When you think of surrogacy, what comes to mind? What assumptions do you have? What rumors have you heard? Everyone whose life has been touched by surrogacy has a very unique story to share; there is no "one size fits all" experience. However, I hope to provide some historical context and shed light on the reality of surrogacy from my lens as a recent gestational carrier. 

  • Surrogacy can be traditional or gestational with very different implications. 
  • Surrogacy is not the same as adoption, with legal parenthood established before pregnancy. 
  • Surrogates can participate for altruistic or compensated reasons, but it is never just for the money. 
  • Legal and ethical considerations vary by state and continue to evolve. 

How long has surrogacy been around? 

Traditional surrogacy has been reported for hundreds of years, even back to biblical times. Traditional surrogacy refers to when the person carrying the baby is also biologically related to the baby because their egg was used with someone else's sperm. Traditional surrogacy differs from gestational surrogacy, where the person carrying the baby is not biologically related to the baby at all.  

The development of gestational surrogacy  

These days, gestational surrogacy is far more common than traditional surrogacy. It is entirely dependent on scientific advancements in reproductive medicine, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). The first baby born using IVF was in 1978, and the first gestational surrogacy occurred in 1985. In the decade that followed, legal questions around surrogacy were featured in court rulings around custody disputes, making gestational surrogacy a more appealing and less ethically risky option for intended parents. 

How surrogacy is different from adoption? 

Surrogacy, whether traditional or gestational, is not the same as adoption. In surrogacy, the baby's parents (called Intended Parents) are involved in the process even before the pregnancy occurs. Intended parents and gestational carriers are matched together, and all need to undergo extensive medical and psychological screenings along with thorough legal documentation prior to anything else happening.  

During adoption, the birth parent(s) sign consent forms for the adoptive parents to become the baby's legal parents after the baby is born. In surrogacy, by contrast, legal documentation established before the pregnancy even occurs states the intended parents are the baby's parents. 

Is surrogacy a career choice or an act of altruism? 

Compensation in surrogacy can vary. Some gestational carriers choose to carry a baby for no or low compensation. These are typically referred to as "altruistic" surrogacy journeys.  Most altruistic journeys occur when the surrogate knows the intended parents (though not all – some carriers feel that the feeling of helping a family in such a profound way is enough compensation).  Even in altruistic journeys, though, the intended parents typically cover all surrogacy-related costs for the surrogate, including medical bills and legal fees. 

Breaking the stereotypes of U.S. Surrogates  

So, should someone expect money in exchange for agreeing to carry a baby for someone else? Doesn't that negate the good deed? Are surrogates just financially desperate and looking for fast cash? 

The truth is: 

  • That surrogates cannot be on any type of government assistance to qualify.  
  • Surrogacy involves matching, medical screenings, IVF, and embryo transfers, followed by an entire pregnancy and postpartum recovery, there is nothing "fast" about surrogacy.  

Many feel it is appropriate for the surrogate to be compensated for her time and physical sacrifice. It can be an opportunity for the surrogate to provide a secure financial backing for her own family while changing the lives of others at the same time – a real win-win! 

Legal issues surrounding surrogacy in the U.S. 

Although surrogacy laws continue to advance, there are still legal hurdles to overcome. While there are many states that are considered "surrogacy-friendly," surrogacy is still not legal in all 50 states. 

The ethics surrounding surrogacy are certainly complex, but most surrogacy journeys are highly regulated and far less dramatic than the stories that make headlines.  

As assisted reproductive technology continues to advance and legal conundrums continue to arise, we will further explore ethical questions around the different ways families are created and grow. 

Questions about surrogacy? 

The team at Family Source Consultants is always available to answer any questions you may have about the surrogacy process. Feel free to reach out to us at (815) 733-6742 or request a free parent consultation. 

This article was written by Hannah, a gestational surrogate with Family Source Consultants. Hannah delivered a baby boy for her intended parents in July 2022. She lives in Illinois with her husband and two young children. 

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Staci Swiderski, CEO and owner of Family Source Consultants, has been a prominent leader in reproductive medicine for over two decades. Through her strategic vision and dedication, she has developed Family Source Consultants into a globally recognized agency specializing in comprehensive egg donation and gestational surrogacy services. Under Staci’s leadership, the agency has become a trusted partner for intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors worldwide, known for its rigorous standards, compassionate support, and commitment to excellence in third-party reproduction.

Her professional insight is uniquely informed by her own family-building experiences. As an intended parent, Staci welcomed her son via gestational surrogacy in 2005, and as a known egg donor, she assisted an infertile couple in expanding their family. These experiences lend a rare depth to her leadership and have fueled her ongoing dedication to ethical, empathetic, and professional support within the field of reproductive medicine.