It’s normal for people who start lifelong relationships to decide the next phase of that partnership should be to usher in a new generation and start a family. Unfortunately, the conventional approach of a woman allowing herself to become pregnant isn’t always the most feasible path for couples to take. Some women, for example, have medical circumstances, such as an illness that would put both themselves and a baby at risk during a pregnancy. Others have had surgical procedures done to win the battle against cancer at the cost of removing the uterus that makes pregnancy possible.
Fortunately, there are now viable alternatives for couples instead of having to accept a childless relationship. Adoption is, of course, one route, but the other is surrogacy, where another woman that has been medically approved agrees to become pregnant on behalf of a couple. Once the baby is born, the infant then meets the new hopeful parents so that a new life together as a family can begin.
Surrogacy centers often play an important role in facilitating the success of this process for hopeful families. However, it is international surrogacy centers, in particular, such as undertaking surrogacy in Georgia, that garner a lot of interest, and there are reasons for that.
Domestic Isn’t Always Viable
Two of the undeniable factors involved in using international surrogacy centers are that they will require more time and more money. This is especially true with considerations such as travel and accommodation. However, despite the added time and expense costs international surrogacy centers may add, there are additional factors that may make the prospect of surrogacy in the country of residence difficult or even impossible.
One of the considerations at the forefront is the legal status of surrogacy in any given country. While surrogacy is an age-old technique, the legality of surrogacy varies. Some countries, such as France and Germany, for example, bar surrogacy completely. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom or Canada, permit only “altruistic surrogacy.” This is where the woman agrees to become a surrogate mother on a voluntary basis. There may be some coverage of living and medical expenses as the pregnancy progresses, but there is no further remuneration. Countries in which surrogacy is strictly volunteer like this tend to have a much smaller pool of suitable and willing surrogacy candidates.
However, in other countries, “compensated surrogacy” is legally permitted. This type of surrogacy rewards the surrogate mother with significant financial recognition, in addition to having medical and living-related expenses covered. Because of the financial gain in such countries, there is often a much larger pool of available and medically suitable surrogate mother candidates.
For hopeful couples who don’t want to wait months or even years for a chance to start a family, working with an international surrogacy center can mean saving a lot of time.
Lower Expenses
Another significant factor that can often justify the expense of travel to an international surrogacy center is lower overall costs for the surrogacy process. For example, while compensated surrogacies are legal in the United States, the living standards in the United States mean women who make themselves available expect much higher compensation.
Due to the significant differences in currency and living standards in other countries, working with an international surrogacy center in the right region can result in lower costs for surrogacy compensation and even for actual living expenses and medical treatment. This can be crucial if there’s a need for more demanding medical procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or related procedures, such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) if there’s a risk of congenital family diseases being passed on, and a desire to eliminate this possibility.
Quality Medical Care
For some couples, these lower costs and other differentiating factors can lead to easier access to better-quality medical staff and treatments. Surrogacy in Georgia, for example, can yield access to world-class medical professionals, as well as lab and medical facilities that are on par with similar facilities in the United States and other countries around the world.
Quality medical staff and facilities are crucial components of any successful surrogacy. The odds of achieving this are better in countries with extensive surrogacy experience and even the legal structure required to protect the rights of both surrogate mothers and the hopeful family who will gain legal custody of the newborn.
Consider Your Options
Choosing to work with an international surrogacy center requires more thought and planning than deciding to remain in your country of residence. However, selecting the international option may open up better and more cost-effective options for successful surrogacy.
If you’re thinking about working with an international surrogacy center, carefully research both the countries and the possible surrogacy centers you want to work with. This will ensure that you get results that align with the goals and hopes you have for starting a new family.