Surrogates and gestational carriers are similar, and they both may be an option for families to use when they cannot have children naturally. But there are some significant differences.
One important thing to note is that a gestational carrier is not biologically related to the child and shares no genetics with them. Instead, doctors can take an egg from the mother and sperm from the father and use them to create a fertilized embryo. Using in vitro fertilization, this embryo is then implanted in the gestational carrier, who brings the child to term. But since both the sperm and the egg were from other sources—the child’s intended parents—the carrier is not technically related to the child in any sense.
This is different from some other approaches, such as when a surrogate uses her own eggs and accepts a sperm donation to become pregnant. In that case, although the intended parents may still have parental rights and take over full custody of the child after birth, the surrogate would technically be genetically related to the child because the egg came from her.
How can these technologies help?
The development of reproductive technologies over the years has created many new options for those who want to be parents but have encountered complications. Perhaps they’ve struggled with fertility or carrying a viable pregnancy. These options can also help same-sex couples who are unable to have children naturally but still want to expand their families and be loving parents.
If you are interested in exploring these technologies and learning more about your options, it can help to have the guidance of an experienced law firm while you do so.