Surrogacy can be defined as an arrangement in which one woman (the surrogate mother) agrees to bear a child for the intended parents and surrender it at birth.

Surrogacy is not a new idea - it is referred to in the bible and was widely practised in many ancient civilisations and, today, there are two types: -

Host (or Gestational) Surrogacy

The great breakthrough came in the 1970s when IVF treatment made it possible for the surrogate mother to carry the genetic child of both the intended parents.

This is known as Gestational or Host surrogacy. It is applicable when the female partner is fertile but unable to carry a pregnancy to term for some reason.

In an ideal situation, the embryo will be created from the gametes of both the intended parents and will be biologically theirs. In other cases, donor gametes may be used, but either approach ensures that there is no biological attachment as far as the surrogate mother is concerned - and this is a very important factor.

Traditional Surrogacy

The second type of surrogacy, which is becoming increasingly rare, is 'traditional surrogacy' (also known as 'straight surrogacy') which involves impregnating the surrogate mother with the sperm of the male partner.

This approach is suitable for some cases in which the intended mother is unable to produce eggs and the pregnancy is achieved by artificial insemination.

The main disadvantage is that any resulting child is biologically related to the surrogate mother and a half brother or sister to any children she may have. This involves risks that the surrogate mother forms an attachment and may not wish to part with the child. The other disadvantage is that the sperm used must be fully quarantined first and this is costly and takes time.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a consultation please feel free to contact a member of the Surrogacy Team at Bridge on 020 7089 1469 or by email at surrogacy@thebridgecentre.co.uk.

Please note that this website gives general information only and individual cases may vary. No legal advice is given and anyone considering or intending to participate in a surrogacy arrangement must take qualified legal advice on every aspect.