Types of Surrogacy: Gestational vs. Traditional Surrogacy

There are two main types of surrogacy arrangements – traditional and gestational. The main difference between these to surrogacy is the genetic link of the surrogate mother with the baby. In traditional surrogacy baby is genetically related to the surrogate mother but in gestational surrogacy, either the intended mother or egg donor is genetically related to the baby. This article explains how each process works and key differences.

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What are the types of Surrogacy?

For those considering building their family through surrogacy, one of the first decisions is which type of surrogacy arrangement to pursue: traditional or gestational. While both involve having a surrogate carry a pregnancy, there are some important differences between these two main approaches.

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How does the surrogacy process work

In this article, we’ll explain what traditional and gestational surrogacy entail, compare the key contrasts between them, and provide guidance on choosing the best method for your unique needs. Understanding the basics of each can help intended parents select the optimal type of surrogacy.

Surrogacy provides a life-giving option when a woman cannot physically carry a baby herself.  There are many indications for surrogacy like for medical reasons, struggles with infertility, or being in a same-sex relationship, surrogacy enables individuals to become parents with the help of a caring surrogate.

There are mainly two different types of surrogacy. Traditional and gestational surrogacy take different paths to achieve the same desired outcome – welcoming a long-awaited child into your family.

Let’s start by examining what exactly traditional surrogacy involves and how it works.

What is Traditional Surrogacy?

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate carrier provides her own egg to be fertilized and carries the resulting pregnancy. Some key aspects:

• The surrogate’s egg is fertilized with sperm from the intended father via IVF
• This means the surrogate is biologically and genetically related to the child she will deliver
• Following birth, legal steps must be taken for the intended parents to establish custody
• Traditional surrogacy typically has lower IVF costs but a more complex legal process
• May be preferred if cultural or religious importance is placed on the biological tie
• Allows the intended father to have a genetic connection to the baby

Overall, traditional surrogacy relies on the surrogate providing her own egg along with carrying the pregnancy. She serves as both the biological and birth mother. The intended parents may know the surrogate beforehand and she could be their friend or family member. 

How Does Traditional Surrogacy Work

Traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate mother using her own eggs to conceive the child, making her the biological mother. In this arrangement, artificial insemination or intrauterine insemination is used to achieve pregnancy. This type of surrogacy was more common in the past but has become less frequent compared to gestational surrogacy. Within traditional surrogacy, many different types of surrogacy are possible like commercial surrogacy, altruistic surrogacy, private surrogacy, and independent surrogacy.  In commercial surrogacy, payment for surrogacy is done or surrogate mother payout is given. 

Advantages of Traditional Surrogacy:

• Fewer medical interventions are needed.
• Lower cost compared to gestational surrogacy.

Disadvantages of Traditional Surrogacy:

• The surrogate has a genetic connection to the child.
• Potential for legal and emotional complications, as the surrogate is the biological mother.

What is Gestational Surrogacy?

With gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carrier does not provide her own egg. Key aspects include:

• IVF or fertility treatment is done using the intended mother’s egg and the father’s sperm
• The resulting embryo is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus
• The surrogate has no biological ties to the baby she delivers
• Intended parents are typically automatically recognized as legal parents
• Usually has higher upfront IVF costs but easier legal process
• Allows one or both intended parents to share genetic makeup with the baby

In summary, gestational surrogacy relies on IVF to create an embryo using the intended parents’ genetic materials. The surrogate then carries the pregnancy without contributing any of her own eggs.

How does Gestational Surrogacy work?

Gestational surrogacy is the most commonly chosen option in recent years. In this arrangement, the surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child she carries. Instead, the intended parents provide the eggs and sperm, which are used to create an embryo through in vitro fertilization (IVF). This embryo is then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus, where she carries and delivers the baby. Within gestational surrogacy, many different types of surrogacies are possible like commercial surrogacy, altruistic surrogacy, private surrogacy, and independent surrogacy. 

Advantages of Gestational Surrogacy:

• No genetic connection between the surrogate and the child.
• Suitable for intended parents who cannot conceive due to medical reasons.
• Lower risk of legal complications regarding parental rights.

Disadvantages of Gestational Surrogacy:

• Typically, more expensive due to IVF.
• Requires a separate egg donor, if needed.

Understanding Gestational vs. Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional vs. Gestational Surrogacy: Key Differences

So, what are the different types of surrogacy?  While both traditional and gestational surrogacy allow intended parents to have a child through a surrogate carrier, there are some notable contrasts:

Genetic Ties to the Surrogate

• In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own egg is used, so she is biologically related to the baby.
• With gestational surrogacy, the embryo is created using the intended parents’ egg and sperm or a donor’s. The surrogate shares no DNA with the child.

Legal Parentage

• Traditional surrogates may have to surrender parental rights after the birth via adoption.
• Gestational carriers have no legal rights or duties to the child since they have no biological ties.

Costs and IVF Factors

• Traditional has lower IVF costs but more complex legal expenses.
• Gestational has higher initial IVF costs but a simpler legal parentage process.

Relationship with Surrogate

• Some intended parents may feel closer bonding with a traditional carrier.
• Clearer boundaries may be easier with a gestational carrier.

Here is a table comparing key differences between traditional and gestational surrogacy:

Factor	Traditional Surrogacy	Gestational Surrogacy
Genetic Ties to Surrogate	Surrogate’s own egg used so she is biologically related to baby	Embryo created from intended parents’ or donors’ eggs/sperm. No genetic ties to surrogate
Legal Parentage	Surrogate may have to surrender parental rights after birth via adoption	Surrogate has no legal rights or duties to child since no biological ties
Costs and IVF Factors	Lower IVF costs but more complex legal expenses around custody	Higher initial IVF costs but simpler legal parentage process
Relationship with Surrogate	Some intended parents feel closer bond with traditional carrier	Clearer boundaries may be easier with gestational carrier

In summary, those considering surrogacy must weigh factors including the desire for biological ties to the child, legal complexity around establishing custody, upfront IVF medical costs, and preferences on relationship boundaries with the gestational carrier after birth. Exploring these questions informs decisions between traditional vs gestational surrogacy.

Choosing Between Traditional and Gestational Surrogacy

When deciding between traditional or gestational surrogacy, it’s important to weigh several factors:

Medical Factors Consideration

·       Traditional may be preferred if the intended mother is unable to provide eggs.

·       Gestational allows one or both intended parents to use their genetic material.

·       Discuss any fertility issues or considerations with your doctor.

Legal Considerations

·       Review your state’s laws governing surrogacy, parentage, and adoption.

·       Surrogacy contracts allocate parental rights differently for each type.

·       Consult an attorney knowledgeable in reproductive law.

Cost Differences Consideration

·       Traditional has lower IVF but potentially higher legal/adoption expenses.

·       Gestational surrogacy costs more upfront for the IVF process.

·       Compare total costs between approaches.

There are very personal reasons to choose one type over the other. Speak in depth with your surrogacy agency and legal team regarding the right decision based on your specific situation.

A Quick Comparison of two types of surrogacy

Key differences between Gestational and Traditional Surrogacy:

Aspect	Gestational Surrogacy	Traditional Surrogacy
Genetic Relationship	No genetic relationship to the child	Genetic relationship to child
Medical Process	In vitro fertilization (IVF)	Artificial insemination
Legal Considerations	Generally simpler in terms of legal rights	More complex, as surrogate is biological mother
Cost	Typically more expensive due to IVF	Usually less expensive

Additional guide for intended parents:

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the choice between gestational and traditional surrogacy depends on the individual circumstances and preferences of intended parents and surrogate mothers. It’s essential to thoroughly understand the key differences between these two types of surrogacy arrangements before making a decision.

International surrogacy is possible if you are unable to pay the high cost of US surrogacy.  

If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at  Complete Surrogacy Agency. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.

For more resources on IVF and Surrogacy, browse our other web page- IVF Conceptions.

For more resources on IVF and Surrogacy, browse our other web page- Georgia Surrogacy Agency.

Our team has over 13 years of experience facilitating surrogacy arrangements, egg donation, and serving as an advocacy resource for infertile couples and LGBTQ individuals seeking to build families.

Our founder and chief surrogacy consultant, Neelam Chhagani, passionately help couples struggling with fertility challenges. Since starting our surrogacy consulting agency in 2013, we’ve helped welcome over 500 babies for intended parents nationwide.

Our team includes experts from diverse backgrounds with leading reproductive attorneys, professionally trained top fertility doctors, former surrogacy case managers, experienced and kind surrogate mother and egg donor coordinators, mental health professionals specializing in infertility counseling, and a logistic support team to assist you in your chosen surrogacy country.

Frequently Asked Questions for Types of Surrogacy: Understanding Gestational vs. Traditional Surrogacy

1. What are the different types of surrogacy?

There are two main types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy involves using the surrogate’s own egg, while gestational surrogacy uses an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the intended parents’ or donors’ eggs and sperm.

2. What is the difference between a surrogate and a gestational carrier?

A surrogate is a woman who carries a pregnancy for someone else, either using her own eggs (traditional surrogacy) or an embryo created through IVF (gestational surrogacy). On the other hand, a gestational carrier is a woman who carries an embryo that is not genetically related to her.

3. How does the surrogacy process work?

If you wish to become a parent via surrogacy, then knowing the surrogacy process and surrogacy timeline can help you navigate this long and complex parenthood journey. The surrogacy process typically involves several steps. First, the intended parents and the surrogate or gestational carrier are matched through a surrogacy professional or agency. Then, the intended mother’s eggs or a donor’s eggs are retrieved and fertilized with the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm in a fertility clinic. The resulting embryos are transferred to the surrogate’s uterus. Finally, the surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and delivers the baby.

4. Can the surrogate or gestational carrier be genetically related to the baby?

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate or gestational carrier is not genetically related to the baby, as the embryo is created using the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material. However, in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is the biological mother of the child.

5. What is the difference between commercial surrogacy and altruistic surrogacy?

Commercial surrogacy involves the surrogate or gestational carrier receiving financial compensation for carrying the pregnancy. Altruistic surrogacy, on the other hand, is when the surrogate or gestational carrier does not receive any financial compensation beyond the reimbursement of medical expenses and other related costs.

6. Can surrogacy be done independently without involving a surrogacy professional?

Yes, independent surrogacy is an option where the intended parents and the surrogate or gestational carrier negotiate and arrange the surrogacy process directly, without the involvement of a surrogacy professional or agency.

7. What is a surrogacy contract?

A surrogacy contract is a legal agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate or gestational carrier that outlines the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties involved. It

References

1.    https://www.reproductivefacts.org/topics/surrogacy/

2.    https://www.surrogacyuk.org/about-surrogacy/types-of-surrogacy/

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