What’s the difference between traditional and gestational surrogacy

Even though surrogacy may be relatively new to some, the history of surrogacy dates back to biblical times where in the Book of Genesis a traditional surrogacy

agreement was made between Sarah and Hagar. Centuries have passed since then, as well as extensive advances in medicine; there are now two types of surrogacy – traditional and gestational. If you’re new to the world of IVF, read on to learn about these two different approaches to family building.

Traditional, also called ‘genetical’ surrogacy, refers to when a surrogate carrier

agrees to use her own oocytes, in addition to carrying a baby for an intended parent. Egg donation is not used in traditional surrogacy, as the surrogate uses her own eggs, essentially acting as both the egg donor and the carrier. In this way, the surrogate has a genetic link to the child she is carrying. In traditional surrogacy arrangements, the surrogate is artificially inseminated (IUI) with either the sperm of the intended father or donor sperm. After insemination, her eggs become fertilized, as they would naturally, hopefully leading to pregnancy and delivery. As the surrogate carrier is the biological mother of the child, legally she must relinquish her parental rights in order to avoid future legal complications for all concerned.
Nowadays, traditional surrogacy is not as common as gestational surrogacy, due to the complicated legal aspect and the emotional and ethical hardships this type of arrangement presents. Traditional surrogacy is an option most frequently sought by single men, same-sex male couples, and Intended Mothers of an advanced age or who cannot produce healthy eggs.

The cost involved for this type of surrogacy depends on several factors, including the country in which the surrogacy is taking place, agency involvement as well as the needs of the surrogate carrier. Usually, intended parents will be responsible for the following expenses, but some are variable and depend on the agreement in place between both parties.

• Surrogate carrier’s medical screenings and expenses • Artificial insemination (IUI)
• Attorney fees
• Prenatal hospital care

• Birth and delivery costs
• Insurance coverage
• Transportation allowance to and from medical appointments • Counselling costs
• Surrogate monthly and maternity allowances
• Surrogate compensation
• Other surrogate-related fees

Traditional surrogacy comes with advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few:

• Traditional surrogacy is usually less expensive than gestational surrogacy.
• Intended mothers do not need to undergo IVF processes as their eggs will not be harvested to create embryos.

• Traditional surrogacy is banned in many countries worldwide; it’s difficult to find agency support.
• A traditional surrogate is the biological mother of the child she is carrying and is legally protected should she change her mind and decide to exert her parental rights. The intended parents can be placed in a vulnerable position requiring extensive legal action in order to gain custody of their child.
• Most surrogate carriers are more comfortable with gestational surrogacy, where there is no genetic link, and prefer to be guided through the journey by an accredited agency.
• Intended mothers do not have the option of being biologically related to their children.

* Due to the factors above and many others, Be Parent does not support traditional surrogacy.

The cost of gestational surrogacy, similar to the traditional alternative, depends on several variable factors but involves all the same costs. In general, the total sum includes all necessary medical expenses, attorney fees, counselling costs, agency fees, surrogate living expenses and compensation. These expenses fluctuate; for example, the surrogate carrier’s monthly allowance may vary based on the city she lives in and, similarly, attorney fees may differ depending on state laws and legal processes.