Date Added: September 20, 2011 02:56:59 PM

Since surrogacy is considered illegal in certain countries, childless couples who wish to fulfill their dreams of having a baby are left with no option but to opt for surrogacy abroad. Countries such as India and Armenia consider certain types of surrogate arrangements as legal, and even protect the rights of the intending parents so that there are fewer legal battles after the birth of the baby. Gestational surrogacy in India is in high demand in particular.

 

Plenty of people consider surrogacy abroad as a means by which they can complete their families. Over the past few decades, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding surrogate pregnancy. While some consider it a blessing, others look at it as an immoral and unethical act.

 

Those suffering from infertility and those who cannot conceive the natural way benefit through surrogate arrangements. Gay couples, heterosexuals who are not able to conceive, and singles who intend to become parents generally look for surrogate arrangements in an effort to bring home a newborn child.

 

Types of Surrogacy

 

There are many types of surrogacy arrangements. Ones that compensate the surrogate mother for carrying the baby to term are considered as commercial surrogacy arrangements. This form of surrogacy is not always considered legal. But places like India, Georgia and Ukraine consent for such arrangements to take place. The surrogate mother is compensated and her medical expenses are taken care of. However, she is expected to hand over the baby to the intending parents after childbirth. Other surrogacy arrangements which are carried out completely on compassionate grounds come within the purview of altruistic surrogate pregnancy.

Gestational surrogacy requires the intending mother or an egg donor to supply the eggs. This egg is fertilized by the sperm of the intending father through IVF. Once fertilized, the embryo is inserted into the surrogate mother’s womb. A child born through gestational surrogacy has no genetic link to the surrogate mother.

 

Considering Surrogacy Abroad?

 

Surrogacy in Asian countries like India, and Eastern European countries like Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine is popular among baby-desirous couples from foreign countries. The legal liberations and comparatively low expenditure are the reasons for growing surrogacy tourism in these countries

There are plenty of surrogacy clinics in Eastern Europe and India that help client parents find surrogate mothers. Most of these clinics generally pre-screen surrogate mothers by making them undergo medical tests. In some instances, potential surrogate mothers are required to have at least one child of their own before they sign up for surrogacy.

 

Since Indian surrogate mothers are healthy and don’t have many vices like drinking and smoking, they are more likely to carry the baby to term. The Indian surrogacy journey began in 2002, when the Supreme Court of India recognized commercial womb-for-rent in India as legit. The cost of surrogacy in India can be quite low as compared to costs of such arrangements in other countries.

 

There are plenty of reputed surrogacy hospitals and clinics in India to choose from. So, commissioning parents can access high quality healthcare without worrying about the cost.

 

Surrogacy abroad is a viable option for many but since every country has its own laws governing surrogacy and adoption, commissioning parents should find out more about the legal status put forth by their country before traveling overseas. Some countries require specific documentation in order to recognize the commissioning parents as the legal parents of the child. Parents are therefore urged to leave no stone unturned regarding their assessment of gestational womb-for-rent as a way of embarking on a journey to parenthood.