Surrogacy can be a challenging journey for many individuals because of the complexities and misunderstandings it may generate. These often result in damaging stereotypes and misconceptions about the nature of surrogacy. Dealing with these preconceived notions can be quite difficult.
Gaining a clearer understanding of the surrogacy process can help people who are considering it distinguish between the actual procedure and the misconceptions.
4 untrue things you hear about surrogacy
Below are several prevalent misconceptions that regrettably persist regarding surrogacy:
- Surrogacy is primarily associated with celebrities and affluent individuals: Although surrogacy is often used by celebrities, the vast majority of intended parents are regular individuals who have saved up for years to create a family, often after many failed attempts at natural conception or IVF.
- Surrogacy is unethical: Surrogacy is a practice in the United States that is both ethical and highly regulated. The rights and interests of surrogates and intended parents alike are safeguarded to ensure that neither party is exploited.
- The surrogate may decide that they want to keep the baby: Fertility clinics generally mandate a psychological assessment for both intended parents and the surrogate or gestational carrier prior to finalizing a surrogacy agreement. Surrogates and gestational carriers understand from the outset that they will not possess legal parentage rights for the child.
- Women choose surrogacy due to vanity. They would rather not ruin their figure with a pregnancy: The majority of surrogacy situations consist of women who have exhausted all other options to conceive naturally without success. After facing significant health challenges, it often becomes an emotional decision. The majority of women who choose surrogacy would have preferred to be the ones to carry their child to term.
The reality of surrogacy is that it is a deep partnership between loving people who want to assist in family formation and those who desire to start a family. When you are ready to begin your surrogacy journey, legal assistance can help you move forward.