5 Mythbusters for Surrogates

A surrogacy journey is an emotional process and can bring up a lot of questions. And while the internet is a great source of information, it’s not always accurate. Here are the top 5 myths we see perpetuated about surrogacy and the real truth!

Myth: Why would you give up your own baby?! The surrogate is related to the embryo/fetus/baby.

Fact: Not usually! Usually the embryo is created from Intended Parent or donor gametes, not from the GC’s DNA. There is something called traditional (or genetic) surrogacy where they surrogate’s eggs are used but that is not nearly as common as gestational surrogacy where the surrogate is not at all related to the baby. The surrogate is not giving up anything, she is giving the baby back to their parents!

Myth: Anyone can become a surrogate.

Fact: A woman who wants to pursue surrogacy must meet a lengthy list of criteria developed by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). There are age and body mass index requirements and the surrogate must pass a physical, medical and psychiatric assessment. There must be a history of healthy pregnancies and a stable lifestyle. Other things that may also come into consideration is her reason for wanting to become a surrogate, her personality and views on life, spouse’s background, and level of commitment to the process. Anyone can want to be a surrogate, and while we appreciate that generous heart, not many actually qualify to become a surrogate.

Myth: I, as a surrogate, can request a low medication protocol for my surrogacy cycle. I really don’t like taking medications unless absolutely necessary. I don’t even like taking birth control.

Fact: Ultimately, the medication protocol is up to the physician selected by the intended parents. Low medication cycles are rare and typically only used when the surrogate’s body does not respond well to hormones. It’s very difficult to match you with intended parents if you are seeking to avoid all hormones during your transfer cycle. Most cycles contain birth control, Lupron, estrogen, and progesterone as they need to utilize them to help guide your body to be at the right place in a cycle to receive the 5 day old embryo. Every clinic and doctor match their protocol with the surrogate, making adjustments throughout the cycle to have the best possible chance for the embryo transfer to be successful. The Reproductive Endocrinologists as medical professionals are the ones who make the decisions about medications.

Myth: Surrogacy is a good way to develop financial stability; the base compensation can allow the surrogate to cover her own financial needs, such as housing and food for her family.

Fact: A surrogate must be financially stable before starting the process. Surrogate compensation is never guaranteed simply because a pregnancy cannot be guaranteed; therefore, it’s not wise to rely on the surrogacy compensation to meet basic living expenses. Many times a surrogate may have to pay for certain parts of this process and be reimbursed which can take at least a couple of days. We do not want to put anyone in the situation that they cannot meet basic living expenses due to this process.

Myth: I cannot use a midwife for a surrogate pregnancy.

Fact: Many intended parents are open to the concept of midwifery-based care provided by a Certified Nurse Midwife in the hospital. Using a birth center or a home birth is much harder for intended parents to accept due to the perceived risk with so many unknowns with this process. Remember, many intended parents have been through a lot of medical trauma to get to this point! While they want you to be comfortable, they really want everyone to be safe and healthy with a baby going home with them. This is something you can use as match criteria when selecting intended parents.

Do you have any more burning questions about surrogacy? We’re happy to help! Fill out our intake form and our team will be in touch within 48 hours to answer any and all questions you might have!