Traditional Surrogacy – What is It

Traditional surrogacy has its own questions and answers, if you think that it’s something you are considering, this article should help you explore this type of surrogacy, the process and legalities. It will also teach you how to become a traditional surrogate mother. However, it is good to know that traditional surrogacy is not widely practiced in most countries with regulated surrogacy programmes due to the legal, emotional, and ethical risks. Today, gestational surrogacy is the medically preferred method and many agencies do not support or offer traditional surrogacy, including ours.

What is Process

Traditional surrogacy is one of the types that you can choose and it is a form of assisted reproduction. Many women choose to be a surrogate and it is a very selfless choice. A woman would use her own egg to become pregnant and carry a baby for someone else. It differs from gestational surrogacy as under this type the surrogate has no genetic link to the child. A traditional surrogacy is both the biological and birth mother.

The way it is achieved is via artificial insemination as it uses the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm. Once the surrogate is pregnant and carries the baby to term, she gives birth and then legally gives up her parental rights.

Finding a Surrogate

In traditional surrogacy, intended parents have to find the surrogate themselves. Sometimes, intended parents will know the woman they want to work with, such as a friend, sister, or close relative. However, there are options to find a traditional surrogate through an agency, online platforms, or matching services.

It’s important to make sure that any surrogate passes a number of evaluations before the process starts including medical screening, psychological assessments, background and social history reviews.

Steps Before Surrogacy Can Proceed

Prior to the insemination procedure, they have to follow a number of steps. Firstly, a legal contract should be drafted to define the parental rights, custody, and the financial arrangements between the intended parents and surrogate. Secondly, a fertility clinic or doctor prepares the surrogate and intended parents for the cycle. Lastly, emotional counselling should be provided to everyone involved.

This type of surrogacy requires everyone to have full consent, be transparent, and a lot of careful planning.

Medical process

In order for the surrogate to get pregnant, she will have sperm inserted using a thin, flexible catheter into her uterus during ovulation which we call intrauterine insemination (IUI). In this instance, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) isn’t required unless absolutely necessary.

When she becomes pregnant, the surrogate receives prenatal care and prepares herself for the birth of the child. She may be offered support from a surrogate case manager or agency, depending on the agreements made at the beginning of the process.

Psychological Concerns

There are psychological concerns surrounding traditional surrogacy for a number of reasons, but in this type it is particularly important to pay attention to the surrogacy and assess her psychological state throughout the journey due to the genetic connection. It can cause a number of psychological issues like emotional detachment, bonding concerns, and a potential regret of being a surrogate. All of these should be addressed before and during the process with a licensed mental health professional.

The Main Difference between Gestational and Traditional Surrogacy

There are significant differences between traditional and gestational surrogacy. We already know in traditional surrogacy there is a genetic link between the surrogate and the baby, but in gestational surrogacy there is not a genetic link. Another difference between the two is the procedure used. In traditional, it is artificial insemination with an IUI, but with gestational the procedure is IVF and embryo transfer. Legal complexity in traditional surrogacy is often more complicated, whilst in gestational it has more established frameworks. The final difference between the two is the popularity between the two, gestational is more widely used today and traditional is less common.

Legal Issues Surrounding Natural Traditional Surrogacy

A common question that people ask relating to traditional surrogacy is, is traditional surrogacy legal? The answer to this largely relies on where you live. In the U.S., some state laws vary and it is the same in other countries. In some, court approval is required as well as detailed contracts, however, in others, it may be banned or highly restricted.

The key aspects to cover when you are thinking of traditional surrogacy is the termination of the surrogate’s parental rights, establishing the legal rights for intended parents, custody agreements, and if compensation is allowed or only altruistic surrogacy is permitted.

Each party should have their own legal professionals and sign a binding agreement before any medical procedure begins.

How Much Does It Cost

A reason that people tend to use traditional surrogacy is due to the costs involved as they are lower than gestational surrogacy. The cost for traditional ranges between $50,000 and $90,000, it can depend on the medical procedures needed, legal services, prenatal and delivery expenses and if compensation will be included.

Some traditional surrogate mothers are happy to work on a non-compensated (altruistic) basis, especially if they are relatives or close friends.

Risks and Complications of Natural Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy is considered to be more natural, however, there are several medical, emotional, and legal risks involved. We have already mentioned that emotional attachment to the child due to the genetic relation but there are others we must consider. Some of these factors are legal disputes if the surrogate wants to keep the baby, a greater psychological burden compared to gestational surrogacy, insecurities in the parental rights if the legal documents aren’t completed correctly and the medical risks of pregnancy, as with any pregnancy.

The risks and complications is why agencies suggest gestational over traditional surrogacy, but some families still choose the traditional route for personal or financial reasons.

Historical Context of Traditional Surrogacy

There is a long history relating to traditional surrogacy as this was the only form of surrogacy prior to IVF becoming available and the development of gestational surrogacy.

Some of the earliest documented surrogate arrangements were private, family-based, and informal, often involving relatives helping each other build a family. With the rise of ART (assisted reproductive technology), gestational surrogacy became more common, especially due to reduced legal complexity and emotional distance.

Despite the fact that traditional surrogacy is declining, it still remains legal and viable in a number of places.

Why Would I Need a Surrogate?

There are multiple reasons as to why you may consider a traditional surrogacy. People choose traditional surrogacy when IVF is not an option or has repeatedly failed, to avoid high IVF costs, to have a surrogate who is willing to use her own eggs, religious or ethical reasons and single men or same-sex male couples who do not have access to egg donors separately.

The process should always start with medical advice and legal consultation no matter what the reason is.

Is Traditional Surrogacy Right for Me?

This is a good question to consider as this method of surrogacy is not for everyone. It’s a much deeper emotional and legal process than gestational surrogacy. However, it is good to know that many families have successfully built a loving home through traditional arrangements.

If you are looking for surrogacy to be more personal to you, affordable and have a strong relationship with a potential surrogate, this may be the right option. But you must make sure you understand all the legal risks involved, choose an experienced lawyer, consider having psychological counselling and respect all the parties’ wellbeing.

It’s a unique path to parenthood and with the right planning and support, it can be safe, legal and life changing!