Surrogacy Process: A Complete Guide from Start to Finish

Learn all you need to know about various aspects of surrogacy, including different types such as traditional and gestational surrogacy, a step-by-step guide to the process, legal considerations, costs associated with surrogacy, and the emotional and ethical aspects to consider. Prepare well before stepping into parenthood through the surrogacy process.

Surrogacy is a highly rewarding but complex process in which a woman (surrogate mother) carries and gives birth to a child intended for another couple (intended parents). The surrogacy process entails medical, legal, and emotional considerations, necessitating all parties involved to have knowledge of these aspects for the process to proceed and conclude successfully.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman, known as the surrogate mother, agrees to carry a pregnancy for the intended parents, who will assume legal parenthood upon the child’s delivery. The surrogate mother undergoes medical procedures to conceive and carry the child to term, requiring her to maintain a healthy lifestyle and attend regular medical appointments. Throughout the pregnancy, the intended parents offer both emotional and financial support to the surrogate.

The surrogacy process can be categorized into two types:

1. traditional surrogacy: the surrogate’s own egg is used
2. gestational surrogacy: the embryo is created using either the intended mother’s egg or a donor egg

The typical steps in the surrogacy process in the surrogacy agency Pons Medical Research, Georgia, include:

• identifying a surrogate,
• establishing legal agreements,
• conducting medical evaluations,
• undergoing IVF procedures,
• monitoring the pregnancy,
• the birth,
• legal procedures to confirm parentage.

The Surrogacy Process: Step-by-Step Guide

Pons Medical Research surrogacy process unfolds as follows:

1. Intended parents meet with the surrogacy agency representatives.
2. Medical and psychological evaluations are then conducted to confirm the readiness and health of all parties involved.
3. Legal agreements are drafted to outline the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of both the intended parents and the surrogate.
4. Embryo transfer takes place, leading to pregnancy.
5. The childbirth.
6. Post-birth arrangements are made to determine custody and support, ensuring the well-being of everyone involved.

Legal Considerations

Legal considerations in surrogacy safeguard the rights of all parties involved. Surrogacy laws vary significantly from one country to another. New parents should understand and protect their rights by formalizing the agreement through appropriate legal avenues. In Georgia, surrogacy agencies provide full legal support, and their lawyers prepare the necessary documentation based on the parents’ country.

Surrogacy Laws and Contracts

Surrogacy laws establish the legal framework governing surrogacy agreements and outline the rights and responsibilities of both the surrogate and intended parents. A typical surrogacy legal agreement includes:

provisions detailing the involved parties,

• Expectations,
• Compensation,
• Medical procedures,
• Conditions for termination.

Legally binding agreements protect the surrogate mother and future parents’ rights. Depending on the surrogacy agency, agreements can vary slightly, but they pave the best way all involved should follow.

Costs of Surrogacy

The surrogacy process can be quite expensive due to various costs involved, such as medical expenses, legal fees, and compensation for the surrogate’s services.

Breakdown of Surrogacy Expenses

Compensation for the surrogate typically involves base compensation, which varies based on location and experience, ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 in Georgia and three times more in the USA.

• Medical procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) cost around $12,000 to $15,000 per cycle.
• Legal fees cover contracts, parentage establishment, and court hearings, averaging from $8,000 to $12,000.
• Other surrogacy-related costs may include agency fees, psychological evaluations, and insurance, totaling approximately $15,000 to $20,000.

Most surrogacy agencies offer multiple programs with costs adjusted to any budget. With smart financial planning, infertile couples will realize their dreams by choosing the best surrogacy program based on prices and their budget.

Emotional and Ethical Considerations

Preparing mentally and emotionally for surrogacy involves understanding the potential challenges that may arise and knowing how to address them with the appropriate emotional support. Both the surrogate and intended parents should recognize the significance of maintaining a positive outlook during the process.

Surrogates, in particular, should engage in self-care practices and maintain open communication with a support system comprising friends, family, and professionals. At the same time, intended parents benefit from counseling in managing fears and anxieties that will most probably surface.

Ethical Concerns and Considerations

Ethical concerns in surrogacy primarily focus on the rights of the surrogate, the welfare of the child, and the fairness of the surrogacy arrangement. Transparency, open communication, and honesty are key to addressing complex ethical issues.

Another ethical consideration in surrogacy is the psychological and emotional well-being of the surrogate before, during, and after the pregnancy. Providing supportive networks and counseling services for surrogates greatly assists in managing the emotional aspects of carrying a child for another family.

Based on hundreds of successful surrogacy procedures and delighted outcomes, the surrogacy process in Pons Medical Research and other Georgian agencies is fully perfected. It guarantees a safe voyage and experience for all parties involved.