What are the benefits to surrogacy vs. adoption?

Surrogacy and adoption are both beautiful ways to create or add to your family.

There are many reasons people may choose surrogacy instead of adoption. We hope this information will help you determine the best route for you.

One of the major benefits of surrogacy is that, in most cases, at least one of the parents has the opportunity to be biologically related to their future child.

With gestational surrogacy, the intended mother may use her eggs, and the intended father may use his sperm. Thus the baby created is the genetic offspring of both parents. Even when an egg donor or sperm donor is used, at least one of the parents will pass on their genetics to the child conceived.

Even if both donor eggs AND donor sperm are used, the advantage of surrogacy is that intended parents can choose the genetic material they are passing along to their potential children. With adoption, there is no choice.

For many Intended Parents, it is desirable to have a genetic link, and surrogacy provides them with this opportunity.

Children conceived via surrogacy are done so with intent. Women who choose to become Surrogates are fertile—they have their own children and can have more if they so choose. They have made a conscious and well-thought-out decision to become Surrogates. They have endured doctor appointments, medications, poking and prodding, and probably some personal inconveniences because they want to help someone else achieve their family-building dream.

On the other hand, in adoption, it is not unusual for the birth mother to change her mind—even when she has already agreed to give up her baby to the adoptive parents. While this is entirely understandable, it can be devastating to potential adoptive parents.

Finally, in a surrogacy arrangement, the intended parents may have the opportunity to be fully involved in the pregnancy and birth experience, depending on their relationship with their surrogate.

Of course, what matters most of all is the child, not the pregnancy; however, for some women, especially those who have had their fertility taken away from them, or for some men, who truly are interested in “going through a pregnancy” from beginning to end, this is certainly an added bonus.

We are grateful that we live in a world today where we have so many choices! Domestic adoption, international adoption, surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation, embryo donation, and embryo adoption are all potential options.

We encourage you to explore all of your options to determine the one with which you are most comfortable.