The Mother in Surrogacy

Who is the mother in a surrogacy process?

In a surrogacy process, we must distinguish between the surrogate mother, who, in the case of standard surrogacy arrangements, has no genetic link to the baby, and the intended mother, who is the baby’s mother.

In some surrogacy cases where the intended mother cannot provide her genetic material, an anonymous egg donor is used. However, under no circumstances should the surrogate mother provide the eggs if you are using a reputable surrogacy agency, as this is prohibited by law.

But regardless of the genetic link, ultimately, as in adoption, the mother is the one who raises the child, provides a home and education, and accompanies them throughout their life. In a surrogacy process, the intended mother is the mother, and the surrogate is the woman who has offered to help her fulfill her dream.

At Gestlife, we only accept surrogates who already have children of their own, to ensure they understand what it feels like to be a surrogate and begin the process with the certainty that it will not affect their psychological well-being (in addition to being a legal requirement). The surrogates who participate in our surrogacy programs, as mothers themselves, understand how important it is for others to start a family and want to help them achieve it.

Therefore, in summary, in surrogacy, the intended mother is the mother.

Fertility treatment in surrogacy?

It is a Human Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the technique used in surrogacy processes to help couples and individuals who are trying to have a baby.

During IVF treatment, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries of the intended mother, or from a donor, and fertilized in vitro (in a test tube, hence the term “in vitro fertilization”). The egg fertilized by the intended father’s sperm, the resulting embryo, is implanted in the surrogate’s uterus, where it will develop into a healthy gestational surrogacy pregnancy.

In IVF treatment, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is performed in the laboratory. This treatment involves injecting a single sperm directly into the egg. ICSI is recommended for couples in which the man has a low sperm count or low sperm motility, making it less likely that the sperm will fertilize the egg on their own. Artificial insemination is discouraged in surrogacy.

Remember that in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own egg, so artificial insemination can be performed, but this means the surrogate will have a genetic link to the baby.

In traditional or partial gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has a biological link to the baby. Artificial insemination is performed using the surrogate’s egg and the intended father’s sperm.