There are a variety of reasons that Intended Parents may decide to turn to surrogacy as a pathway to parenthood. With the Pope Francis' recent comments on surrogacy 👎, it is so important to remember the reasons why people choose this pathway to parenthood.

1. Cancer Survivors

In best-case scenarios, Intended Parents with a cancer diagnosis can undergo fertility preservation before beginning cancer treatment. Depending on the type of cancer, some women will be able to carry a pregnancy following treatment and others will need a gestational carrier to help carry their embryo. The most common types of cancer that often result in pursuing surrogacy following treatment are breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and cervical cancer.

2. Same-Sex Couple or Single Parent

Intended Fathers, either a same-sex couple or a single parent will need a surrogate if they'd like a biological connection to their child. Since traditional surrogacy is not legal in most states, the most common arrangement is for the Intended Parents to create the embryos using donor eggs and then pursue gestational surrogacy (i.e., have a different woman carry the baby that is not biologically connected to the child).

3. Fertility Issues/Uterine Abnormalities

We could have a separate blog post on JUST the fertility issues because there are so many reasons that could cause one to turn to surrogacy. Fertility issues such as Asherman's Syndrome, Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, recurrent miscarriage, and the ever frustrating, unexplained infertility. Often in this category, it can be difficult for the Intended Parents to decide whether surrogacy is the best pathway to parenthood because they can be in a gray area.

There are also uterine abnormalities that will cause someone to need a surrogate. The most popular cause is MRKH Syndrome (Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Houser Syndrome), which is when the vagina and/or uterus is absent or not fully developed. If a woman had a hysterectomy she would also need a surrogate for a future pregnancy.

4. Mental Health

This category often comes as a surprise for most. If someone is undergoing mental health treatment and/or taking medication not safe for pregnancy, surrogacy is a wonderful option for them to still have a baby that is biologically theirs.

5. Pre-Existing Health Conditions

For many individuals, they have pre-existing health conditions that make carrying a pregnancy incredibly high-risk or even life-threatening. A few examples of health conditions that may warrant using a surrogate are auto-immune diseases, seizure disorders, heart disease and renal disease.

Whatever reason may lead you to surrogacy, we are here to support you every step of the way. Schedule a complimentary initial consultation; we cannot wait to meet you and support you on your journey to parenthood ❤️