Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy or carrier arrangements (as opposed to traditional or genetic surrogacy) refers to the method of family building in which a woman agrees to carry a pregnancy for an intended parent or parents and in which the surrogate is not genetically related to the baby. Here, the child is conceived using an embryo created in vitro, using the intended parent’s or parents’ genetic material (eggs and/or sperm) and/or the genetic material of a donor or donors. The resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus of the gestational surrogate, who then carries the pregnancy and delivers the baby.

Traditional or genetic surrogacy, on the other hand, refers to the method of family building in which the surrogate is genetically related to the baby. Here, the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the sperm of the intended father or a donor. This results in her own egg being fertilized and her having a genetic connection to the child. The surrogate carries the pregnancy and delivers the baby. This form of surrogacy carries greater legal risk, especially for the intended parents.