A Brief Guide to Surrogacy
Making the choice to pursue surrogacy takes an exceptional and unique person, and helping families fulfill their dreams is a deeply personal life-changing experience. Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction in which a carrier agrees to bear a child (or children) for another individual or couple who will become the child’s parents. This arrangement is supported by a legal contract, and the surrogate often receives compensation and other benefits in return for their services.
Traditional vs. gestational surrogacy
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is the DNA contributor of the child carried. With gestational surrogacy, the carrier does not use their own genetic material. Intended parents will often provide their own genetic material or use an egg or sperm donor depending on their needs. Alcea Surrogacy only works with gestational surrogates in the United States.
The surrogate commitment
Becoming a surrogate is a decision that can be extremely fulfilling, but it is not without its own set of unique challenges.
Surrogacy requires you to commit to another family for a year or more as you undergo medical and psychological evaluations and procedures, endure all of the challenges related to pregnancy and labor, and carry a baby that isn’t your own.
You forfeit elements of your privacy and will spend a lot of time explaining a surrogate pregnancy to strangers. But many people embrace these challenges and believe this path is lined with contentment, accomplishment, and connection, all of which positively outweigh any negatives of the experience.
Surrogacy is a unique opportunity to give an incredible and selfless gift to another person or couple, provides you with life-altering financial benefits, and can create lasting, meaningful relationships between you and the family you helped create.
Stay tuned for our next blog on who can become a surrogate!
Learn more about surrogacy
If you can’t wait for the next one, the Alcea website is filled with resources for you to better understand the commitment and benefits of becoming a surrogate. If you are interested in learning more, please click on one of the links below or click here to set up a time to speak with one of our team members.
Read our ebook - Surrogacy: Everything you need to know about becoming a gestational carrier
