A surrogate is a woman who carries and delivers a child for another individual or couple, who then become the child’s legal parents. Surrogacy can be arranged through various legal agreements and medical procedures, often involving assisted reproductive technology. For example, a gestational carrier has no genetic link to the child, as the embryo is created using the intended parents’ or donors’ gametes. A traditional surrogate, however, uses her own egg and is therefore the biological mother of the child.
This arrangement offers a pathway to parenthood for those unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. Reasons for pursuing surrogacy can include medical conditions affecting the uterus, infertility, same-sex couples desiring a biological child, and single individuals wishing to become parents. The history of surrogacy dates back to ancient times, but modern practices, involving in vitro fertilization and sophisticated legal frameworks, have become increasingly prevalent. This development has brought forth ethical and legal considerations regarding parental rights, the surrogate’s well-being, and the child’s welfare.
