According to the World Health Organization, around 1 in 6 people around the globe are affected by infertility. Surrogacy provides an alternative to couples affected by infertility, those in same-sex relationships, and others who are looking for a way for their dream to become parents to come true.
Surrogacy success rates don’t have a single straight forward answer. Before delving into the success rates of different types of surrogacy arrangements, it paints a clearer picture to look into facts and statistics first.
Global Surrogacy Statistics And Trends
The global surrogacy market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.2% between 2021 and 2028. North America has the largest number of couples looking to surrogacy as a solution for starting a family. North American couples looking into surrogacy may have fertility struggles, they may be in same-sex partnerships, and some are single parents looking to start a family without a partner. A few important global surrogacy statistics as of 2022 are:
- The global surrogacy market has an estimated value of around $3 billion in 2022. This shows just how many couples (or individuals) are seeking surrogacy as a viable option for beginning or adding to their families.
- Gestational surrogacy accounts for about 90% of all surrogacy arrangements as of 2022.
- Gestational surrogacy has a success rate of about 75%.
- The cost of surrogacy can vary depending on the location and specific surrogacy arrangement being chosen.
- Surrogacy is highly regulated, with laws in place globally to protect surrogate mothers as well as the parents-to-be.
The Two Different Types Of Surrogacy Arrangements
When it comes to surrogacy arrangements, there are two most common types parents may choose from. These are gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy.
In gestational surrogacy, the intended parents donate their eggs and their sperm to create an embryo. Once this embryo is created artificially, it is then implanted into the uterus of the surrogate mother tasked with carrying the embryo until the birth. Roughly 90% of all surrogacy arrangements are of the gestational type. In this type of surrogacy, the surrogate mother has no genetic connection to the child, and they’re simply carrying the embryo for the term of the pregnancy. The genetic makeup of the child is entirely that of the intended parents.
With a term like “traditional surrogacy”, its easy to think that this would be the more popular sort, but traditional surrogacies make up only about 10% of all surrogacy arrangements. In a traditional surrogacy, the eggs used to create the embryo aren’t that of the intended parent, but of the surrogate mother instead. In these surrogacy arrangements, the surrogate mother will contribute half of the genetic makeup of the child. In some instances, this genetic link can lead to legal complications, making it the less popular choice when compared to gestational surrogacy arrangements.
There are some reasons why, however, a couple or an individual may choose traditional surrogacy. If the quality of a woman’s eggs is compromised or a male same-sex couple is seeking a surrogacy arrangement, they may opt for a traditional surrogacy for their best chance of success.
Success Rates For Surrogacy In The 2020s
Surrogacy, both traditional and gestational, has grown substantially more successful in recent years. As of 2022, gestational surrogacies have a pregnancy success rate of about 75%, and of this 75%, successful birth rates are as high as 95%.
How Does Surrogacy Work?
Once a couple or individual decides that surrogacy is the option for them, it’s time to learn a bit more about how does surrogacy work. First, they will decide if the traditional or gestational route is best for them, with most choosing to gestational. Then, it’s time to select a surrogate.
Selecting a surrogate mother will typically happen in one of two ways. First, a couple or individual may ask someone they already know and trust if they’d be interested in being a surrogate mother for them. The second, more common, way is to find a surrogate mother through an established and experienced clinic. The latter choice allows the couple or individual to screen, interview, and select a surrogate mother, and provides plenty of support throughout the surrogacy process.
Once the surrogate mother has been chosen, fertilization will occur. For gestational surrogacy, samples will be taken, an embryo created, and then the embryo placed into the uterus of the surrogate. For traditional surrogacy, only a sperm sample will need to be collected if the surrogate mother is using her own eggs. After the embryo has been implanted into the uterus, the developmental pregnancy period will begin. The surrogate mother will carefully monitor her health to ensure a safe and successful pregnancy.
If the child is born in a country different from the parents’ country of origin, it’s important to select a location with defined laws, like Georgia, and to recognize how valuable the support of a surrogacy clinic can be. With the support of a clinic, much of the legal considerations in terms of birth and citizenship will be taken care of without added stress on parents.