Altruistic Surrogacy Guide: The Complete Resource for Intended Parents

What is Altruistic Surrogacy| Altruistic Surrogacy Cost | How Does Altruistic Surrogacy Work

Altruistic surrogacy is a selfless act of carrying a child for another individual or couple without monetary compensation beyond reasonable expenses. It offers hope to prospective parents who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of altruistic surrogacy, addressing legal considerations, finding a surrogate, creating a surrogacy agreement, medical procedures, emotional support, and more.

Did you know that surrogacy dates back to biblical times? Interestingly, it is mentioned in the Old Testament that Abraham and his wife, Sarah had a child through surrogacy. This was the first documented record of an altruistic surrogacy procedure!

Many countries banned commercial surrogacy- like Canada, the UK, and Australia.  So, if you want to become a parent, altruistic surrogacy is your only option in these countries.

Other countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Mexico, and the USA ( some states), allow commercial surrogacy.

Before deciding what type of surrogacy is an ideal choice for you.  It is crucial that you find out more about it and weigh the pros and cons of this form of surrogacy.

What Is the Meaning of Altruistic Surrogacy?

So, what is altruistic surrogacy?

Definition of Altruistic Surrogacy: Altruistic surrogacy is a compassionate act where a woman, known as the surrogate, selflessly carries a child for the intended parents without receiving monetary compensation beyond reasonable expenses. Unlike commercial surrogacy, which involves financial transactions, altruistic surrogacy is rooted in the genuine desire to help others experience the joys of parenthood.

As in any surrogacy arrangement, the woman carries the child that is conceived by artificial insemination or IVF and then, gives the baby to the intended parents after its birth.

Altruistic Surrogacy vs. Commercial Surrogacy: Understanding the Differences

Altruistic gestational surrogacy stands in contrast to commercial surrogacy, where the surrogate is fairly compensated for her time, energy, sacrifices, and the physical and emotional challenges she encounters during the surrogacy journey. While both types of surrogacy share the same goal of helping intended parents achieve their dreams of having a child, the key difference lies in the absence of financial compensation in altruistic surrogacy.

Commercial surrogacy arrangement involves pre-determined monetary compensation for the surrogate mother that she receives during and after giving birth.

Also, for a commercial surrogacy arrangement, the surrogate is usually selected through a surrogacy agency. This surrogacy arrangement is strongly condemned by critics and it is also banned in several countries.

On the other hand, an altruistic surrogacy arrangement does not involve any pre-determined compensation. The intended parents simply bear the expenses of the medical procedure of pregnancy, antenatal care and baby birth, and post-follow-ups and legal parentage of the baby. The surrogate mothers in such a surrogacy form are usually close relatives or friends of the intended parents.

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The Process of Altruistic Surrogacy

The surrogacy process in altruistic surrogacy follows a similar trajectory to that of commercial surrogacy, with a few distinctive elements. Most often, intended parents in altruistic gestational surrogacy arrangements choose to work with surrogates who are already known to them, such as family members or close friends. This type of surrogacy is referred to as “identified surrogacy.”

Identified surrogacy offers a unique advantage as the intended parents and surrogate have already established a strong relationship before embarking on the surrogacy journey. This closeness and trust can be a source of great comfort and reassurance throughout the pregnancy. However, it is still crucial to engage the expertise of a surrogacy professional to guide both parties through the legal and medical requirements and provide necessary support along the way.

How Does Altruistic Surrogacy Work?

The process of surrogacy is generally the same for both surrogacy journeys.

However, intended parents in altruistic surrogacy arrangements work with surrogate mothers whom they know. An incredible amount of selflessness is required.  The women who volunteer their gestational services are usually siblings of the intended parents or other close friends and family members. But it is not true all the time!

Since the surrogate and intended parents already have found their match, this surrogacy arrangement is sometimes referred to as Independent Surrogacy. Here, the intended parents manage their full surrogacy journey themself without the assistance of a surrogacy agency.  That is why they can save the surrogacy agency fee, thus, leading to a lower overall cost.  But they need to do thorough research and give lots of time to carry out this long and complex surrogacy process themselves.

Most of the altruistic surrogacy process is independent surrogacy, but not always.  This is due to the reason that sometimes intended parents have financial limits, and it is much easier for them to find a surrogate within family/friends and then take care of the full program themselves.  This means, no involvement of a surrogacy agency is there.

Legal Considerations for Altruistic Surrogacy

Altruistic surrogacy is governed by various laws and regulations, which vary by jurisdiction. It is crucial to understand the altruistic surrogacy laws to ensure a smooth and legally compliant surrogacy journey. Consult with legal professionals experienced in surrogacy law to navigate the complex legal aspects and understand the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved.

Finding a Surrogate Mother for Altruistic Surrogacy

Finding the right surrogate is a significant step in the surrogacy process. Explore different avenues, such as online platforms and agencies specializing in altruistic surrogacy. Take time to build a connection and establish trust with potential surrogates to ensure a harmonious partnership. Independent surrogacy and altruistic surrogacy go hand-in-hand and most of the time the surrogate mother is matched with family and friends of the intended parents. 

What Is Altruistic Surrogacy Cost?

One of the notable advantages of altruistic surrogacy is its cost-effectiveness compared to commercial surrogacy. Since the surrogate does not receive compensation for her services, intended parents can save significantly on surrogate-related expenses. However, it is important to note that altruistic surrogacy still involves various costs and fees associated with the process.

Altruistic surrogacy arrangements are usually less expensive when compared to commercial surrogacy.

This is because the intended parents do not have to compensate the surrogate mother. However, despite these savings, there are important professional fees like a reproductive attorney and medical procedures involved in the process. 

Below given are some of the surrogacy costs that might apply to altruistic surrogacy.

• Medical and pregnancy expenses, such as artificial insemination or embryo transfer, fertility injections, and the costs of labor and delivery
• If a sperm or egg donor is needed, you will have to bear the donation fees
• Counseling expenses
• Attorney fees
• Agency fees, if surrogacy agency help is taken.
• Additional expenses including clothing, wages loss fee, maternity, and travel costs to take the surrogate to and from her appointments

The costs of altruistic surrogacy also vary depending on where you are living, the law of the state, and the cost of living. For a deeper understanding of the costs of surrogacy, it is best to discuss it with a surrogacy professional.

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Pros and Cons of Altruistic Surrogacy Arrangement

As with any major life decision, it is important to carefully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of altruistic surrogacy before proceeding. Here are some key points to consider:

Pros of Altruistic Surrogacy

• When compared to commercial surrogacy, it is less expensive as the intended parents do not have to pay the surrogate mother compensation.

• It is legal in many countries, but such countries are a handful.

• Intended parents feel much greater peace of mind as they know the surrogate mother personally.

Cons of Altruistic Surrogacy

• Altruistic surrogates are generally close family members or friends. Intended parents who do not want to pursue identified surrogates may find it very difficult to find a match through a surrogacy agency

• Altruistic surrogates may feel exploited or underappreciated at times. They may even feel pressured to enter into a surrogacy arrangement to help their friends or family members. Sometimes these situations can lead to hampering the relationship shared by the intended parents and the surrogate mother.

• When the surrogacy is not compensated for, intended parents might feel that they are not in total control of the process.

• Altruistic surrogacy is not promoted and is easily available.  There is a long waiting list of up to 1-2 years for such surrogate mothers.

• Altruistic surrogacy agencies are possible but most of these arrangements are independent. 

Conclusion

Altruistic surrogacy represents a beautiful opportunity to create a family through the love and support of a selfless surrogate. It is a decision that requires careful consideration, open communication, and emotional preparedness. Seek professional counseling and guidance to ensure that altruistic surrogacy is the right choice for you and your loved ones.

Altruistic surrogacy can be a rewarding and incredible experience for everyone involved.

For the intended parents, it is the most cost-effective way to achieve their parenthood dreams. For surrogate mothers, it is not a financial burden as most of the medical, work loss, and miscellaneous fee is paid by the intended parents.  Still, she has to put in a great amount of effort in terms of time and discomfort.

So, what type of surrogacy is best for you?  It can be only answered by hopeful parents as they need to evaluate their unique condition.

If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy services to build families for all.

FAQs about how does altruistic surrogacy works

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Resources Used:

https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/using-surrogate-mother

Surrogate.com

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/what-is-altruistic-surrogacy/article62110491.ece