What Is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a legal arrangement where a woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person or couple (the intended parents). There are two primary types of surrogacy:
- Traditional Surrogacy: In this method, the surrogate uses her own egg, making her the biological mother of the child she carries. The sperm may come from a donor or from the intended father.
- Gestational Surrogacy: Here, the surrogate carries a child conceived using an egg from the intended mother or an egg donor, fertilized by sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor. The surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child she carries.
Surrogacy can be a solution for individuals or couples who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves due to various medical reasons. It involves legal contracts outlining the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved, including issues related to parental rights, financial arrangements, and medical decisions during the pregnancy.