Gestational Carriers:Third Party Reproduction
Gestational Surrogacy : Helping Couples Have a Biological Child
Nov 10, 2009
Gestational carriers, sometimes also called a gestational surrogate, are carriers only; the baby they give birth to is not genetically related to them. Third party reproduction is a term used to refer to the use of gestational carriers, surrogates, or egg donors.
Considering Using a Gestational Surrogate; Who Needs a Gestational Carrier?
Choosing to use a gestational carrier is a big decision, but for some women, it’s the only way they’ll ever have a biological child. Women in certain situations may find themselves considering gestational surrogacy.
Women who have had a hysterectomy, but still have their ovaries may consider using a carrier. If ovaries are present, women can undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create embryos that can be fertilized with their partner’s sperm and then implanted in another woman’s uterus via embryo transfer.
Women who have working reproductive organs but who can’t undergo pregnancy themselves may use a carrier, such as women who have undergone chemotherapy, or for whom pregnancy would be dangerous. Women who have undergone IVF and egg retrieval before undergoing chemotherapy or having their ovaries removed could have their frozen embryos implanted in another woman at a later time.
Finding a Gestational Carrier: Asking Someone You Know to be a Carrier, or Using an Agency?
There are basically two options when considering using a gestational surrogate: ask someone you know, or hire someone through an agency. Both have pros and cons. A relative or friend can be a perfect choice for a surrogate; they love the biological parents and want to help. But what if the bio parents don’t approve of things the carrier does during pregnancy? It’s much easier to state expectations to someone hired through an agency than to a sister or best friend. Some mothers have been gestational carriers for their daughters; most IVF clinics have age cutoffs of around 55 for gestational carriers and require a rigorous physical as well.
Hiring a gestational carrier through an agency isn’t cheap; it could cost as much as $50,000, of which perhaps $ 20,000-30,000 goes to the carrier, and is considered payment for time spent “on the job,” as it were. Some money is payment to the agency, the lawyer, and to cover the costs of testing required. Most couples compensate friends or relatives to some degree, if only to pay their medical bills that might not be covered or to buy maternity outfits and cover the time lost from work, if any. The costs for IVF will be separate from the costs for the agency and carrier, and could run another $20,000.
Take time when choosing a carrier; they’re going to be a huge part of everyday life for the next year or so. While bio parents and gestational carriers don’t have to see eye to eye on everything, it’s best if they have similar life views and values on the big issues.
Working With an Agency Specializing in Third Party Reproduction
There are agencies that deal only in gestational surrogacy, although some also arrange for egg donors. Searching the internet for “gestational carriers” will yield a number of places to start. Whether using a friend or a stranger, some sort of contract is required, and lawyers must be involved to make sure every contingency is covered.
For instance, the contract should address not only monetary compensation, but exactly what’s expected of the carrier. Obviously, drinking and smoking will be forbidden, but what about:
- Travel? How late in the pregnancy can the surrogate travel?
- Work? What if a job is somewhat hazardous, like painting?
- Can the biological parents attend all doctor’s visits? Who’s allowed at the delivery?
- What kind of genetic testing will be done during the pregnancy?
- What if there’s a problem with the baby? Who makes the choice to terminate, and for what cause?
States have differing rules about how the birth certificate is made out; a lawyer who specializes in gestational surrogacy can facilitate the birth certificate process.Some couples never see their gestational carrier after the delivery; others remain in contact for years. Of course, if a close relative is the carrier, they’re going to be hard to avoid, especially if it was Grandma!
Gestational Surrogacy: A Way to Biological Parenthood
Gestational carriers are the answer to many couple’s prayers of having a biological child. If the details are worked out at the beginning with the help of an experienced lawyer or agency, the process should go smoothly for all involved.
Sources:
"A Woman's Gift Third Party Reproductive Solutions;" http://www.awomansgift.com/
American Society for Reproductive Medicine, "Third Party Reproduction;" http://www.asrm.org/Patients/patientbooklets/thirdparty.pdf
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