the doctors and fertility clinic responsible for IVF and embryo transfer.
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