Surrogacy: The Cost of a Biological Child

Surrogate mothers are a god send to those that cannot have children yet yearn to have a child with their own genes. I commend those who as willing to rent out their bodies in order to create a family for people who are unable to have their own. However is becoming a surrogacy becoming more about the money instead of helping out those who cannot have a baby themselves.

The demand for surrogate mothers for people wishing to have their own biological children is on the rise. As the demand raises so does the price. In the United States, those wishing to use a surrogate to have a biological child can expect to pay around $80,000. However, if that same person were to go to India a biological child would cost them much less. In India, the cost of a surrogate is less than half that here in the United States. For $30,000, parents can have a biological child through surrogacy in India and that includes all expenses.

Surrogacy in India may also be more secure than in the United States. Surrogates in India sign away all rights to the child, unlike in the United States where the mother can decide to keep the child in some states. Some states have laws where paid surrogacy is illegal; couples wanting a biological child can pay all fees associated with the surrogacy but cannot pay the surrogate. Other states do not have any surrogate laws. If considering using a surrogate mother in the United States it is best to understand the laws in the state in which you reside as well as the state of the surrogate.

There are two types of surrogacy to consider. Gestational surrogacy is when in vitro fertilization (IVF) is used to implanted fertilized eggs into the surrogate's uterus. Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate is artificially inseminated. At one time traditional surrogacy was the only option open to parents wanting a biological child.