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Surrogacy

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gestational surrogacy manchester

Surrogacy

Surrogacy refers to an arrangement where a woman carries a pregnancy for another woman/couple intended to parent the resulting child. If you are considering surrogacy in order to have a child, please feel free to contact our specialist fertility team today who are more than happy to offer friendly advice and can arrange your initial consultation with our Doctors. Alongside surrogacy, we also offer a range of other fertility services including fertility screening and IVF.

Please Note: Aurora Healthcare only offers surrogacy in Lagos, Nigeria. Gestational surrogacy is used as it is more commonly sought after and much less legally complex than traditional surrogacy.

TYPES OF SURROGACY

Gestational Surrogacy (GS)

The surrogate is implanted with an embryo created by IVF using the egg and sperm of the intended parents. The resulting child is genetically related to the intended parents, and genetically unrelated to the surrogate. Gestational surrogates are also referred to as gestational carriers.  At Aurora Healthcare, we only offer gestational surrogacy in Lagos, Nigeria. This is because it is a much more common choice, and avoids the legal complexities associated with traditional surrogacy.

Who Might Require Surrogacy?

Intended parents may seek a surrogacy arrangement when medical issues make pregnancy impossible or when it is considered too risky for the mother’s health. Such examples include:

Gestational Surrogacy & Egg Donation (GS/ED)

The surrogate is implanted with an embryo created by IVF using the intended father’s sperm and donor eggs. The resulting child is genetically related to the intended father and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.

Gestational Surrogacy & Donor Sperm (GS/DS)

The surrogate is implanted with an embryo created by IVF using the intended mother’s eggs and donor sperm. The resulting child is genetically related to the intended mother and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.

Gestational Surrogacy & Donor Embryo (GS/DE)

A donor embryo is implanted in a surrogate. Such embryos are usually donated by other couples who have gone through IVF themselves and have surplus embryos left over. The resulting child is genetically unrelated to the intended parent(s) and genetically unrelated to the surrogate.

Traditional Surrogacy (TS)

This involves naturally or artificially inseminating a surrogate with the intended father’s sperm via IUI, IVF or home insemination. With this method, the resulting child is genetically related to the intended father and genetically related to the surrogate. This service is not available at Aurora.

Traditional Surrogacy & Donor Sperm (TS/DS)

The surrogate is artificially inseminated with donor sperm via IUI, IVF or home insemination. The resulting child is genetically unrelated to the intended parent(s) and genetically related to the surrogate. This service is not available at Aurora.

Issues With Surrogacy

If you are considering surrogacy, it is important to be aware of the issues and concerns aligned with both gestational and traditional surrogacy before you making any decisions. The issues to consider are; legal, ethical, religious and psychological. Below, we have outlined some of the aspects of surrogacy that are associated with these issues to offer more information. 

Legal Issues With Surrogacy

The legal aspects of surrogacy tend to hinge on a few central questions:

  • Are surrogacy agreements enforceable, void or prohibited?
  • Does it make a difference whether the surrogate mother is paid (commercial) or simply reimbursed for expenses (altruistic)?
  • What, if any, difference does it make whether the surrogacy is traditional or gestational?
  • Is there an alternative to post-birth adoption for the recognition of the intended parents as the legal parents, either before or after the birth?

UK law stipulates that the woman giving birth to a child is that child’s legal mother, and the only way for another woman to be recognised as the mother is through adoption (usually requiring the birth mother’s formal abandonment of parental rights).

If a surrogate changes her mind and decides to keep the child, the intended mother has no claim to the child even if it is her genetic offspring, and the couple cannot get back any money they may have paid or reimbursed to the surrogate.

If the intended parents change their mind and do not want the child after all, the surrogate cannot get any reimbursement for expenses, or any promised payment, and she will be left with legal custody of the child.

Ethical Issues With Surrogacy

Ethical issues that have been raised include:

  • Concerns about exploitation, commodification, and/or coercion when women are paid to be pregnant and deliver babies, especially in cases where there are large wealth and power differentials between intended parents and surrogates.
  • Is it right for society to permit women to make contracts about the use of their bodies?
  • What does motherhood mean?
  • Should a child born via surrogacy have the right to know the identity of any/all of the people involved in that child’s conception and delivery?
Religious Issues With Surrogacy

Different religions take different approaches, often related to their stances on assisted reproductive technology in general.

CATHOLICISM

Paragraph 2376 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that: “Techniques that entail the dissociation of husband and wife, by the intrusion of a person other than the couple (donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus), are gravely immoral.”

JUDAISM

Jewish law states that the parents of the child are the man who gives sperm and the woman who gives the egg cell. More recently, Jewish religious establishments have accepted full gestational surrogacy with both intended parents’ gametes included and fertilisation done via IVF.

Psychological Issues With Surrogacy

For Surrogacy in Lagos, Contact Aurora Healthcare Today

As with other kinds of fertility treatment, surrogacy is a complex and emotional issue. It can be a stressful process, and it is essential that all parties involved maintain a healthy psychological attitude. Aurora provides robust counselling and psychological support all throughout the process for the surrogate and intending parents.

To find out more about Surrogacy in Lagos, contact Aurora Healthcare today. Please ring our enquiries line on 0161 244 8623 or alternatively, please complete our online contact form and we will be in touch as soon as possible. 

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