As the popularity of surrogacy grows, it is not always clear what it really is and how the process works. It is important to start with a clear understanding of what surrogacy is and how the process differs between the two types, traditional and gestational.

What is surrogacy?

Simply put, surrogacy is an agreement by which a woman (a surrogate mother) agrees to give birth to a child for another person (or persons who will become the parents of this child.

There are two different types of surrogacy:

• Traditional
  Gestational

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy is when a surrogate mother not only bears a child, but is also an egg donor. This type of surrogacy was popular before in vitro fertilization became possible. Traditional surrogacy is very rare these days.

Gestational surrogacy

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother carries an embryo that is not genetically related to her. The embryo is created with the genetics of the intended parents and/or the genetics of the donor.

Positive aspects of surrogacy

• Freedom of action for future parents. Before the birth of a child, the biological father and mother can continue their professional activities, earn money for the child and not be limited to trips and business trips.
• Savings on infertility treatment. Fighting this disease is expensive and not always effective. Surrogate motherhood is a sure guarantee that the child will actually be born.
• Chance for a healthy child. Only a woman who has passed a thorough examination has the right to become a surrogate mother. The probability of anomalies and congenital pathologies is minimized.
• Minimal risk to the biological mother. Pregnancy can worsen the course of chronic diseases in women suffering from stress, and surrogacy eliminates this risk.

How to find a surrogate mother?

Choosing the right surrogate mother is critical to the success of the surrogacy program. It is very difficult to find a suitable candidate on your own. You can search for a sur mother on the Internet or through intermediaries, but this is not safe. It is best to choose a specialized surrogate agency or contact your loved ones (sisters, girlfriends, etc.), and have them undergo an examination and sign an agreement.

For genetic parents, the process of surrogacy can be quite troubling. From dealing with infertility to choosing an egg donor or a surrogate mother, even the calmest person will experience a certain level of stress during the process. Here are a few methods you can use to avoid stress during surrogacy.

Prepare for Obstacles

A great way for intended parents to de-stress during the surrogacy process is to plan ahead. Legal boundaries and arrangements are excellent and necessary ways to ensure that both parties in a surrogacy agreement feel safe and confident in what they are doing.

Get help from psychologists

Of course, surrogate motherhood often causes various fears, apprehensions and anxieties in future parents. And in many cases, they can become an obstacle to fulfilling the dream of becoming a parent and having a child of your own. Each case is individual and requires a special approach and understanding. It is necessary to understand all the points and get the necessary information and expert advice, weigh the pros and cons, listen to your attitude to this issue. And maybe it will help you not be afraid and take this important step in the life of intended parents.

Find outside support

In addition to the support of friends, family, and agencies, outside support can be extremely helpful for parents-to-be who face increased levels of stress during surrogacy. Support groups with other intended parents who have experienced this before or are currently living can be very helpful. Surrogacy agencies, along with online or community sources, can be a great resource for finding these support groups.

Forget about total control over the surrogate mother

Speaking of this, we mean the complete control of every movement of the surrogate mother around the city, her food, daily questions about her well-being and reminders to take prescribed medications. Remember, this is an adult mature woman with motherhood experience. When such control surrounds the surrogate mother on a daily basis, she becomes irritated, and her stress can affect the health of your child. Of course, the complete elimination of control is not recommended, but should be controlled in moderation.

In the modern world, childless couples have the opportunity to become parents with the help of assisted reproductive technologies. The use of such methods is recommended when a woman is able to bear a child, but cannot become pregnant naturally. Let’s talk about this in more detail.

When is artificial insemination used?

This procedure is used in cases of female and male infertility for the following reasons:

• Various forms of male infertility.
• Complete obstruction of the fallopian tubes, as well as their absence in a woman due to surgery.
• Idiopathic infertility, the cause of which is unknown.
• Endometriosis, the treatment of which did not lead to pregnancy.
• Immunological cause of infertility.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome without the effect of conservative and surgical treatment.

Types and benefits

Artificial insemination (AI)

This is a medical technique in which male sperm, previously collected outside of sexual intercourse, is injected into the cervix or uterus of a woman. Artificial insemination (AI) is carried out with the husband’s sperm – IISM or donor sperm – IISD.

Pros:

• No serious stress for the female body;
• Relatively easy to implement;
• As close as possible to the natural process of conception;
• Does not require significant hormonal stimulation;
• Low cost of the procedure.

Eco (In vitro fertilization)

In IVF, the egg is removed from the female body and fertilized “in vitro”. The resulting embryo is stored in an incubator, develops there for 2-6 days, and then transferred to the uterine cavity for further development.

Pros:

• The ability to conceive a child with any form of infertility;
• It is possible to use not only donor sperm, but also a donor egg;
• Much more efficient than AI;
• Possibility to check the embryo for genetic diseases and viruses before it is placed in the uterus. The quality of the resulting embryos is assessed. For transplantation, the one with the normal number of chromosomes is selected.

Summing up

If a woman has no fertility problems and has to choose between IVF and artificial insemination, it makes sense to use AI. If a woman has very little chance of conceiving with the help of AI, her doctor will notify her. In this case, it is worth resorting to a more complex, expensive and effective method.