If you’re starting your deep dive into learning more about surrogacy, you may have noticed in your research that terms like “gestational surrogacy” or “traditional surrogacy” keep coming up. But what do these terms mean, and what is the difference between the two?
This is a great question, and the difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy is actually huge.
Gestational surrogacy definition: When a gestational carrier (sometimes referred to as GC or surrogate) has no genetic relation to the child. A GC works with intended parents (IPs) who have their own embryos they would like to transfer into their GC in hopes it develops into a pregnancy. These embryos are created using their own sperm and eggs, or sometimes they are created using donated sperm or eggs. In some instances, IPs will use donated embryos that aren’t of the parents’ genetic makeup—but either way, the GC and the baby have no shared DNA. They are genuinely just buds who get to hang out with one another for 9(ish) months.
Traditional surrogacy definition: When a woman uses her own eggs in the surrogacy process. This means she will be viewed as a biological parent to the baby, and she would need to give up parental rights to the intended parents. This option isn’t widely practiced because of the legal implications that may arise. An additional concern is that a traditional surrogate may become emotionally attached to the child and may feel inclined to have a say in things such as termination throughout the pregnancy because of the genetic relationship between her and the child.
Gestational Surrogacy vs Traditional Surrogacy:
For some parents, there are certain pros and cons to either option. For an overview comparison between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy, use our helpful chart below:
It’s important to note that the majority of surrogacy agencies, including Surrogacy Is, only work with gestational surrogacy journeys. If you’re beginning your own surrogacy journey, this will be important to keep in mind when considering what you hope your journey will entail and whether you’re interested in having support from an agency.
The Benefits of Gestational Surrogacy
Fortunately, since there have been so many advances in the development of in vitro fertilization (IVF), gestational surrogacy has become the most common choice among hopeful parents and surrogates. Many future parents prefer gestational surrogacy because they take comfort in having more legal clarity when establishing their rights. Several GCs/surrogates also agree they prefer a gestational surrogacy journey because of the emotional complexities that may come up during a traditional surrogacy journey.
Surrogacy is a beautiful process. It allows hopeful parents to create the family they’ve always dreamed of. It also allows surrogates to feel empowered while financially benefiting their own family. One of the most important aspects of a surrogacy journey is making sure you have a solid foundation of information that will help you feel confident in your decisions throughout your journey. (You’re one step closer to building that foundation if you found yourself here. YAY!).
Where to Find More Surrogacy Information
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a surrogate or about the surrogacy process, find out more in our free Ultimate Surrogacy Guide. To access it, all you have to do is take our short qualifying quiz at surrogacy.is/life-changing-quiz. Afterward, our team will share login details so you can go through the first portion of the guide.
In Part 1, we’ll walk you through all the basic questions you have when considering whether to become a surrogate. Questions like… “How does the medical side of surrogacy work?” and “What is the normal compensation range for surrogates, and how do you decide what feels right?”
Once you’ve dug into all the information and decided to pursue a journey, you’ll gain access to Part 2 of the guide—which is packed with helpful tips and insights on everything from matching to what surrogacy milestones you should expect in every trimester. You won’t find a more detailed, knowledgeable guide out there!
Take the quiz now to get our Ultimate Surrogacy Guide.
