Surrogacy & Assisted Reproductive Techniques in India

Surrogacy is an old method of having a child or children on behalf of another couple. Surrogacy in India is undergoing a period of modernization and advancement where the techniques used are less invasive. It is also aimed to provide a wide scoop for the numerous couples who can’t have children on their own. Surrogacy comes from a Latin word “Surrogatus” which means Substitution. Just like the term.

Surrogacy means carrying a pregnancy for nine months on behalf of another person or a couple. Due to the desire of babies and treating infertility, surrogacy has become commercial both in India and in other countries where the habit is practiced. In India, various regulations were formed and are still being formed to make surrogacy more beneficial or reduce the effects that arise from it.

The types of Surrogacy

There are mainly two of them;

1. Traditional surrogacy

This was the first type of surrogacy where the surrogate (carrier) is inseminated with the sperms from the intended father of the child. In this case, the surrogate is genetically connected to the child. This type is used where the intended couple (woman) has issues with the uterus or hysterectomy.
2. Gestational surrogacy

It is also termed as an IVF surrogacy where the eggs and the sperms are extracted from the intended parents and an IVF procedure is conducted for fertilization to occur. The best embryo is then transferred to the chosen surrogate’s uterus to implant and develop until the end of nine months. This results in a baby that is genetically connected to the couple and not to the surrogate.

When is surrogacy preferred?

When donor eggs or sperms are to be used- donor agencies facilitate this practice or an IVF centre. Eggs are harvested from a young lady 23-30 and fertilized in the laboratory. The success rate is 28-41% when donor eggs are used.

Surrogacy in India has also been helpful to women with cardiovascular problems, miscarriages, and those with deformities.

Women with ovarian issues, chronic diseases, and anovulation can also have a child through surrogacy.

Surrogacy in India has attracted a number of infertile patients due to the fact that surrogacy cost is low in India.

The procedure begins with stimulation ovulation in the surrogate and the intended mother. The procedure is performed depending on the type of surrogacy to be used. After the eggs have been extracted from the woman, the IVF procedure is conducted. The eggs are combined with the sperms in a Petri dish (either donor sperms or sperms from the father). After fertilization, the embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s uterus with the help of a catheter.