For many couples considering surrogacy, one increasingly popular alternative is to take this journey to another country and find a surrogate mother abroad. There are many good reasons to do this, including better pricing and cost-effectiveness, without compromising on the quality of medical care. But before couples take the plunge on this option, there are some things they should familiarize themselves with. In particular, they should get to grips with some of the legal and medical terminology relevant to their surrogacy journey. Here are some of the terms couples should know.
Altruistic Surrogacy
This is one of the most common types of surrogacy worldwide and one of the more cost-effective ones for couples. Altruistic surrogacy gets its name because surrogacy, in this case, is an extremely generous act of altruism. In these cases, The surrogate mother volunteers to have a baby on someone else’s behalf without expecting a financial reward.
While it is often understood that couples will likely pay for living expenses and medical support so that the surrogate mother can continue to eat, have a roof over her head, and get the medical care to ensure her health and the baby’s, the extent of financial support. Strictly speaking, she makes no money from this, and as a result, far fewer women are making themselves available for altruistic surrogacy.
Compensated Surrogacy
While less common worldwide, compensated surrogacies tend to be a more popular choice. As the name indicates, the financial situation with this type of surrogacy greatly differs because now surrogate mothers receive significant financial recognition for their critical role in the surrogacy process. Because there is a vested financial interest now for women, as opposed to a completely voluntary role, places that permit compensated surrogacy invariably have a much larger pool of available, medically suitable candidates willing to take on the role.
However, a natural consequence of compensated surrogacies is added cost since the surrogate mother is now paid for her contribution. This is one reason surrogacies are often taken abroad, as couples from more developed countries with stronger currencies, such as the United States, can pay comparatively lower prices with the US dollar versus a considerable sum paid out to an American woman in states that permit compensated surrogacies.
In Vitro Fertilization
More commonly known as IVF, this is a popular but complex medical procedure often chosen by hopeful parents that would like to have a baby that is a “true” genetic descendant of both hopeful parents. An egg is donated by the woman in the relationship, while the man donates sperm. The egg is then fertilized in a lab and implanted in the surrogate mother.
As a result, when the baby is born, it is “traditional” in the sense that DNA testing reveals the child to have 50% of the DNA of the hopeful father and 50% of the hopeful mother, exactly as if the child had been born to them. The only difference, in this case, is that gestation occurs in the uterus of another woman, but the child is, for genetic intents and purposes, a direct ancestor of the hopeful couple.
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
Usually referred to as PGD, this special service is available only to hopeful parents choosing IVF as their surrogacy option. Some diseases are hereditary, and even if a parent doesn’t have the condition, the genetic potential will always be passed on to the next generation.
PGD is a screening process where multiple eggs are fertilized if there is a risk of a family disorder, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia. Then those eggs are screened, and if any fertilized eggs are detected with the markers for these diseases, they are not used for implantation, thus ensuring the baby is born without any hereditary disorders for the best start at life.
Stork Service in the country of Georgia knows and understands these terms and can accommodate the needs hopeful couples may have for them through alliances with facilities like:
GGRC Clinic
The GGRC clinic is respected for its all comprehensive surrogacy support. During the early stages, they will assist couples with negotiating and finding with a surrogate mother. It can also provide legal help after birth, dealing with the citizenship requirements for different countries.
Zhordania IVF Center
Zhordania is located in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. It is a specialized facility with world-class labs and experienced personnel providing IVF services. The center, if requested, can also use donor eggs stored offsite in another country in cryogenic storage.
Chachava Medical Center
Chachava Medical Center has served Georgia for over 100 years, opening its doors in 1875. Today, it now accepts patients from all over the world. It has various services for surrogacy needs, like obstetric and gynecological-related medical assessments.
Inova IVF Center
The Inova IVF center is a recent addition to the Tbilisi medical industry, opening in just 2015. This is another IVF-focused center with important services such as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis.