Gestational surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries and delivers a baby another person or some other couple. The woman who actually carries the baby is called the gestational surrogate or a gestational carrier. The parents to be are usually known as intended parents and they are involved in the pregnancy and when they give birth, the willing couple becomes the actual parents. The gestational surrogacy cost varies from place to place.
In gestational surrogacy, the baby is not genetically related to the surrogate. The egg usually comes from the intended mother or a donor of the egg. The sperm comes from the intended father or a sperm donor and this way an embryo can be used.
Without a donor embryo, in vitro fertilization is necessary because the eggs from one woman are used to create the embryos which would be implanted in another woman’s uterus. In the IVF, fertilization occurs after the eggs and sperm are combined together in a laboratory. One or more of the embryos are then transferred to the gestational surrogate’s uterus.
Only 1 percent of all the assisted reproductive technology procedures get involved in gestational surrogacy. It is likely that cost is a major factor which prevents more of the people from using a gestational surrogate.
When is a gestational carrier necessary?
Using a gestational carrier is very necessary when :
- You do not have a uterus
- If you have problems with your uterus
- If you are having signs of unsafe pregnancy
- Other fertility treatments have failed or so on
- You are a single man or a gay couple
The challenges of gestational surrogacy
Whether you set up the actual arrangement through a certain agency or negotiate it privately using the methods of gestational surrogacy. It is a legally complex and emotionally an intense process. If you take a decision of going to the route then be prepared to commit a lot of time, money and a lot of patience. Currently, a handful of states allow gestational surrogacy contracts and some do not allow gestational surrogates to be compensated enough.
Read more: how to become a surrogate mother?
Gestational Surrogacy Cost
The gestational surrogacy cost depends on numerous factors including health insurance, the gestational surrogate’s expenses and the cost of IVF. Relatives and friends who serve as a gestational surrogate also receive payment directly.
Most people find a gestational surrogate through certain agencies and the cost of which can be 150,000. Here is an estimated breakdown. The agency fee might be 22,000 and the gestational surrogate fee can be 25,000 to 35, 000 through the compensation which would be typically higher for the multiple pregnancies.
The health insurance is 15,000 to 30,000 for the supplemental coverage or the special coverage for the gestational surrogate. It is from 10,000 to 15,000. The legal fees are 14,000. The counseling services may cost 7,000 and the IVF is up to 20,000 and gestational IVF is far more expensive than the traditional one. Gestational carriers usually go through a lot of tests and steps before being a surrogate.