Every year, March is recognized as Surrogacy Awareness Month. It’s designed to thank those who have been surrogates or who have otherwise been involved in the process. It’s also a way to raise awareness about what surrogacy is, how it works, and the value it can bring to the lives of individuals and couples who may not be able to have children of their own.

Generally speaking, surrogacy is when a woman carries a child for someone else. That could be a single person or a couple, and IVF is used to create the pregnancy. There is a legal contract between the surrogate and the intended parent(s), and this is required before a fertility center will proceed with IVF treatment. Women who are unable to safely carry a pregnancy to term, single gay men or gay male couples, and others who can’t or don’t want to carry and bear children can benefit from surrogacy.

There are a couple of ways to create a surrogate pregnancy. Some couples, for example, will go through the process of creating embryos from their sperm and eggs, and then will use IVF to have them implanted in a surrogate, who’s sometimes also called a gestational surrogate or gestational carrier. Prior to IVF, the pregnancy was created via insemination of sperm into the uterus of the surrogate, who is referred to as a genetic surrogate. For an individual who wants to use a surrogate or a couple that doesn’t want to use their own genetic material, donor sperm or donor eggs (or both) can be used.

Most people who can use their own genetic material want to do this, but if there’s a strong genetic health risk they may choose a donor option instead. Surrogacy can be an expensive option no matter where the embryo comes from, and can cost as much as $150,000. There are legal and administrative fees, along with compensation for the surrogate. Additionally, screenings, procedures, and the actual prenatal care and birth can be costly.

The value of surrogacy is significant for individuals and couples who want to have children and need reproductive assistance to do so. In March, we take time to honor the surrogates who help create and expand families, the medical professionals who help make it possible, and everyone involved in the process!

Our thorough surrogacy contracts establish the intent of the parties regarding parental rights, identify the parties’ financial responsibility, and ensure all parties are aware of the importance of informed consent, providing our clients with further peace of mind as they navigate their surrogacy journeys. We aim to provide our clients with a straightforward breakdown of what might seem to be a complicated and daunting process so that they can enjoy the beautiful experience of bringing a child into the world through surrogacy. Contact us today to get started!