Surrogacy

Surrogacy is when another woman carries and gives birth to a baby for a couple who want to have a child. This arrangement works for couples who are unable to have a child themselves.

A surrogacy arrangement may be indicated in couples having difficulties in conceiving. Indications that may lead us to suggest surrogacy include failures in ovulation, fertilisation, implantation, or repeated miscarriages. We may also suggest surrogacy to those who have undergone hysterectomy.

This arrangement may also work be for a male gay couple or a single man wishing to be parent. It can also work for those who are transgender and have been through gender change treatment.

Factors you’ll want to consider are

  • how to identify a suitable surrogate mother
  • the process involved
  • the legal, medical, and emotional aspects of surrogacy

It might be difficult to consider any kind of third party reproduction. For some of our patients, the choice may be overwhelming.

We always recommended you ask these questions of your consultant. A family solicitor with experience in the legal issues involved with national and/or international surrogacy arrangements can also be a help to you.

There are two kinds of surrogacy arrangements: traditional or straight surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. There are different legal and medical ramifications for both types of surrogacy. Thus, you should be very clear about your particular needs, and the special circumstances associated with both types.

In straight surrogacy, the surrogate mother has an embryo replaced. The embryo is created using the sperm of the intended father or sperm donor and her own eggs. As the surrogate’s own egg is used, she is the genetic mother of the resulting child.

Due to various legal and emotional aspects of straight surrogacy, we will recommend you to see a family solicitor to understand the implications involved. This should happen before identifying and proceeding with any surrogacy fertilisation, but particularly with straight surrogacy.

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries a child conceived of the egg and sperm of two other individuals. Specifically, the sperm of the intended (commissioning) father or a sperm donor, as well as the egg from the intended (commissioning) mother or an egg donor are fertilised and transferred. This process happens via IVF or in vitro fertilisation, into the gestational carrier.

When having treatment as part of surrogacy arrangement at London IVF and Genetics Centre, we will request you to identify your egg donor and host surrogate mother.

We will undertake various blood tests and ultrasound scans to assess the suitability of the egg donor and surrogate. Prior to being exposed to fertility drugs and IVF/ ICSI treatment, the egg donor will undergo a detailed infection and genetic screening.

We must carefully coordinate and synchronise the process. The surrogate and her partner, if she has one, will also be screened for routine infections as part of the infection control policy and good medical practice.

As you can see, we at London IVF Genetics Centre offer many different fertility treatments so that infertility problems can be solved.

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