Altruistic surrogacy is a type of surrogacy where the surrogate mother does not receive any form of financial compensation for her pregnancy. However, the intended parents will still reimburse the surrogate’s necessary medical and legal expenses. In many countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia, only altruistic surrogacy is permitted, while commercial surrogacy is not. It is important for intended parents and surrogates to understand the process, as well as the pros and cons, before making a commitment, regardless of the type of surrogacy.
How Does Altruistic Surrogacy Work?
Most intended parents in altruistic surrogacy arrangements work with surrogates they already know. Since altruistic gestational surrogacy involves no compensation for the surrogate, most women volunteer their gestational services for a close family member or friend. These arrangements are also known as identified surrogacies because the surrogate and intended parents have already known each other before beginning the process. Identified surrogacy allows for a quicker journey as intended parents get to skip the searching, screening, and matching stages and move straight to the legal and medical arrangements.
It’s important to highlight the difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy at this point. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogae is both the egg donor and the carrier, meaning she is the biological mother of the child. In contrast, gestational surrogacy involves a surrogate who carries a pregnancy created from the intended parents’ or donors’ eggs and sperm, making her not biologically related to the child.
Commercial Surrogacy vs. Altruistic Surrogacy
There are two types of gestational surrogacies: commercial and compassionate. Commercial surrogacy is the more common option, in which a surrogate receives compensation for her commitment. However, an altruistic surrogate is often also an identified surrogate who is a close friend or family member of the intended parents and does not receive any form of compensation for her generosity.
A commercial gestational surrogacy agreement is often a longer and more costly process as the intended parents must search for potential applicants and perform an extensive screening process to find their perfect match. Once matched with a surrogate, the intended parents must hire a legal professional to create a binding agreement for both parties that outlines the surrogate compensation and responsibilities. The intended parents will also need to cover the medical costs, legal expenses, travel expenses, and any other pregnancy-related expenses, including the surrogate’s monthly allowance.
An altruistic gestational surrogacy agreement allows intended parents to skip the searching, screening, and matching steps of the surrogacy journey while saving a great amount of time and money by not having to pay a salary for the surrogate. However, the intended parents will still need to reimburse the surrogate for any medical expenses and cover all legal costs.
Pros and Cons of Altruistic Surrogacy
An altruistic surrogacy agreement offers many benefits for intended parents and, although not as common, is the preferred surrogacy method for most. Altruistic surrogacy allows for a quick, safe, and smooth journey for surrogates and intended parents who have a strong connection and share mutual goals. Nevertheless, surrogacy also comes with potential risks and emotional challenges that can impact the course of your journey. Here are some of the most common benefits and challenges of altruistic surrogacy:
Benefits of Altruistic Gestational Surrogacy
- Lower Costs – Since altruistic surrogates cannot receive any form of compensation, this form of surrogacy is often less expensive than others. However, the intended parents will still need to reimburse the surrogate for any pregnancy-related expenses, as well as cover all medical and legal costs.
- Legally Permitted – Altruistic surrogacy is legal in many U.S. states and other countries where commercial surrogacy is not. This makes it more accessible for intended parents looking to pursue their dreams of completing their family.
- Quick Process – Since the intended parents and surrogates typically already know each other before the process, this makes the arrangement an identified surrogacy. Intended parents save time by not having to create a profile and search for applicants. This eliminates the screening and matching steps and allows intended parents and surrogates to move straight to the medical procedures. However, the surrogate will still need to pass a medical and psychological exam before the embryo transfer.
- Peace of Mind – Intended parents seeking altruistic surrogacy can have peace of mind knowing that their pregnancy is in the trusted hands of a close friend or family member.
Disadvantages of Altruistic Gestational Surrogacy
- Limited Availability – Most altruistic surrogates are close friends or family members of the intended parents. However, intended parents who are not pursuing identified surrogacy may have a difficult time finding a qualified applicant who is willing to offer her body and time without the benefit of financial compensation.
- Emotional Challenges – Due to the emotional and physical demands of pregnancy, surrogates experience difficult hormonal changes and require the support of friends, family, and doctors. If the intended parents cannot support the needs of the surrogate, they may feel unappreciated, which could negatively impact their relationship.
- Less Control – Intended parents may feel like they have less control of the surrogacy process if the surrogate is not compensated. They may feel hesitant to make requests because the surrogate is not receiving anything in return.
Conclusion
Assuming you are pursuing an identified surrogate, altruistic surrogacy can be a great option for intended parents to complete their families. Both parties will feel more comfortable going through this process with a close friend or family member rather than a stranger. Altruistic surrogacy can offer many benefits for intended parents, including lower costs and peace of mind. But altruistic surrogacy can also create potential complications or impact your relationship with your identified surrogate. Surrogacy is a life-changing experience for everyone involved. Before considering this path, it may be helpful to do your research and seek advice from a surrogacy professional to ensure this is the best option for you.