Common myths around surrogacy

Common Myths Around Surrogacy in the USA and Key Tips to Tackle Them!

25 Aug 2023 Surrogacy, Surrogacy laws ,

Surrogacy itself is a big blessing for millions of individuals and couples across the globe. Yet, this practice is constantly surrounded by random myths and misinterpretations. While most of these myths are baseless, few of them have been encouraged due to the lack of awareness among people around them. In the coming parts of this blog, we will talk about a list of such myths along with related facts about surrogacy in the USA.

Common myths around surrogacy

Myth 1: Surrogacy is Illegal in the USA.

Fact: Surrogacy is legal in the United States of America, but laws and regulations vary from state to state. Moreover, commercial surrogacy in the United States is also legal, again with the variation within the states.

Moreover, a few states have inclusive laws that support surrogacy, whereas others have restricted or no laws at all.  That said, it’s fundamental for intended parents and surrogates to work with legal specialists who are well-versed in the surrogacy laws of their particular state to explore the method legally and securely.

Common myths around surrogacy

Myth 2: Surrogacy is only a procedure made for the riches

Fact: Surrogacy can be expensive, but it isn’t solely for the wealthy people. That said, the cost of surrogacy incorporates compensation for the surrogate, medical costs, legal expenses, and agency fees, among others. In any case, there are different financial options and resources accessible to assist intended parents in managing surrogacy, such as instalment plans, loans, grants, and insurance coverage. This is where it’s vital to investigate these choices to make surrogacy more accessible to everyone.

Myth 3: Surrogates are forced into this practice

Fact: Ethical surrogacy is continuously based on the principles of consent and values. Moreover, surrogates eagerly opt to become gestational carriers and go through a proper screening process. Besides, they have the right to choose their intended parents and enter into a legal contract that outlines their rights, obligations, and compensation. So, according to the international surrogacy laws in the USA, any such coercion is not permitted.

Myth 4: Surrogates are encouraged in this practice due to money

Fact: While surrogates do get compensation for their time, efforts, and the risks included in pregnancy, their inspiration goes beyond monetary reasons. That said, numerous surrogates are driven by the urge to assist others make families and get through the bliss of parenthood. Besides, emotional and altruistic reasons often play a critical part in their choice to become a surrogate via commercial surrogacy in the United States.

altruistic surrogacy agency

Myth 5: Surrogacy is the same as “Womb Renting

Fact: The term “renting a womb” could be a misinterpretation and misrepresents the surrogacy procedure. Besides, surrogates are not “rented” but are regarded and compensated for their valuable role in helping others have kids. Moreover, surrogacy may be a collaborative effort between intended parents and surrogates built on trust, kindness, and shared objectives.

Myth 6: Surrogates are biologically related to the child.

Fact: In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate isn’t genetically related to the child she carries. Moreover, the embryo is created from the intended parents’ or donors’ egg and sperm and is then implanted into the surrogate’s uterus. Also, this implies that the child is biologically related to the intended parents or donors, and not the surrogate.

Myth 7: Surrogacy is an assured way of having a baby

Fact: Whereas surrogacy via an altruistic surrogacy agency comes with a good success rate, it isn’t without its challenges. Moreover, variables such as the quality of the embryo, the surrogate’s health, and other medical factors can impact the outcome. That said, success isn’t ensured, and it may require different endeavours.

Myth 8: Surrogates have no emotional association with the child.

Fact: Surrogates often frame emotional bonds with the baby they carry, indeed in spite of the fact that they are not biologically related. Moreover, this emotional connection could be a confirmation of the care and love surrogates bring to the procedure. Besides, intended parents and surrogates work together to set up boundaries and keep up open communication all through the journey.

Myth 9: Surrogacy is only meant for the heterosexual couples

Fact: Surrogacy is accessible to all people and couples, irrespective of their sexual preference or sexual orientation character. Moreover, same-sex couples and single individuals often turn to surrogacy to create their families. Also, the key is finding an appropriate surrogate and connecting with a trusted altruistic surrogacy agency.

Myth 10: Surrogacy is highly secretive

Fact: Surrogacy can be as private or as open, depending on the preferences of the involved parties. Moreover, a few families choose to keep the process secret, whereas others embrace openness and keep up continuous connections with their surrogates. Regardless, it’s a personal choice, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

international surrogacy laws

How to deal with all the Myths and Misconceptions around surrogacy?

While we just talked about all the myths and misconceptions around commercial surrogacy in the USA, let’s talk about the best ways to deal with them

  1. Educate Yourself

The first step in dealing with surrogacy myths is to educate you about the procedure. To do that, look for dependable sources of data such as books, websites, or medical experts who specialize in surrogacy. Moreover, learning the facts will enable you to counter any myths with exact information.

  1. Connect with the experts

Counselling with specialists within the field of surrogacy, including fertility experts, surrogacy agencies, and legal experts, can give you profitable bits of knowledge and guidance. Besides, they can assist you in exploring the surrogacy journey and ward off any misconceptions about commercial surrogacy in the United States.

  1. Connect with support groups

Joining support groups for intended parents, egg donors, surrogates, or those fascinated by surrogacy can be incredibly useful. Moreover, these groups give a secure space to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from others who have gone through the surrogacy procedure. Besides, hearing real-life stories can offer assistance to dispel all those myths.

  1. Open Communication

Compelling communication with your surrogate or intended parents is significant. Moreover, building up a solid bond and open exchange can offer assistance in exposing these common myths around surrogacy by cultivating belief and understanding. Also, being honest about your sentiments and desires can lead to a smoother surrogacy journey.

  1. Be prepared to educate others

Surprisingly, surrogacy myths may come from companions, family, or associates who may not completely understand the procedure. Hence, you must be prepared to educate them by sharing exact details and individual experiences. By doing so, you’ll offer assistance to counter such myths in your own social circle.

  1. Utilize Public Resources

When sharing information about surrogacy via an altruistic surrogacy agency or checking it online, utilize true and legitimate sources. Moreover, search for organizations, medical experts, and surrogacy agencies that give precise and up-to-date data. Besides, stay wary about depending on unsubstantiated data from informal websites or social media.

  1. surrogacy mythsLook for legal guidance

Legal issues related to surrogacy can be complex, and myths related to International surrogacy laws can be deceiving. This is where counselling with a lawyer who specializes in reproductive law is basic. That said, these experts can assist you regarding the legal viewpoints of surrogacy in your particular area and guarantee that all parties’ rights are ensured.

  1. Focus on the Positive Stories

Whereas it’s basic to address common myths around surrogacy and misinterpretations, it’s also critical to focus on the positive stories and experiences of those who have effectively gone through surrogacy. Moreover, these stories can revive trust and give a more precise viewpoint on the surrogacy journey.

  1. Opt for surrogacy awareness

Consider pushing for surrogacy awareness in your community or through social media forums. Moreover, by sharing your surrogacy experience or supporting organizations that advocate surrogacy awareness, you’ll contribute to dispersing myths and misconceptions.

Final words

Surrogacy within the United States of America could come as a legal, ethical, and emotional way for individuals and couples to realize their dreams of parenthood. While it comes with challenges, understanding the truths behind the common myths around surrogacy can help intended parents and surrogates make educated choices.

Besides, surrogacy may be a collaborative journey that incorporates the values of belief, sympathy, and shared trust in the long run. Besides, it has brought delight and joy to numerous families and serves as a perfect way of bringing that most awaited happiness in the intended parent’s lives.

Surrogacy laws in Asia: Which country is most favourable for your surrogacy aspirations?

15 Apr 2023 Surrogacy laws

Surrogacy laws in Asia vary from country to country. While a country like India allows surrogacy for only local citizens, china, on the other hand, completely bars the practice within its legal territories. That said, we will take you through the legal aspects of surrogacy in various Asian countries in the following sections of the blog.

Surrogacy laws in Asia

Surrogacy in India

The existing laws regarding surrogacy in India only permit local citizens to practice surrogacy in the country. Besides, it puts a ban on the practice by international couples or individuals. On July 15, 2019, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, introduced the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha. The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice in which a woman bears a child for another person with the intention of later giving the child to the intended parents.

  • Surrogacy is regulated by the Bill, which forbids commercial surrogacy but permits charitable surrogacy. Apart from covering her pregnancy-related medical costs and insurance, the surrogate mother in an altruistic surrogacy is not paid financially.
  • On the other side, surrogacy is legal if it is used for the following reasons: (i) intended couples with documented infertility; (ii) altruistic reasons; (iii) not for profit; (iv) not to produce children for prostitution, sale, or other forms of exploitation; and (v) for any condition or disease that has been specifically listed by regulations.
  • A “certificate of essentiality” and a “certificate of eligibility” issued by the proper authority are required for an intending couple to be eligible.
  • The following requirements must be met in order for a certificate of essentiality to be granted: (i) a District Medical Board certificate proving the infertility of one or both members of the intended couple; (ii) a Magistrate’s court order granting parentage and custody of the surrogate child; and (iii) insurance coverage for the surrogate for postpartum complications for a period of 16 months.
  • The certificate of eligibility to the intending couple is given upon fulfilment of the following requirements: (i) the couple must be Indian citizens and have been married for at least five years; (ii) the wife must be between the ages of 23 and 50, and the husband must be between the ages of 26 and 55; (iii) they must not have any living children (biological, adopted, or surrogate), with the exception of children who are mentally or physically challenged, or suffer from a life-threatening disorder.

Surrogacy in China

surrogacy laws in AsiaSurrogacy in China is currently prohibited under the ruling issued by the existing government. Moreover, any type of surrogacy-related practice is banned under the law. So, anyone violating the same would be subject to harsh legal punishments.

While surrogacy in China is banned, people are forced to choose other destinations while analyzing the existing surrogacy laws in Asia.

The development of surrogacy technology has given hope to families affected by reproductive disorders. The country’s current surrogacy laws show how vehemently opposed China has always been to surrogacy, but it is still widely practised. Besides, the departmental surrogacy policy has a legal loophole because it’s not clear what will happen if anyone breaks the rules. On the other hand, a developed hierarchy for supervision and implementation is still lacking in China.

Moreover, the administrative special rectification component of the surrogacy monitoring system is all that is in place; there is no deterrent or prevention system. This is where most of the experts examine illegal surrogacy in China, review the nation’s current surrogacy regulatory framework from the perspectives of legislation and supervision, and make some suggestions for amendments in order to address the legal issues raised by surrogacy.

Surrogacy in Thailand

Surrogacy is legal in Thailand, but only for heterosexual couples who are regarded as legally wed in that country. However, undergoing international surrogacy in Thailand requires a minimum of three years of marriage in cases of international marriage.

Moreover, if you are an international citizen and planning to pursue surrogacy in Thailand, you have to legally wed a local citizen before getting along with your surrogacy plans. If that’s not a possibility, you may switch to other destinations where surrogacy is permitted in Asia.

Congress approved the “Protection of Children Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technologies Act” (B.E. 2558) in November 2014, and it was published in the Royal Gazette in May 2015 before going into effect on July 30th, 2015 (Whittaker 2016). According to the new law:

  • Trade in gametes and embryos is forbidden, as is commercial surrogacy.
  • Acts of brokering and encouraging unauthorized reproduction are forbidden.
  • Gametes and embryos cannot be exported or imported.
  • Only heterosexual couples who are regarded as legally wed in Thailand are eligible to use a surrogate; in the case of an international union, a minimum of three years must have passed since the wedding.
  • The intended parents’ legal children will be the child.
  • In theory, relatives should be used to choose surrogate mothers.
  • The Medical Council of Thailand should decide on a fair compensation amount for the surrogate mother.
  • The penalty for violators is either imprisonment or a fine.

surrogacy laws in Asia

Surrogacy in Cambodia

In November 2016, the Cambodian ministry published a Prakas announcing the country’s new ban on embryo transfer surrogacy. Moreover, legal experts claim that the current ban falls short of the actual surrogacy laws. That said, surrogacy has been completely banned in Cambodia. Moreover, the declaration made by the Cambodian Ministry bans additional ART infertility treatments that involve surrogacy.

For instance, IVF procedures may continue, oocytes may be imported or exported from the nation, embryos may be produced, and they may be transferred to the intended mother. However, it is not permitted to transfer embryos to a surrogate mother.

Surrogacy in Laos

In Laos, there is no surrogacy legislation as of now. As a result, surrogacy is still practised in this part of the world with the help and support of various surrogacy agencies. Moreover, due to the ban on commercial surrogacy in Thailand and Cambodia, Laos has emerged as the preferred location for intended parents to schedule surrogacy. On the other hand, gay couples typically choose surrogacy in Thailand or Laos when they are from nearby Asian nations.

That said, in Laos, the cost of surrogacy — including IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy services — ranges from $60,000 to $80,000.

Final words

Surrogacy laws in Asia certainly speak volumes about the strict regulations put through by the respective nation’s governments. So, if you are an intended parent pursuing surrogacy in any of these Asian countries, we would recommend you consult with a trusted surrogacy agency.

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