In vitro fertilization or IVF and surrogacy are two different ARTs (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) but thanks to legal advancements and increased openness, both can be combined to help childless couples.
What is IVF?
IVF or in vitro fertilization is a combination of medications and surgery. Firstly the woman who wishes to have a child has to take medications for making many of her eggs mature and ready to be fertilized. Her doctor then will take the eggs out of her body and mix them with sperm in a lab, so that the sperm can fertilize eggs. Then he’ll place one or more fertilized eggs into the patient’s uterus. If any of these eggs gets implanted in the lining of uterus, pregnancy takes place.
You can visit a good IVF centre in India or any country and get this process done, though there are many steps involved in it and the whole process can take several months, as sometimes it works on just the first try, but in many cases, more than 1 round of IVF may be required.
What is Surrogacy?
When a woman cannot carry a child or can’t undergo childbirth, she can make a legal agreement with a healthy woman who will carry and give birth to her child. This arrangement is known as surrogacy. Surrogacy in India or anywhere else is of two types – traditional and gestational or IVF surrogacy. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother has to undergo artificial insemination either by the intended father or an anonymous donor, and then she has to carry the baby to term.
What is IVF Surrogacy?
IVF surrogacy is a method in which the sperm and egg of the intended couple are fertilized in vitro and then the resulting embryo is transferred to a third-party surrogate mother because the intended mother cannot carry it and the surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and then gives birth to the child of the intended couple. Thus the child is genetically 100% related to both the parents.
Even single mothers can opt for IVF surrogacy. In that case, they may use their own egg and donor sperm. Same is true for LGBT couples if none of the partners is able to carry pregnancy herself.
Thus in IVF surrogacy, the gestational surrogate has no genetic bond to the child she carries. However, when gay couples use a gestational surrogate, they have to use donor eggs or even the eggs of the surrogate herself and in the latter case, it’s a traditional surrogacy and is not IVF surrogacy.
Why to Choose IVF Surrogacy?
IVF surgery is a ray of hope for couples when the woman cannot carry the pregnancy herself but the couple wants the child to share the genetics of both of them. Although a biological bond is not essential for family attachment, the desire to have one’s genetic heritage in one’s child is strong.
IVF surrogacy is useful for women who are medically unable to carry a child to term, but can still produce healthy eggs. The reason for being unable to carry a baby for some women can be a congenital issue with their uterus or if the uterus has been injured or has a disease or removed with a hysterectomy. Couples who undergo many unexplained miscarriages also choose IVF surrogacy. Some couples are advised not to attempt pregnancy because of certain medical problems like heart disease, diabetes or hypertension.
All in all, IVF surrogacy can bring a ray of hope to couples who have undergone recurrent distressful pregnancy losses or when other ART techniques have failed. Since the child is genetically not related to surrogate, IVF surrogacy is legally less complicated than traditional surrogacy.
If you or your loved ones are experiencing the sorrow of being childless, try IVF surrogacy and get blessed with a tiny bundle of joy.