Independent surrogacy, or private surrogacy, is a surrogacy arrangement that occurs when intended parents choose to take the DIY route instead of working with an agency. Those who prefer this method will have to manage everything themselves, including finding a gestational carrier, an IVF clinic, and their fertility lawyer. Independent surrogacy allows the intended parents to have more control over the process and decisions made, but it also means having more responsibility.
Are you interested in taking the independent route in your surrogacy journey? This article will go over the pros and cons of independent surrogacy to help you make an informed decision and choose the right path.
Independent Surrogacy vs. Agency Surrogacy
When intended parents and surrogates choose to take on private surrogacy, all medical, financial, and legal arrangements must be made through their own hands. In contrast, an agency takes care of each step, from the application to the delivery. Three critical components differentiate an independent surrogacy from an agency surrogacy: screening, planning, and support.
- Extensive Matching and Screening: Surrogacy agencies usually keep a database of eligible candidates who have completed a basic screening application, including a background check, medical and reproductive history, and their overall physical and psychological health status. Proper screening ensures that the surrogate is ready to take on a healthy pregnancy. Once intended parents submit their application, the agency then locates a perfect surrogate match based on both parties’ preferences from the database. Finding and screening a surrogate without an agency can be a difficult task, especially if you do not already know your surrogate, as this is a serious process that can alter the course of your pregnancy.
- Smooth Planning and Process: Intended parents who work with an agency benefit from a surrogate specialist who oversees their case and coordinates the entire process. For intended parents and surrogates who choose independent surrogacy, finding the essential legal and medical professionals on their own may cause unnecessary stress during the pregnancy. Those who are not ready for the extra weight on their shoulders that planning and managing a surrogacy will bring should seek expert advice from a specialist through an agency.
- Top Medical and Emotional Support: When working with an agency, the surrogate receives the highest level of medical support with regular check-ups and emotional counseling. These factors aren’t necessarily required, but they are certainly beneficial. These support services can help both parties handle the emotional ups and downs of the surrogacy process and may allow the intended parents and surrogate to grow closer together.
While agency surrogacy may have added benefits, that does not mean that independent surrogacy is the lesser option. For those who have a good understanding of the surrogacy process and feel confident they can handle the extra planning and management factors, independent surrogacy may be an option for you. For others who are not able to put in the extra effort, working with a surrogacy professional may be the better choice.
Pros & Cons of Independent Surrogacy
Independent surrogacy can provide a sense of freedom as the parties involved get to make the decisions for themselves. The surrogate mother and intended parents can meet and match without having to blindly trust the agency to pair them up. However, this sense of freedom also means the surrogates and intended parents must handle the medical, financial, and legal aspects of surrogacy on their own. This can be especially challenging if this is your first time going through this journey. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of independent surrogacy:
Pros of Private Surrogacy
Lower costs – Independent surrogacy allows intended parents to save money by removing the agency fees to cover the cost of services like counselling and support, case management and contact mediation. This option also allows both parties to negotiate surrogate compensation on their own, which can reduce expenses for the intended parents. Additionally, pursuing altruistic surrogacy can significantly lessen the financial impact for intended parents.
Higher level of involvement– Since the intended parents will be working directly with the surrogate mother throughout the entire pregnancy, they can be more present in the journey. The intended parents can experience all the beautiful stages of pregnancy first-hand and enjoy each moment with each other. If the parties did not already know each other before their agreement, this could allow them to bond and build friendships that may even last a lifetime.
Cons of Private Surrogacy
Time-consuming – For intended parents who are unfamiliar with the surrogacy process, it may be challenging to coordinate the details. Locating applicants, screening and interviewing candidates, choosing an IVF clinic and fertility lawyer, managing financial balances, supporting the surrogate during pregnancy, and any other surrogacy-related tasks may be difficult to juggle. Each step can be pretty time-consuming and take away from the joy that intended parents should feel during this process.
Difficult to match – A major step in the surrogacy process is screening and matching. Without an agency, intended parents must find and assess the eligibility of the surrogate on their own. This can be difficult as intended parents may not have access to specific resources to help them assess the overall physical and emotional state of the candidate. For potential surrogate mothers, it may not be easy to find intended parents if you don’t already know them (through friends or family) who are a compatible match with your preferences.
Lack of support – When working with an agency, surrogates receive the highest level of medical care during their pregnancy. They also have access to support groups where they can meet with counselors and other surrogates to help with any emotional difficulties they may face. Without the assistance of an agency, surrogates and intended parents will have to coordinate with each other to ensure they receive proper medical care and emotional support throughout the process.
Conclusion
Pursuing surrogacy independently can be slightly more challenging for the parties involved. However, some intended parents prefer this arrangement for its lower costs and more control. Independent surrogacy has its benefits, but it also has its flaws. When working with an agency, there are a lot of staff who work behind the scenes to ensure your journey goes as smoothly as possible. The process is stressful enough for the parties involved, and the added paperwork and management may not be the best option for those who don’t have much experience with surrogacy. It is important to consider the pros and cons of DIY surrogacy before committing to your decision.