Surrogacy has been quite a common way of having a baby among noted celebribities. Couples like Amir Khan and Kiran Rao, Sohail and Seema Khan, Shahrukh and Gauri Khan have been very open about the procedure.
What is all about?
The procedure involves another woman who agrees to carry and give birth to a couple’s child. This is a very popular option among those women who suffer from conditions which might be worsened as a result of pregnancy. Being pregnant might not just prove to be dangerous for the baby but also threaten their lives. The difficulty in implantation of the embryo, malformation of the womb, removed uterus, heart diseases, other sexual orientation (gay/lesbian/transgender/transsexual) repeated miscarriages, IVF (In vitro fertilisation) failures are other instances that call for the option of surrogacy.
How is it done?
- The sperm taken from the father is fertilised in the surrogate’s womb,
- donated eggs and sperms might be artificially made to form an embryo or
- egg and sperm from the couple is fertilized and implanted in the surrogate woman’s uterus.
How do you choose a surrogate mother?
- Mostly, it is someone who the couple might have familial ties with. This makes legal issues simpler.
- Certain agencies might help you find a surrogate in exchange for bearing the medical expenses and a certain amount of fees.
Things to keep in mind before you opt for surrogacy
- No law prohibits surrogacy if both the parties agree upon it. Consider all your legal options. A contract is necessary for the procedure.
- No matter how formally the surrogate mother agrees to carry the child and deliver it in exchange for a massive amount of money, the risk of her emotional attachment to the baby looms large. Ensure that she has gone through the procedure before to save you the harassment.
- Ensure that the surrogate mother is at least 21 years of age and has undergone proper medical screening.
- The procedure may not be successful in case the implantation negatively affects the health of the surrogate mother or that the entire procedure might fail. You need to be mentally prepared for it.
Anushree Ghosh
