What is altruistic surrogacy?

What is altruistic surrogacy?

Altruism is defined as “unselfish regard or devotion to the welfare of others” — a quality that all surrogates arguably must hold to make the physical and emotional sacrifices demanded by surrogacy.

The replacement of commercial surrogacy , in which a woman volunteers to carry a pregnancy for intended parents without receiving any monetary compensation in return is altruistic surrogacy.

However, the term “altruistic surrogacy” generally refers only to those preparations in which the surrogate does not receive compensation for her services beyond reimbursement for medical costs and other reasonable pregnancy-related expenses. Many of these agreements are between family members or close friends. The alternative to altruistic surrogacy is commercial surrogacy, in which the surrogate is properly compensated for her time and energy, the sacrifices she makes and the many physical and mental challenges she faces throughout the surrogacy process.

How does altruistic surrogacy work?

The surrogacy process is usually the same for altruistic surrogacy as it is for commercial surrogacy. However, most intended parents in altruistic surrogacy prepares the work with surrogates they already know. Because of the incredible selflessness required of altruistic surrogates, many of the women who volunteer their gestational services for their siblings, children, or other close family members or friends.

These preparations are known as “identified surrogacy” because the intended parents and surrogate have already found their match before start working with a surrogacy professional. Identified surrogacy puts intended parents and surrogates a few steps ahead in the surrogacy process and get rid of the need for an agency’s matching services. However, it is highly recommended that intended parents and identified surrogates work closely with a surrogacy professional throughout the process to complete the necessary legal and medical requirements, and to provide the surrogate any support she need.

Advantages and disadvantages of altruistic surrogacy:

PROS:

• Altruistic surrogacy is commonly less expensive than commercial surrogacy because intended parents do not pay their surrogate.
• Altruistic surrogacy is legal in many U.S. states and countries where commercial surrogacy is banned, making it a more widely available choice for intended parents.
• Intended parents pursuing an identified altruistic surrogacy may feel relaxed and stronger sense of trust throughout the pregnancy because it is being carried by a close family member or friend.

CONS:

• Most of the altruistic surrogates are close friends or family members of their intended parents. Intended parents who are not able to get surrogates should find a match with an altruistic surrogate through an agency’s matching services.
• Altruistic surrogates may feel underappreciated or even make use of those times, and friends and family members may feel pressured to enter a surrogacy arrangement in which they do not receive compensation. These situations could potentially have a negative clash on the intended parents’ relationship with the surrogate.
• Intended parents may feel less in control of the surrogacy when the surrogate is not economically satisfied; for example, some intended parents may feel uncertain to make specific requests of the surrogate because they are not paying her in change.