5 things you must know before opting for Gestational surrogacy !

When it comes to a couple or individual seeking surrogacy options,  gestational surrogacy appears as one of the most fascinating alternatives given its structure of facilitating individuals and couples to have their own biological children.

Still, a lot many people don’t know much about Gestational surrogacy and its related aspects. Gaurav Wankhede, the name behind the well-recognized surrogacy agency Become parents, throws further light on this interesting argument.

As per him, regardless of what reason you have to pursue gestational surrogacy, you must be aware of these below-mentioned related aspects.

1. Understanding the difference between various surrogacy types

As assisted reproductive technology (ART) has progressed, gestational surrogacy has become a viable option. An unrelated pregnancy is one in which a woman carries and gives birth to a child. By using IVF, an egg and sperm can be fertilized outside of the uterus, and the resulting embryo can be transferred to a woman who will carry the child to term for the intended parents (the ones going home with the baby).

Traditional surrogacy, as per Gaurav Wankhede, talks about the conventional way where the surrogate mother is impregnated by the intended father and the latter also shares a genetic connection with the future child, along with the intended father.

2. Gestational surrogacy involves many individuals

In the case of gestational surrogacy, multiple parents may be involved in the process. Although the process may be unpleasant or stressful, it's important that all parties involved are aware of the dynamics of the relationship at play.

The surrogate mother, the egg donor, the sperm donor, and the two intended parents, who in this scenario are unlikely to have healthy sperm or eggs, needs to contribute to the process in their own ways.

As the mother may contribute the eggs but not be able to carry a pregnancy, one or both of the intended parents are the egg and/or sperm donor in most cases. However, it is possible to have as many as five people involved in the birth of a single child.

3. Gestational surrogacy may have opted for several reasons

A woman's ability to get pregnant or carry her pregnancy to term can be hindered by numerous medical conditions. When a patient has had multiple unsuccessful embryo transfers or miscarriages, we are more likely to discover these.

Gaurav Wankhede surrogacy quotes that a patient may have an obvious medical condition, such as post-hysterectomy infertility or being transgender and undergoing sex surgery that makes it difficult for them to become pregnant.

People and couples may also use gestational surrogacy for reasons of social status. A surrogate mother and an egg donor can help gay couples and single men have children. There are many options for lesbian women who want to use IVF, including reciprocal IVF, in which one woman donates her eggs and the other carries the baby to term.

4. Every person involved may have to go through a detailed screening process

One of the most rigorously screened people in gestational surrogacy is the surrogate mother who will be carrying the child. It is possible to use a surrogate mother who is close to the couple, such as a family member or a close friend.

A third-party surrogacy agency may provide a surrogate in some cases. Gaurav Wankhede affirms that the best chance of a healthy pregnancy is ensured by a thorough examination of her overall health – physical, mental, and emotional – in both scenarios.

They will receive psychosocial training and counseling regardless of whether the intended parents donate eggs or sperm. Counseling helps parents-to-be understand how pregnancy will affect their personal and social relationships, and it also helps them devise a strategy for communicating with the pregnant woman in the future.

5. Legal and financial considerations are essential.

All but a handful of gestational surrogacy cases result in the birth of a child for which the mother has no legal rights. Instead, the legal guardians will be the child's intended parents, who are typically but not always biologically related.

As indicated by Gaurav Wankhede surrogacy, all of this must be spelled out in a legally binding contract signed by all parties involved in the pregnancy.

In the same vein, the financial implications of gestational surrogacy must be carefully considered. In addition, medical insurance will almost certainly not cover the additional costs associated with gestational surrogacy. Legal fees, compensation for the gestational carrier, and screening and testing expenses all fall into this category.