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When looking for a surrogate, it is important that you invite the right person onto your family-building journey. Although surrogacy can be a complex process that involves legal, financial, and emotional matters, you will always have us as experienced professionals to guide you through every step of the way.
Many parents may not have envisioned surrogacy as an option when planning to have a child. Couples may have decided to use a surrogate after a long journey of trying on their own to conceive. Surrogacy provides couples the opportunity to have the child they’ve always wanted finally. Before seeking a surrogate, though, intended parents are encouraged to educate themselves on the subject. The industry can be complex to navigate through, and some may not know where to begin.
How can you and your partner find the ideal partner for your surrogacy experience? Read on to learn more about the different types of surrogacies and what you can expect in your search for a surrogate.
A surrogate is a woman chosen to carry a child for a couple or an intended parent. There are various reasons why intended parents choose surrogacy. Couples who decide to utilize a surrogate do so due to fertility issues, risks, or are a LGBTQ+ partnership.
Intended parents can select from two different surrogacy categories: traditional and gestational.
Traditional surrogacy means that there is a genetic link between the intended parent and the child. For example, if the intended parent is a same-sex couple, the man can provide his sperm to fertilize the surrogate’s egg. Couples who partake in a traditional surrogacy experience must seek legal counsel to ensure their rights.
Unlike traditional surrogacy, in gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic link to the child. Gestational surrogacy involves a surrogate carrying the egg of another woman. For heterosexual couples, a child’s whole genetic makeup can be linked entirely to them. This form of surrogacy is not only the most common type of surrogacy utilized, but this also grants absolute legal protection for both parents.
Surrogacy can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Before delving deep into surrogacy, there are a few essential aspects that intended parents must consider. The choices that you make will not only influence your surrogacy process but could also affect your future child.
Significant aspects to keep in mind before seeking a surrogate are:
Each couple is unique when determining what they are seeking in a surrogate. Even though there is not a set list of requirements that need to be met for each couple, it is still critical to keep a few factors in mind when selecting a surrogate.
If a couple chooses a surrogate through an agency, they will already be cleared for any health risks. If a couple decides to search for a surrogate on their own accord, asking questions such as whether the surrogate ever suffered from any medical conditions would benefit the intended parents.
Intended parents who are in close proximity to their surrogate have the luxury of meeting for doctor appointments or casual check-ins as well. When a surrogate is in another area (different state or country), it can be challenging to coordinate schedules to meet. Above all else, it can be costly due to travel expenses.
The ideal age range for a surrogate is between the 20s to mid-30s. As a woman ages, the risk of complications when carrying a child can increase. There are circumstances where 40-year-old women do serve as surrogates, though. What age of a surrogate will dependent on the couple's surrogacy standards and comfortability level.
Most couples place much importance on the health of the surrogate. Intended parents are more at peace knowing that their surrogate is committed to a healthy diet and lifestyle. If the couple is comfortable enough and has come to an arrangement with the surrogate, they could make a special request for the surrogate to eat a specific diet.
The connection between a surrogate and a couple is vital. Meeting all of the requirements is not enough at times, and sometimes just one interaction will determine if a couple will want to proceed with a surrogate. In each surrogacy journey, many involved have stated that having respect and trust are key in solidifying a bond.
Surrogacy agencies are a complete in-house service that facilitates the surrogacy process. There are many benefits that couples obtain when using a surrogacy agency.
The surrogacy agency of Options in Family strives to provide families with the best fertility experience possible. We offer a wide range of surrogacy programs for intended parents that include medical and psychological screening, customized matching, legal and financial counsel, schedule coordination, and more!
We believe in catering to every couple’s surrogacy requirement and aspire to fulfill the needs of every intended parent. Contact our team to learn more about the abundant surrogacy options that await you today!
