When initially learning about surrogacy, many intended parents don’t realize that there are a few different types of surrogacy. No matter the type you choose, it offers a way to build a family when infertility, a medical condition, pregnancy complications or different family arrangements impact your ability to grow your family.
Each type of surrogacy brings with it unique considerations for the process, emotions, and associated risks or success rates. Explore your options for surrogacy alongside their considerations.
Different Types of Surrogacy Explained
Surrogacy is a term that refers to a third party carrying a baby for someone else. The carrier gets pregnant via reproductive technology.
You have two main options when it comes to surrogacy: traditional and gestational. Here’s a look at each and what you can expect along the way.
Traditional Surrogacy
This was the original form of surrogacy, though it is now less common. In this arrangement, the surrogate uses her egg and pregnancy is achieved via artificial insemination using sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor.
However, because the egg belongs to the surrogate, it can make for more complex legal situations. It also makes the carrier the biological mother, which can impact the psychology of the pregnancy for the carrier.
The type of surrogacy has fallen out of favor because of the unique emotional, ethical and legal considerations it carries.
When using traditional surrogacy, the process generally follows these steps.
- All participants undergo a medical screening
- The intended parents and surrogate sign a legal agreement before conception
- The surrogate is monitored for ovulation
- When ovulation comes, the surrogate undergoes artificial insemination using donor sperm or the father’s sperm
- Once pregnancy is achieved, the surrogate undergoes prenatal care and then delivery
- Working with legal resources, the parents establish their parental rights after the birth
Traditional Surrogacy Advantages
While traditional surrogacy is rare, it can provide some benefits in unique scenarios.
- Lower costs due to not requiring in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Fewer fertility medications
- Simpler conception process
Traditional Surrogacy Disadvantages
While traditional surrogacy is often more affordable and involves fewer medical interventions, it does present some challenges.
Since the surrogate is genetically related to the child, legal parentage is more complex in states with less favorable surrogacy laws. The surrogate might face challenges in turning over the child to the parent because of the emotions of sharing biology with the child.
For those reasons, many surrogacy agencies won’t engage in traditional surrogacy arrangements. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine states that gestational surrogacy is the preferred method due to the fact that it provides genetic parentage for the child.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy is the most common form used today. When working with a surrogacy agency like Accel Conceptions, it’s the surrogacy type you’ll likely encounter.
In this method, the surrogate has no genetic relationship with the child. Fertility clinics use in vitro fertilization to create an embryo using the intended parents’ egg and sperm. Then, that embryo is transferred directly into the surrogate’s uterus.
Because the surrogate shares no genetic material with the baby, intended parentage is generally more straightforward when the legal paperwork is filed in advance. It can make for a clearer legal and emotional pathway for everyone involved.
While gestational surrogacy is the preferred method, it is somewhat more involved medically to achieve pregnancy. Here’s a look at what to expect.
- Intended parents undergo fertility treatment to create an embryo
- Once the couple has an embryo, the surrogate begins hormone treatment to prepare for embryo transfer
- If the transfer is successful and the gestational carrier becomes pregnant, the carrier will begin prenatal care
Gestational Surrogacy Advantages
This surrogacy type offers many advantages over traditional surrogacy.
- The baby and surrogate have no genetic relationship
- Many states offer clear pathways to parenthood in gestational surrogacy
- A clear path forward for families that have struggled to have a baby via other processes
Evaluating Independent Versus Agency-Assisted Surrogacy
In addition to selecting between traditional and gestational surrogacy, intended parents must also choose between whether to pursue independent or agency-assisted surrogacy.
Take a deeper look at each option as you explore which method is right for you.
Independent Surrogacy Explained
Parents can find their own surrogate without the assistance of a third party. In some cases, this relationship begins thanks to a personal connection. Intended parents can also find a surrogate via an online community or referral.
While this form of surrogacy can help reduce costs for intended parents, it is also more labor intensive because the parents must do the following services that an agency generally provides:
- Finding and screening the surrogate
- Coordinating medical appointments
- Managing legal documentation
- Handling financial arrangements
- Providing ongoing communication and support
- Coordinating insurance and escrow services if the surrogate is compensated
Because this form of surrogacy requires added time and expertise, it’s generally only recommended for those who are extremely familiar with the process and ready to take on those added responsibilities.
Agency-Assisted Surrogacy Explained
Working with a surrogacy agency offers intended parents guidance and clarity through every step of the surrogacy journey.
Established surrogacy agencies offer coordination and expertise for every aspect of the process for both intended parents and surrogates. Generally, agencies offer the following services.
- Thorough surrogate screening
- Matching services
- Case management
- Coordination with fertility clinics
- Legal referrals
- Escrow management
- Emotional support throughout the pregnancy
- Education for both intended parents and surrogates
Choosing the Right Type of Surrogacy
Every family is beautifully unique, meaning the answer to the right type of surrogacy will vary based on their needs and preferences. To find what’s right for you, evaluate your medical situation, legalities in the state you’ll engage in surrogacy, and your comfort with the emotional aspects of surrogacy.
Accel Conceptions can help you evaluate whether working with a surrogacy agency might be right for you. Contact us to get started and find answers to your top questions.