Three Surprising Facts About Gestational Surrogacy Every Gestational Surrogate Should Know
Men and women across the country aspire to become parents but struggle with infertility. After many failed attempts, they may consider starting a family through unconventional means. They may consider adoption or gestational surrogacy.
As a woman with a big heart and a love for families, you may feel a desire to lend a helping hand. You may want to be a part of the surrogacy journey. You may want to become a gestational surrogate.
As a potential gestational surrogate, you’re probably doing a lot of research, searching for answers to the various questions you may have. You may already have an idea of what gestational surrogacy is and what to expect, but some things may surprise you. Here are some surprising facts about gestational surrogacy.
Intended Parents and Surrogacy Agencies are Selective
Becoming a gestational surrogate isn’t as easy as you might think. Surrogacy agencies and intended parents are very careful about who they hire. They won’t let any woman become a gestational surrogate. When searching for a gestational surrogate, they’ll consider the woman’s age, reproductive history, lifestyle, etc. They’ll also conduct a background check, a physical examination and a psychological evaluation.
To learn more about how to become a gestational surrogate in the state of Oklahoma – the requirements and the application process – click here.
Gestational Carriers are not Surrogates
There are two different types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational. A woman who carries and gives birth to a child through traditional surrogacy is a surrogate; a woman who carries and gives birth to a child through gestational surrogacy is a gestational carrier. Because it is more common to hear/read/see the term “surrogate” you will find us using the term throughout our site.
Being a surrogate and being a gestational carrier are different scenarios. In both situations, a woman is carrying and giving birth to a child for the intended parents. The key difference between the two is the woman’s relation to the child. During a traditional surrogacy, the woman uses her own egg to conceive the child through a process called artificial insemination. This makes the baby her biological son or daughter. During a gestational surrogacy, the woman carries a child that is not hers. The child was conceived in a laboratory using the intended parents’ sperm and egg through a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma only offers gestational surrogacy to avoid the legal complications that often come with traditional surrogacy.
Most Intended Parents are Normal, Everyday People
Many celebrity couples have discussed using gestational surrogacy to have children. Because of this, many assume that only those with money and power can afford gestational surrogacy. This isn’t true. In fact, most of the people using gestational surrogacy to start a family are ordinary people. Regardless of wealth and social status, people across the country are suffering from infertility and looking for options. Some of these people decide to pursue gestational surrogacy.
The intended parents and the gestational surrogate usually discuss payment prior to the surrogacy. When it comes to payment, there are two different types of surrogacy: compensated and altruistic. During a compensated surrogacy, the gestational surrogate receives money from the intended parents. During an altruistic surrogacy, the gestational surrogate doesn’t receive any payments. The intended parents cover the woman’s prenatal care services, but that’s it.
If every intended parent pursuing gestational surrogacy was rich, altruistic surrogacy wouldn’t be an option. It’s also worth noting that intended parents sometimes ask close friends and family members (people who are more likely to carry and give birth for free) to be their gestational surrogate.
Surprising Facts about Gestational Surrogacy
As a woman researching gestational surrogacy, you likely found a plethora of information. Some of the facts you unearthed may have surprised you. Other pieces of information may have been unsurprising. Regardless, our hope is that you found the information we provided educational. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the community. We assist both intended parents and gestational carriers (surrogates). Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized experience to all involved in the surrogacy process.
You may visit our website here or call toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777
or Text: 405-310-8790
Meet the Author: Heather Valenzano is an up-and-coming content creator with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in English. After graduating from Iona College in 2019, she got an internship – and then a part-time job – writing blogs and managing social media accounts forHip New Jersey, a lifestyle website owned byLong Shot Productions. She has also produced website and social media content forCommonPage, an external collaboration platform.
When she isn’t working, Heather enjoys watching crime shows like Forensic Filesor posting book reviews toOnlineBookClub.orgunder the username “LavenderLiterature2.”
