Bringing a new life into your family is a profound and transformative experience. Yet, the path to parenthood isn’t always straightforward. For some, alternative routes such as surrogacy become crucial in realizing the dream of building a family.
Surrogacy is a beautiful, life-affirming, and life-altering process. It allows people to start the family of their dreams, even if they can’t conceive naturally. For some folks, that’s nothing short of a miracle! In recent years, surrogacy has emerged as a transformative option, offering hope and possibilities to individuals and couples facing fertility challenges.
This article explores the compelling reasons why many choose surrogacy. From medical considerations to the emotional complexities, we explore the multifaceted aspects that make surrogacy a fulfilling choice for those seeking to embrace the joys of parenthood.
Infertility Challenges
Infertility is the number one reason people choose surrogacy. For many prospective parents, the inability to conceive naturally poses a significant hurdle. Infertility challenges can be emotionally taxing, prompting couples to explore alternative family-building options. Surrogacy offers a hopeful pathway for those grappling with infertility, providing an avenue to fulfill their dreams of parenthood.
Infertility in men is usually due to abnormal or diminished sperm production, function, or delivery. In some cases, it can also be caused by damage or injury to the reproductive organs.
On the other hand, infertility in women can be caused by:
- Hormonal disorders that affect ovulation.
- Severe eating disorders.
- Damage or blockage to the Fallopian tubes.
- Moderate or severe endometriosis.
- Early menopause (also known as primary ovarian insufficiency).
There are also certain factors that can cause infertility in both men and women, including chemical exposure, cancers of the reproductive system, stress, substance abuse, and obesity. It may be possible to solve the underlying problem with better lifestyle choices, but that’s not always the case.
Finally, the man and woman may suffer from unexplained infertility – this means that they appear perfectly healthy but still can’t have a baby naturally.
Health Conditions Preventing Pregnancy
Some medical conditions can make pregnancy dangerous, even if they don’t directly affect a woman’s ability to have children. These include:
- Obesity and related conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.
- Moderate to severe kidney disease.
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus or multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Certain viruses like HIV or Zika.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
- Thyroid problems.
When these conditions jeopardize a woman’s ability to safely carry a child, surrogacy emerges as a pivotal and empowering choice.
Issues with the uterus (or womb) can also make it difficult for women to have a child. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, it can cause total infertility or just make it impossible for the pregnancy to be successful.
Some women are born without a functional uterus, while others have had a hysterectomy – this means that they’ve had their uterus surgically removed for some medical reason.
Other uterine complications include:
- Extensive fibroids.
- Ashermans syndrome (scarring of the uterus).
- An unusually shaped uterus due to injury or genetics.
- Adenomyosis (the inner lining of the uterus does not grow properly).
- An inability to develop a thick, supportive uterine lining.
There are also medications that can be harmful to the unborn baby, including medications to treat arthritis, blood pressure, blood clots, seizures, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Intended Mother’s Age
Sometimes known as the “biological clock”, it’s a fact of life that as women get older, it becomes harder for them to have a baby. The peak reproductive years are from the late teens to the late 20s, meaning that there’s a limited amount of time to have a “natural”, unassisted pregnancy.
For example, a healthy 30-year-old woman has a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month that she tries. By age 40, it plummets to less than 5% and by 45 it falls even further to 1% per menstrual cycle.
If the intended mother can no longer get pregnant due to her age, then using a surrogate can help her build the perfect family, even if she’s a little older than some of the other moms on the block!
Genetic Ties To The Child
It’s a magical moment when you look at your child and realize that they have your eyes, nose, or even laugh. You feel a deep bond with the child and it’s super fun to notice these little similarities!
Using gestational surrogacy means that you can have a child that shares your genes, as long as either you or your partner use your sperm or egg for the IVF procedure. This is actually a really common reason for using a surrogate: in a recent study, nearly 85% of the participants chose surrogacy because they wanted the child to be genetically related to them.
History Of Difficult Pregnancies
Surrogacy serves as a profound avenue for emotional healing, especially for couples who have endured the heartache of past traumas such as pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or other challenging reproductive experiences.
Having a baby can be both physically and emotionally very demanding – even the healthiest pregnancy can be tough on a woman’s mind and body. That being said, some pregnancies are definitely tougher than others.
If the woman has a history of difficult pregnancies or suffered from multiple complications, including hemorrhaging, preeclampsia, retained placenta, toxemia, emergency C-section, premature births, or postpartum depression, then surrogacy might be the best choice for them.
Using a surrogate is also advisable for a woman who’s suffered multiple miscarriages, otherwise known as recurrent pregnancy loss.
The Role of Surrogacy Agencies
Surrogacy agencies play a pivotal role in facilitating a smooth and well-guided journey for intended parents and surrogates.
Professional Guidance and Support
Surrogacy agencies provide invaluable professional guidance and emotional support throughout the entire process. From the initial consultation to the successful completion of the surrogacy journey, agencies offer a team of experts who navigate intended parents and surrogates through the complexities, providing reassurance and expertise at every step.
Matching Intended Parents with Suitable Surrogates
The intricate process of matching intended parents with suitable surrogates requires an understanding of both parties’ preferences, expectations, and values. Surrogacy agencies excel in this delicate matchmaking, ensuring compatibility and fostering positive relationships between intended parents and surrogates.
Navigating Legal and Medical Complexities
Surrogacy involves a myriad of legal and medical intricacies that can be overwhelming without expert guidance. Surrogacy agencies boast professionals well-versed in the legalities and medical aspects of the process. They ensure adherence to legal requirements, facilitate communication between all parties involved, and coordinate with medical professionals to guarantee a safe and ethical surrogacy journey.
In essence, surrogacy agencies act as pillars of support, guiding intended parents and surrogates through the complexities of the surrogacy process, fostering understanding, and ultimately contributing to the creation of strong and positive surrogacy experiences.
How Can I Find A Surrogate With Surrogacy By Faith?
As you can see, people have all kinds of reasons for using a surrogate. Deciding if surrogacy is right for you will depend entirely on your needs and specific situation; this is an intensely personal and intimate decision that will permanently change your life for the better.
Just remember: the surrogacy process is a journey. There are a lot of steps and it may feel a little overwhelming at first. That’s why it’s so crucial to find the best surrogacy agency to work with you and guide you.
Surrogacy By Faith can help you through your surrogacy journey, no matter what your reason may be. We feel we’re doing God’s work by connecting hopeful parents with the perfect surrogates. This isn’t just a business arrangement for us – it’s a mission that we hold sacred.
If you’d like to find a surrogate, please fill out our inquiry form for intended parents. You can get started right away!