Can I use both Egg Donor and Sperm Donor for my Surrogacy Journey?
Technically, yes, it is possible to use both an egg donor and a sperm donor for surrogacy, however, it is not recommended in the case of international surrogacy. Matter of fact, most surrogacy programs are carried out with at least one genetic link with the baby. Gestational surrogacy is a long and complex procedure in which a lady carries (known as the carrier or surrogate mother) and gives birth to a baby for another single person or couple (can be a hetero couple or same-sex couple). Using both an egg donor and sperm donor is possible for those intended parents, who do not have healthy eggs/sperm due to age or medical reasons. In this article, we will discuss if you can use both Egg Donor and Sperm Donor for your Surrogacy Journey.
There are a few different ways that egg and sperm donation can be used in a surrogacy arrangement. One option is for the intended parents to use donated eggs and their own sperm, or donated sperm and their own eggs. Another option is for the intended parents to use both donated eggs and donated sperm, in which case the resulting child would not be biologically related to either intended parent.
Before opting for the surrogacy process with or without genetic connection, it is important to carefully consider all of the legal, emotional, and financial implications of using egg and sperm donation in a surrogacy arrangement. It is also essential to work with experienced professionals, such as fertility doctors, surrogacy agencies, and surrogacy attorneys, to ensure that the process is carried out in a responsible and ethical manner.
What is surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a third-party reproductive process, in which a young and healthy woman carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple. Mainly, there are 2 types of surrogacy journeys: gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy.
In the case of gestational surrogacy, embryos are created using in vitro fertilization (IVF). For this, the female partner’s eggs ( or sometime donor eggs) and the intended father’s sperms (sometimes donated sperms) are used to creating embryos. These embryos are then transferred to the surrogate mother in hope of implantation. So, in gestational surrogacy, the child is genetically related to the intended parents ( both of them or at least one parent), but not to the surrogate mother.
On the other hand, in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the intended father’s sperm, and the resulting child is genetically related to the surrogate and the intended father. Traditional surrogacy is emotionally challenging for surrogate mothers and having adequate legal protection is a must to avoid any change of mind in surrogate mothers. This form of surrogacy is not common and is not even allowed in many countries.
Surrogacy can be a complex and emotional process, and it is important for all parties involved to be fully informed and prepared for the potential risks and challenges. It is also essential to work with experienced professionals, such as fertility doctors, surrogacy agencies, and attorneys, to ensure that the process is carried out in a responsible and ethical manner.
What is egg donation?
Egg donation is a procedure where a young and healthy woman donates her eggs to be used in fertility treatment for infertile couples, who have been struggling to conceive with their own gametes. The eggs are fertilized with sperm, either through natural fertilization or through in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the resulting embryo(s) are transferred to the uterus of the intended mother or time to the surrogate mother.
Egg donation is often used as a treatment option for women who are unable to produce their own eggs or have eggs of poor quality. It may also be used in cases where the intended mother has a medical condition that makes pregnancy unsafe, or if the intended parents are a same-sex male couple.
Egg donation is a complex and emotional process, and it is important for both the egg donor and the intended parents to be fully informed and prepared for the potential risks and challenges. It is also essential to work with experienced professionals, such as fertility doctors, egg donor agencies, and reproductive attorneys, to ensure that the process is carried out in a responsible and ethical manner.
Why intended parents need an egg donor for IVF?
There are several reasons why a couple may need an egg donor for in vitro fertilization (IVF):
- Ovarian failure: If a woman has gone through menopause or has had her ovaries surgically removed, she will not be able to produce eggs.
- Poor egg quality: Some women may produce eggs that are not healthy enough to be fertilized or to result in a successful pregnancy. This can be due to a variety of factors, including age, genetics, and certain medical conditions.
- Absence of ovaries: Some women are born without ovaries or have had them surgically removed due to a medical condition. In these cases, an egg donor is needed in order to become pregnant.
- Same-sex male couple: If a same-sex male couple wishes to have a child, they will need to use an egg donor in combination with a surrogate.
What is sperm donation?
Sperm donation is the process in which a man donates his sperm to be used in fertility treatment or research. The sperm is used to fertilize an egg, either through natural fertilization or through in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the resulting embryo is transferred to the uterus of the recipient woman or surrogate.
Sperm donation is often used as a treatment option for couples who are unable to conceive due to male factor infertility, or for single women or same-sex female couples who wish to have a child.
Who needs sperm donation?
There are several groups of people who may need sperm donation:
- Couples experiencing male factor infertility: If a couple is unable to conceive due to problems with the male partner’s sperm, such as low sperm count or poor sperm quality, they may choose to use donated sperm in order to become pregnant.
- Single women: Some single women may choose to use donated sperm in order to become pregnant and have a child on their own.
- Same-sex female couples: If a same-sex female couple wishes to have a child, they may use donated sperm in combination with assisted reproduction techniques, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), to become pregnant.
More resources:
International surrogacy countries where surrogacy is legal
Top 4 cheapest countries for surrogacy that IPs should know
All you need to know about international surrogacy
It is possible to do International surrogacy in case you are using an egg donor and a sperm donor?
The laws and regulations concerning international surrogacy vary significantly from one country to another. In some countries, surrogacy is not allowed at all, while in others it is allowed but strictly regulated. In still other countries, only altruistic surrogacy is allowed.
In general, international surrogacy arrangements can be more complex and challenging than domestic surrogacy arrangements, due to the added legal and logistical issues that can arise when the intended parents and the surrogate are from different countries. It is important to carefully research and understand the laws and regulations of the country where the surrogacy will take place, as well as the laws and regulations of the intended parents’ home country.
As for the question of whether international surrogacy can be done if there is no genetic link between the surrogate baby and the intended parents, the answer depends on the laws and regulations of the country where the surrogacy will take place. In some countries, surrogacy is only allowed if the intended parents are genetically related to the child, while in others it is allowed regardless of the genetic relationship.
Can I use both Egg Donor and Sperm Donor for my Surrogacy Journey? To conclude, what is important to know is that some countries like the USA do ask for a DNA test of the baby to confirm the genetic link with at least one parent and then give the citizenship by descent. So, if no genetic link it might be complex to take the baby back, or else the baby must get citizenship from the surrogate side. There are a few countries like Colombia, Argentina, and the USA, where babies can get the citizenship of the surrogate mother/birth mother. It is important to carefully research and understand the specific surrogacy laws and regulations of the country where the surrogacy will take place.
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 consulting services for FREE.
