Some shout that this is a business and almost a slave trade. But in fact, surrogacy is a way to treat severe forms of infertility. Although the ethical side of this issue can be argued for a long time.
But we’re not talking about ethics today. Despite the fact that surrogacy has been practiced for more than a year, this method of treating infertility is shrouded in many myths – sometimes scary, sometimes downright ridiculous. Whether there is even a drop of truth in fears, we figure it out together with an expert.
gynecologist-reproductologist of the network of centers of reproduction and genetics “Nova Clinic”.
Myth 1. A surrogate mother sells her child
A surrogate mother does not sell her own child, but carries a baby who has no genetic relationship with her, in order to then pass it on to her parents. Russian laws explicitly prohibit a surrogate mother from being an egg donor at the same time.
Myth 2. A surrogate mother gives her child in a maternity hospital and writes a refusal
Once again, I would like to emphasize that the baby is not her child. The surrogate mother transfers the baby to the genetic parents, while signing the consent that they will be recorded as father and mother in his birth certificate.
Myth 3. It will take a long legal process to register a child born in a surrogacy program
In our country, surrogacy is an absolutely legal method of treating infertility, so the standard procedure for registering a baby in the registry office will take no more than 20 minutes.
Myth 4. A child can be like a surrogate mother
This is excluded, since the surrogate mother is transferred an embryo obtained as a result of fertilization of the egg of his biological mother (or donor) with the sperm of his biological father (or donor). It is on them that the baby will look like. As we have already said, a surrogate mother herself cannot be an oocyte donor at the same time.
Myth 5. A surrogate mother can transmit hereditary diseases to a child.
This possibility is completely excluded. It is not for nothing that the list of mandatory studies assigned to future surrogate mothers does not include tests for genetic pathologies, although, for example, they are mandatory for egg donors.
Myth 6. After birth, a surrogate mother can feed the child she was carrying
No, she not only cannot feed him, but does not even have eye contact with the baby. After birth, the baby is immediately transferred to the neonatal unit.
Myth 7. Anyone can join the surrogacy program
Surrogacy is a method of treating infertility, therefore, the fact of medical indications must be confirmed by doctors.
A special order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation contains a complete list of indications, which, in particular, include the absence of a uterus, severe pathologies of the endometrium, serious somatic diseases in which carrying a child or childbirth is prohibited (for example, cardiovascular failure), recurrent miscarriage, and 3 or more unsuccessful IVF attempts.
Myth 8. Any woman can become a surrogate mother
No, the requirements contained in the order of the Russian Ministry of Health are very strict. Only a woman aged 20 to 35 with excellent physical and mental health can become a surrogate mother. She must have at least one healthy child of her own.
In addition, clinics that provide support for the procedure may have additional internal requirements. For example, in our center for reproduction and genetics, all potential surrogate mothers undergo a mandatory interview with a psychologist who determines whether they are ready to join the program. We consider only women without a history of caesarean section as candidates. The preliminary examination is very serious and takes from two to four months.
Myth 9. A surrogate mother in the future can sue the child.
No, after signing the consent, the surrogate mother has no rights to the child.