Despite how much discussion there has been on surrogacy, there remain many misconceptions about the process. Kandi Buress, a celebrity who worked with a surrogate, said some accused her of surrogacy for vanity reasons. The truth is when many pursue the path to parenthood with the help of a surrogate; it’s typically after years of failed fertility treatment.

If you are someone trying to expand your family and wonder if you should consider working with a gestational carrier, please read below!

Reasons to Consider Surrogacy

• Gay Male Couples: Men in a same-sex relationship often pursue expanding their family with an egg donor and a surrogate.
• A Health Issue: You may not have a diagnosis that directly affects your fertility, but you may have a medical condition in general that could make pregnancy high risk. This can include high blood pressure, diabetes, or a heart issue. 
• Fertility Issues: You may have been diagnosed with an infertility issue that prevents you from carrying a baby to term. This can include uterine problems that may cause miscarriage; you had to have a hysterectomy due to medical reasons like cancer, fibroids.

There are also many other reasons one would consider working with a surrogate. You may be a heterosexual single male or an older woman who concerns carrying a pregnancy. Ultimately, GoStork wants to help any hopeful parent who is working towards building their dreams of having a family.

When you pursue working with a surrogate, you could ask a close friend or relative; you could work with an agency or try to find a surrogate on your own. Whichever path you take, the gestational carrier must meet the requirements for all involved health and safety.

Ultimately, whatever reason you are considering with a gestational carrier, there are resources, options, and ways to make it affordable no matter your gender, race, or financial status.

Different Forms of Surrogacy

There are several kinds of agreements you can enter into when working with a gestational carrier. Here is a high-level overview of each:

Gestational Carrier

Gestational surrogates are not genetically related to the baby. The intended mother’s eggs will be used with the intended father’s sperm. Depending on the intended mother and intended father’s fertility health, donor eggs or donor sperm may be used. Any which way, the surrogate’s eggs or genetic material would NOT be involved in any way.

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy is not supported by the overwhelming majority of health professionals, surrogacy attorneys, or clinics. It is when the surrogate uses her eggs and is genetically tied to the baby. There are several concerns (legal, long-term parentage issues, etc.), so this path is not recommended.

Compensated Surrogacy

This is a surrogacy agreement in which the gestational carrier is paid an agreed-upon amount for her services.

Compassionate Surrogacy

Compassionate surrogacy is also known as altruistic surrogacy. It’s when the gestational carrier carries a baby for an individual or intended parents and does not receive any compensation for her services.

One reason to seriously consider working with an agency is they know the ins and outs of the surrogacy process. They can advise you throughout the entire journey on all legal aspects, but they can help you avoid any pitfalls. Surrogacy can be complicated legally, medically, and more so to have an advocate that has experience in this field is an asset.

Whatever path you choose, GoStork is here to help you find your ideal egg donor, surrogacy agency, and IVF clinic to see you well on your way to becoming parents. You can browse over 10,000 egg donors (the most extensive online database!), sort by your favorites, compare attributes and costs side by side and easily connect with the agencies of the ones you’re interested in.

We’re here to support you as you search for your perfect match. Start your journey here.