Many people around the world are thankful to have found someone they want to spend the rest of their lives with and eager to take that next step of starting a family. But unfortunately, the traditional method of naturally conceiving a child, and allowing the mother to carry that child for nine months, until it’s time to give birth, may not always be possible.

While such a situation presents serious obstacles, that doesn’t mean that those obstacles can’t be overcome. Surrogate motherhood is one such solution. It requires more time, planning and investment, but it can be done. So what reasons would a hopeful family need that would make a surrogate mother a viable alternative?

Why Do Same-Sex Couples Use a Surrogate Mother?

Male same-sex couples use a surrogate mother because it is physically impossible for either partner to accept a fertilized egg and carry a child to term. This means that if a couple wishes to have a child that has some actual genetic characteristics from the parents, a surrogate mother is the only way to have a newborn child that still carries the DNA of the parents. Love knows no boundaries, but there are still some unavoidable biological limitations.

How Does Age Influence the Decision to Use a Surrogate Mother?

Age influences the decision to use a surrogate mother because beyond a certain age, there are greater risks to both the mother and the developing child that may affect their health or the delivery process. For families that still wish to have a new addition despite the age factor, surrogate mothers are recommended. This often occurs when a hopeful family decides to start at a later stage in life or wishes to add an additional family member to an existing family dynamic.

No Uterus

There are some rare cases in women, approximately 1 in 12000, where a woman is born without a uterus, or in some cases, due to medical reasons, has had to have the uterus surgically removed. In these instances, it is easy to see why a couple would consider surrogate motherhood, as there is still a very real desire to have children, but the woman in the hopeful family is not biologically capable.

How Does Cancer or Its Treatment Affect the Need for a Surrogate Mother?

Cancer or its treatment can affect the need for a surrogate mother because certain types of cancer, such as fallopian, uterine, or ovarian cancer, directly impact a woman’s ability to conceive and carry an infant to term. Additionally, cancer treatments like radiotherapy or chemotherapy can have effects on the uterus that make pregnancy inadvisable, even if the reproductive system itself is not directly affected by the cancer.

In other cases, cancer may not directly affect a woman’s reproductive system. However, the cancer treatment itself may. Depending on the area of cancer treatment, different methods such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy have effects on the uterus that make it inadvisable for a woman to attempt getting pregnant.

Uterine Structural Problems

There may be medical situations where a woman’s uterus is diagnosed as having a “structural issue” due to genetics, or an illness. While the uterus is present and more or less functioning as intended, it may have vulnerabilities that put both the woman and potential child at risk as the pregnancy progresses. If these warnings are ignored, it can lead to serious medical complications, such as impacting the developing baby’s health or even leading to outright miscarriage. Women who ignore the medical advice to give special consideration in a uterine structural problem are taking a very large risk with the life of a child.

Heart Disease

Believe it or not, a woman diagnosed with a heart condition can put herself and a child at risk by gambling on a pregnancy. A woman who is pregnant will experience increased demands on the heart as there’s a need for more blood, more oxygen and more delivery of nutrients for the growing baby. Depending on the type of condition a mother has, the strain of supporting a growing infant can lead to congested heart failure. In some instances, the heart condition may lead to factors that can put the child at risk of growing safely in the uterus.

Can Personal Preference Be a Reason to Use a Surrogate Mother?

Yes, personal preference can be a reason to use a surrogate mother, particularly for hopeful families with financial means who may not have the time or desire to go through a standard birth process. This can include avoiding time off from work, a sizable commitment of energy and resources, or a wish for a more controlled pregnancy process, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or gender selection. After a carefully monitored period with a surrogate mother, the family can bring a new child into their lives without the major disruption that comes from pregnancy.

Yes, personal preference can be a reason to use a surrogate mother, particularly for hopeful families with financial means who may not have the time or desire to go through a standard birth process. This can include avoiding time off from work, a sizable commitment of energy and resources, or a wish for a more controlled pregnancy process, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or gender selection. After a carefully monitored period with a surrogate mother, the family can bring a new child into their lives without the major disruption that comes from pregnancy.