Surrogate pregnancy and its important features

A surrogate pregnancy is nothing but an agreement pregnancy where the infant baby is transferred to intended parents.  Carrying the fetus in the womb up to safe delivery is the responsibility of surrogate mother and she will be prepared mentally to carry the task of delivering the baby.  Two types of surrogate pregnancy are followed normally when the couple wishes to have their child through this process.  One method is traditional surrogacy and another method is gestational surrogacy, and it always depends upon various factors that are related to the couple and medical requirements. 

However, in a traditional method, it is an agreement between a  person or couple with a proy mother.  In a gestation method, the mother will be impregnated via medical methods, by using a sperm from a father who is an intended father of a baby.  In another way the sperm may be donated by a sperm bank.  While the egg is used by a proxy mother in a traditional way, in gestational surrogacy, the egg and sperm both can be placed in the uterus through medical procedures.  In some other cases, embryo will be placed in the substitute.   In this case, the mother will protect the embryo and give rise to the baby after the term is completed whereas, she is not considered as a biological mother, since egg, sperm belong to the intended couple or it might from a fertility bank. 

Surrogate pregnancy takes place mainly due to the infertile condition prevailed in the intended mother.  There are other medical issues where proxy may become necessary to develop the baby.  

Intended parents surrogacy and the payments

The Surrogate is a complex process and when surrogate mother is required intended parents need to solve different issues.  One of the main issues is payment for various expenses.  They had to look after many things like Insurance, Medical expenses, clinic fees, attorney fees, agency fees, surrogate fees and other miscellaneous fees.  Since every aspect is very important so that in future there will be no issues that can complicate the process. 

The situations where one decides to have a proxy mum is different and unique.  A wide range of fees will be paid for every test and everything will be documented.  The type of surrogacy required are to be decided, whether a traditional surrogacy or gestational surrogacy, when decided, in either case, screening is essential to decide who is suitable to carry out this significant responsibility. 

It is a family decision and intended parents surrogacy should be accepted among family members.  Therefore, it is important to consider all these issues before proceeding with the decision.  The first two main issues involved here is a family bondage, emotional sensitivity, and financial conditions. Fertility treatment involves a team work.  A team includes, attorney, family doctor, fertility clinic experts, family members, proxy mum, and a company that executes all these issues from beginning till the end, until the baby is delivered and handed over the intended parents. 

Therefore, the payments need to be paid for the services and it is very costly.  Financial fitness is very much essential for those who wish to hire a substitute mother. 

Gestational Surrogacy for having your own biological child

In gestational proxy, the mother delivers a biologically non related child.  That means in gestational proxy, egg and sperm are made to fertilize outside the womb of the surrogate mother and the embryo is implanted in the womb.  That is genetically different from the proxy mother. 

This is very important.  Couples who wish to have an infant of their own cannot reproduce due to various medical problems, but they are healthy to produce eggs and wish to have a baby from their own genes.  In this case of gestational surrogacy, usually the egg donor will be the intended mother and it is made fertilized with the sperms of her husband outside under medically aided process. 

When the eggs are fertilized and becomes embryo, they will be transferred to a substitute who agrees to carry the embryo in her womb till the completion of gestation period.  When the gestational period is completed, she has to deliver the child and child belongs to intended parents.  Therefore, in gestational surrogacy, the proxy is genetically not connected to an infant she delivers.  This method is known as In Vitro fertilization and it is popularly known as IVF. 

The process of helping the intended mother to get her genetically related baby is the biggest help that surrogate mother can do to the prospective mother.  The screening cost, cost of legal procedures, medical expenditures, maternity expenses, baby care and other relative costs are borne by the prospective parents and they get their child through this method and they are ready to pay for the gestational surrogacy.   

Best surrogate agencies can ease your tension USA

For surrogate mothers and intended parents, now there is no cause to worry, their tensions are eased.  They can get their problems through suitable reputed agencies that are quite capable to handle all the issues regarding surrogate mother.  One should know the importance of agencies and how their service can be a vital in the complete pregnancy period.  It is always better to go through the agencies as they are experts in the field in all the related issues of surrogacy. 

When  you contact the reputed agency, you can gain communication, no matter wherever you are and whenever you want.  Such agencies will be having their branch offices throughout the globe.  Prospective parents and surrogate mothers can meet under one roof.  Suitable match can be found and there will be no shortfall to find the match.  They have an efficient network throughout the globe, so that whoever contact them with their requirements will not get disappointed. 

People belonging to different financial strata can consult such best surrogate agencies and they will arrange everything according to the financial status.  A suitable network can provide an exact match as they have got wide reach and they work according to the demographic requirements.  Most of the medical requirements are entirely different, through the agencies these various requirements can be fulfilled and the rates are affordable and satisfying. 

They maintain a large database having a comprehensive pool of information so that they can give the selective information for the intended users within a few clicks.  They can narrow their selection by using this information and data.  The crystal clear communication and highly evolved network makes everything very easy.  Therefore, it is always better to contact reputed and best surrogate agencies having a very good track record.  

Egg donor Compensation under different circumstances

Egg donor compensation depends upon the type of surrogacy and many more factors and it always varies from case to case depending upon the intended couple requirements.  They need to be in compliance with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.  Egg donor compensation is paid according to the agreement between ova donor and by those who require child.  Insurance, age, medications, and other qualifications that are essential for the egg donor.   They have to undergo a complete gynecological tests required for the process.  After completing the tests, physicians decide whether they are fit to donate the ova are not. 

They should have regular menstrual cycles, both ovaries, and they should not be using any contraceptive, and contributors should undergo a pelvic examination to check for any obvious growth or abnormalities, and it is necessary for them to allow for PAP smear tests, and in some cases they are sent to  the examination using ultrasound of pelvis to check the health of ovaries and reproductive system.  Screening will be done to check the physical examination and the menstrual cycle and other related health issues are confirmed.  Ova contributors are checked to match the menstrual cycle of prospective mothers and they are synchronized with that of donors so that she can conceive.  Throughout the early stages of pregnancy, after implantation, hormone treatment is will be carried out so as to safeguard the pregnancy. 

Egg contributor and prospective mother will be monitored closely and the compensation paid to her always depends upon the requirements of tests and time duration required till donation of ova..  The ASRM recommends price of the ovum donor is 5,000 to 10,000 $s.  Sometimes, depending upon the specialty of requirements of the egg contributor the compensation may go up to 50,000$s.   

Intended parents and their requirements for a baby

Couple desiring for a baby and their inability to raise the baby paves way to search a surrogate who can fulfil their requirements.  Biological surrogacy and non biological surrogacy or gestational method of surrogacy are the two methods available for the intended parents to realize their dreams of having their own progeny.  It is a very complex process and the entire procedure requires expert guidance and it is a very long term process.  The complication involved in this process made this entire affair as very expensive and patience testing period for both surrogate and intended parents. 

There are various laws concerned with surrogate and often mother refuses to part with the child and it is one of the sentimental and emotional issues, therefore, both surrogate and would be couple should be very careful when they decide to become parents by having a child through a surrogate.   Would be surrogate mother can be anybody, from friends group or relatives or volunteers who wish to help such couples. 

It is not an individual work, it is a team work where number of people are involved in the process.  Family physicians, experts in the field,  intended couple, counselors and attorneys, adoption agencies, and mental health agencies altogether sit and decide who is fit to become a surrogate mother.  The selection is done, based on requirements and a suitable match is selected after several rounds of visits to the hospital.  All the expenses are borne by the intended parents and they are explained about these things once they wish to enter into an agreement with the agency where such arrangements and facilities, expertise presents, they can manage this efficiently without any problem.  

LGBT couples choose surrogacy through IVF

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples can establish their family through surrogacy process. However, many LGBT couples opt for adoption to provide home for a child in need. But, through surrogacy bisexual, gay and transgender couples can expand their family by having a biological child through in-vitro fertilization treatment. In this treatment, a donor’s egg is fertilized with intended male sperm and cultured in laboratory for two to six days. Then, the fertilized egg is transferred to the uterus of a proxy. The proxy carriers the baby for nine months and hand over to LGBT couples.

There are two types of surrogacy; traditional and gestational. In traditional LGBT surrogacy, the sperms of two gay men is collected through masturbation and injected to the proxy’s uterus through artificial insemination. A proxy need to undergo fertility treatment at least two weeks before impregnation. In gestational surrogacy process, a female ovum is fertilized with gay sperm outside the body. The zygote is then injected to a proxy’s womb. The baby born through this process is biologically related to the gay man.

Some claim that LGBT surrogacy is not unhealthy. The child raised by two dads or two moms is not good. However, this perception is totally uncorroborated. In fact, the ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) has stated that the agencies and clinics have ethical responsibility to consider the requests of LGBT and infertile couples to realize their dream of parenthood irrespective of marital status and sexual orientation. It also recommends that agencies and clinics should treat all the requests with respect and should treat LGBT couples equally with married couples. 

LGBT | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender surrogacy

LGBT surrogacy is a boon for the couples who desire to become parents, irrespective of their sexual orientation and relationship status. It is important to find an appropriate resource to match the requirements of individuals. LGBT couples seeking for a surrogacy option to establish their family has to search for the best agency which can help them in the legal issues and social issues. The agencies work closely with attorneys as the laws for paternity extremely varies from state to state. The agencies play a vital in deploying the suitable surrogate and look after the legal issues associated with it. It ensures the parental rights are asserted and protected.

Organizations working to establish a family for LGBT couples have years of experience to monitor the bureaucratic developments and legal issues. Agencies play a vital role in finding suitable egg donors and sperm donors and to match surrogates for LGBT’s. In some states, LGBT surrogacy is prohibited and few states legislated as a crime to pay proxies. However, few states allow this process, but restricts the use of substitute for married couples. For lesbian and gay couples, legal procedures are more complicated and tremendously vary from state to state. Therefore, it is quite important to know about the legitimate procedures involved in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender proxy to protect the rights of parenthood. Gay coupled who opts for surrogacy can have a biologically connected child through insemination process or in-vitro fertilization treatment. However, less commonly a lesbian couple can opt for a proxy if both are unable to fertilize the egg. 

egg donor compensation 2014

Know the value of your eggs

When women opt to donate her eggs, compensation can be a major factor to consider. The fee paid by the agency is for time, effort and inconvenience sustained by an egg donor. These donors play a vital role in the life of sterile couple. However, an egg bequest procedure demands a lot of time, responsibilities and personal sacrifice from the donors. Therefore, it is appropriate to compensate a contributor for the troublesomeness bared during the tenure. Women who wish to donate her ovum should understand how the egg donation remuneration procedure works and what are the legal and ethical thoughts associated with it. According to the Journal of Fertility and Sterility published in 2007, normally, egg donor compensation will be approximately USD 4,217.

However, the compensation paid to the contributors may vary by geographic location and in some cases the contributors can expect high remuneration if they meet unusual traits of the intended parents. In the United States, there is no such law to specify the compensation paid for donors. Therefore, the amount paid by the intended parents or clinics may cover the time and inconvenience sustained by a contributor. However, the ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) suggests that, if a total amount paid to a contributor exceeds USD 5,000 requires justification and amount above USD 10,000 is not appropriate.  So, egg donors should carefully review the advertisements if publicists mention above USD 10,000 as remuneration.

Even if the ASRM specified amount at $10,000, intended parents who are looking for a particular quality and a person from specific ethnic background may pay up to $60,000 to donors. 

An epigrammatic synopsis on surrogacy

A woman giving birth to a child for intended parents is referred as surrogate. Couples seek proxy arrangement when they are not able to carry the risk of pregnancy or can’t able to conceive due to serious problems. Couples hire surrogates through agencies or attorneys. A proxy can conceive proposed couple’s child through the gestational process or a traditional process. But, most often, parents and doctors opt for gestational process as it is associated with less legal issues and is lower in risk. Artificial insemination and embryo transfer play a vital role in fulfilling the dreams of intended parent’s surrogacy.

A proxy lady can achieve pregnancy through the following ways;

Artificial insemination:

Artificial Insemination (AI) is a premeditated process where the male sperms are introduced to female’s oviduct in order to achieve pregnancy. It is a medical alternative to natural insemination. This medical alternative is used, when couples hire surrogates to complete their family. Through this process, the lady becomes pregnant without involving in sensual intercourse.

Gestational surrogacy:

In this process, embryo or zygote is created by In-vitro fertilization by using the ovules and sperms of the intended couple. Thus, the child born by this procedure is genetically related to parents and biologically unrelated to a surrogate.

In some cases, the proposed father sperm and a donor ovum are fertilized through IVF. Later, the zygote is injected to a surrogate womb. Baby born through this process is genetically related to the intended father and unrelated to a proxy.

When the donor embryo is injected to the proxy’s womb, she becomes pregnant. The baby born through this procedure is genetically not related to both intended parents and surrogate, as well.

Traditional Surrogacy:

Intended father donates his sperms in clinic, these sperm is later injected to a proxy lady. The baby born through this process is genetically relevant to the proposed father and a surrogate.

Couples, who wish to enjoy parenthood by intended parent’ssurrogacy, can contact agencies and attorneys to hire a healthy lady as surrogate.

Legal issues:

When a lady becomes pregnant in a traditional procedure, the baby is genetically relevant to her and the intended father. In most of the cases, surrogates find it hard to relinquish the child since it is related to her. When she refuses to give the baby to the intended parents, it gives rise to the lawsuits and the 

The value of a surrogate mother

In the present scenario, due to the advancement in medical field, childless couple can expect their own baby by hiring surrogates. These women give one of the greatest gifts for the childless couples. They play a significant role in an infertile couple’s life by fulfilling their dream of parenthood. However, in return proxies expect remuneration from the couple. The price and demands of a proxy mother may vary depending upon the situations and circumstances. 

Therefore, it is impossible to give an exact figure of the price paid to these women. However, carrying a pregnancy embroils health issues which a woman should sustain during her pregnancy and the money paid to her can’t compensate for her struggle and pain tolerated in the period.

The surrogate mother cost may depend upon various factors. The significant factor calculated in cost is age of the egg and it is important to consider whether a woman is using her own egg or a donor egg. Couples need to pay more if the mother gives birth to twins. The amount paid to surrogate women includes medical and psychological screening costs, proxy fee, medication fee, legal document cost and insurance cost. The cost may also vary on the attempts to become pregnant. If a woman becomes pregnant in first attempt, the cost may approximately range between USD 140,380 to USD 160,380 including the entire medication fee.

Additionally, the surrogate mother cost may increase if a lady has multiple babies in her womb. This can be found only after 12 weeks of pregnancy through ultra sound test. However, it is important to understand that money alone cannot compensate the pain and psychological distress sustained by a surrogate mother. 

Surrogacy – a boon for sterile couple

Surrogacy is a process where a woman gives birth to a baby for sterile couples. It is a boon for women who sustained multiple miscarriages or problem in conceiving. A uterus less women can opt for a proxy lady. Gay male couples who wish to have a baby with a chromosomal connection may choose surrogates. Normally, couples who are not succeeded in “first-line” assisted reproductive technology treatment such as vitro fertilization, cryopreservation, intrauterine insemination and intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatments can seek help from proxies.  Surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries a baby of intended couples.

Surrogate pregnancy is achieved through gestational proxy process and traditional proxy process. Gestational process is preferred by the professionals rather than traditional process. A woman becomes pregnant when the fertilized eggs are injected in her womb during the monthly ovulation. Eggs taken from the intended mother is fertilized with the sperms of intended father. The eggs are fertilized outside the human body. Later, these eggs are injected into the womb of ladies during the monthly ovulation. This procedure is repeated until the women achieve pregnancy. Women, then carry the baby until birth. The baby born through this procedure is genetically not related to the lady. However, when a lady becomes pregnant through traditional way, the baby is genetically relevant to the mother.

However, surrogate pregnancy may cause some stress for the ladies as multiple parties involve in the procedure. For intended parents, it is important to value the feelings of a surrogate mother as the lady is agreed to give the most valuable gift by sustaining the pains and health issues associated with pregnancy.

The pros and cons of being a surrogate mother

When couple fails to have a child due to medical problems, they turn to surrogates for help. Women who give birth to a baby that is harmonically not relevant to her is considered surrogate. Proxy women play a valuable role in the life of sterile couple in building their families. But, a lady who wishes to become a substitute should understand all the consequences she needs to face during her pregnancy. Potential proxy mothers are required to undergo frequent medical tests and different procedures to ensure that her body is appropriate to conceive. The medical procedures may vary from one person to another person. A proxy lady needs to undergo all the tests prescribed by a doctor to give birth for a healthy child.

A substitute lady should respect and understand the feelings of the people who opted for intended parent’s surrogacy as they have undergone frequent disappointments of losing a child. The important fact is that, a proxy lady has to deal with the insemination process. This may be a little painful and also there may be considerable side effects for which she has to take different medications. A substitute lady and a couple who choose for intended parent’s surrogacy has to consider ethical values. Many people consider surrogacy as a “baby-selling” due to a huge amount associated with this process. It is up to the couples and women to deal with these issues. A proxy lady should control her emotional attachment with the baby growing in her womb. A substitute lady has to respect her contract made with the intended couple. She should be ready to surrender the baby after birth. Women have to consider all these consequences before choosing for a surrogacy.

The cost of surrogacy - 2014

The surrogacy costs and donor remuneration vary from country to country and it solely depends on where the intended parents opt for surrogacy journey. However, in this blog we provide a basic overview on the cost of surrogacy in the United States of America. Some agencies prescribe an approximate fee of $20,000 upon signing agreements between proxy and intended parents. The legal fee may cost around $10,000 to $16,000 which briefly describes the parental rights and compensation paid to a surrogate. The pre-birth order application should be submitted to the court before 14 weeks of surrogate’s pregnancy. If the intended parents choose an egg donor, they need to pay extra amount of $17,000 to $35,000 which may vary upon the type of donor chosen by the biological parents.

In gestational surrogacy, embryo is transferred to the uterus of a gestational carrier through in-vitro fertilization therapy. The IVF treatment may cost around $23,000 to $30,000. Apart from this, intended parents need to bear the expenses of psychologist fee, travel fee, health insurance fee and agent’s fee. However, agencies explain the cost of surrogacy before signing a contract.

In some of the cases, couples need to remunerate extra fee of $3000 to $5000 if a proxy gives birth to twins. Embryo transfer may charge around $1000 to $1500. If a proxy loss the uterus, fallopian tube or any organs in the body, couples have to pay $3000, $1200, and $5000 respectively.

Couples need to create an ESCROW account in the name of a proxy. It is a service where a monthly compensation is paid to the proxy. The ESCROW fee may be around $700. 

Egg donation is a boon for sterile couples

Egg donation is a process through which the ovum of women is collected for assisted reproduction and biomedical purpose. In case of assisted reproductive technology (ART), the ovules of women are used in In-vitro fertilization process. The eggs collected by the women are fertilized in the laboratory by combing it with the sperms. Infrequently, the ovules are frozen and stored in a laboratory for later use of intended parents. Normally, egg bequest is a main part of ART and the ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) and FDA has issued particular guidelines for ovum bequest.

Ovum donation is required for many reasons. When a female partner is unable to have genetic children or the chances of pregnancy are considerably low, they can seek help from ovum contributors. Added to this, some ladies are born without ovaries and are unable to give birth to their own child. In some cases, women reproductive organ is removed due to infections or other circumstances. In certain situations, due to a genetic disorder, women cannot give birth to a child as there may be more chances of transmission of diseases to the baby. But, in some cases, although women have none of these issues, they are still not able to conceive. In other words, these women suffer from undiagnosed infertility and thus turn towards egg donor. Gay male couple also uses ovum bequest and seek help from surrogates to complete their family.

Anonymous and semi-anonymous egg donors are recruited by the donor agencies and IVF clinics. In some countries such as UK, the law entails non-anonymity ovule contributors but, in some countries like Spain, South Africa, France and Czech Republic, the law entails anonymity egg contributors.

An overview on types and process of surrogacy

Carrying pregnancy on behalf of infertile couple is defined as surrogacy and the women who accept this agreement or arrangement is recognized as surrogate mother. There are two main types of substitution, gestational proxy and traditional proxy. In gestational surrogacy method women become pregnant when embryos are injected into the stomach. This process as also recognized as “In-Vitro fertilization” (IVF) through which the egg is fertilized by sperm outside the human body. It has been considered a major medication for sterility.  The baby born through IVF process is genetically not related to a surrogated mother.

In traditional process, women become pregnant through the natural or artificial procedure. If a lady wishes to give birth for a child through traditional artificial process, the sperm of the intended father is regularly injected to a surrogate mother’s womb during monthly ovulation until her pregnancy. The baby born through this manner is genetically related to a proxy mother. But, gestation process is highly recommended to the surrogates rather than traditional procedure. Since, gestational procedure is considered less legally complex when compared to conventional procedure, it is recommended by most the doctors.

Childless couple can opt for surrogates when medical issues declare conceiving is risky for women. Infertile couple or women who are not able to conceive may seek a proxy agreement. If a proxy mother receives compensation beyond the medical expenses, such arrangement is named as commercial proxy.  However, the legitimacy and compensation may vary depending upon the jurisdictions and the arrangement.