What Is Surrogacy?
A clear guide to the basics of surrogacy.
A Pathway to Parenthood
Surrogacy is a family-building arrangement in which a person (the surrogate) agrees to carry and give birth to a child for another person or couple (the intended parent/s). Once the baby is born, legal steps are taken to transfer parental rights.
It involves medical, legal, emotional, and logistical aspects. With proper support, surrogacy can be a meaningful and fulfilling journey for everyone involved.
Who is involved?
Surrogate
The person who carries the pregnancy.
Intended Parents
The person or couple who will raise the child.
Donors
Embryo, egg and/or sperm donors may be part of the process.
Families
Both the surrogate’s and intended parents’ families may be impacted, including partners and children.
Professionals
Doctors, lawyers, counsellors and agencies all play vital roles in a successful journey.
Why do people need surrogates?
Surrogacy provides a path to parenthood when pregnancy is not possible or safe. For many, it is the only viable way to have a biological child.
People who might need surrogacy include:
women who have or have had health issues that has affected their uterus.
women with health conditions that could make it dangerous for them to be pregnant
women who cannot conceive themselves
women with recurrent implantation failure
single or gay men and women wishing to create a family
What are the types of surrogacy?
Surrogacy can be classified in three main ways:
1. By Genetic Connection – whether or not the surrogate is biologically related to the child
2. By Compensation – Whether the surrogate is reimbursed only for expenses or also receives payment
3. By Location – Whether the arrangement takes place domestically or across borders
Traditional vs. Gestational Surrogacy
Traditional Surrogacy
Traditional or Genetic surrogacy is a process where the Surrogate’s eggs are used and inseminated with the intended father’s sperm. This can be done using in vitro insemination (IVF) or artificial insemination. In this case, the baby is biologically related to the surrogate.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational Surrogacy means that the Surrogate is not biologically related to the child she is carrying. Instead an embryo created using the sperm and egg of the Intended Parents or donors, using IVF, is transferred and carried by the surrogate.
How are surrogates compensated?
Altruisitic Surrogacy
In some countries, like Australia, Canada and the UK, only altruistic surrogacy is legal, which means the surrogate receives reimbursement of only expenses relating to the pregnancy such as medical and legal expenses. These can also include housekeeping, compensation for time off work, travel, childcare, maternity clothing, health insurance and many other related costs.
Commercial Surrogacy
In a small number of countries, like the US, Georgia and Mexico, compensated or commercial surrogacy is allowed, where the surrogate receives payment or material benefit for being a surrogate, as well as all expense reimbursements.
Where Can You Engage?
Domestic Surrogacy
Domestic surrogacy refers to arrangements where both the intended parents and the surrogate live in the same country. This can make communication and involvement during the pregnancy more straightforward and can reduce legal or logistical complexity. However, the availability of surrogates and the types of arrangements permitted can vary widely.
International Surrogacy
International surrogacy occurs when intended parents engage a surrogate in a different country. This option often provides access to more surrogates, different legal frameworks, and sometimes faster timelines. However, it introduces additional complexity around citizenship, legal parentage, and travel, making expert guidance essential.
If surrogacy is legal, accessible, and affordable in your home country — and you are able to find a suitable surrogate — domestic surrogacy may be the most straightforward option. It can offer easier communication, local legal recognition, and greater involvement throughout the pregnancy. However, even where legal frameworks exist, many intended parents face challenges such as a shortage of surrogates or limited professional support, prompting them to consider options abroad.
Domestic surrogacy is legal for residents of countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Greece, Israel, Denmark, Netherlands, India, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Thailand.
Why might you need cross-border surrogacy arrangements
Where surrogacy is unavailable in your home country, or you are not able to find a surrogate locally, intended parents will often engage in an arrangement in a country which does allow surrogacy. These arrangements are complex and require expert guidance on the legal, logistical, medical and ethical aspects.
How is surrogacy regulated?
Laws vary by country—and sometimes even by state or province. Legal agreements are often required before conception, and post-birth legal processes are critical to ensure parental rights are transferred.
Understanding the legal requirements is crucial to protecting everyone involved. It’s essential to work with lawyers experienced in fertility law.
How much does it cost?
Costs vary greatly based on your individual circumstances, which include the country you engage in, whether you already have embryos and whether you require donor eggs.
The country you pursue surrogacy in
Use of donors or existing embryos
Insurance, travel, and legal fees
Number of embryo transfers needed
How to get started!
Starting your journey can feel overwhelming — especially if you’re unsure where to begin. The first step is often deciding where to engage in surrogacy; a choice that affects everything from legal requirements to costs and timelines. Because each path can be so different, we’ve created a detailed step-by-step guide to help you map out your journey from the very beginning.
Who becomes a Surrogate?
Many women act as a surrogate for family members, close friends or strangers introduced through a surrogacy agency or forum.
Surrogates need to be able to see themselves as babysitting someone else’s child and have a strong desire to help others. Only a small percentage of women are able to do this.
Some surrogates have been egg donors and progress to becoming surrogates. Most surrogates have completed their own families already. In some environments where it is legal, surrogates are also partly motivated by the compensation they can earn.
How do I find a surrogate?
The surrogate can be someone you know or someone you don’t know. There are many questions you will have when considering a surrogate.
Take your time, as too often intended parents engage in surrogacy without full awareness of the risks and how to minimise the chance of problems. Surrogacy is very complex and you deserve to know everything that is involved.
Talk with Growing Families we provide education, guidance and support to those who need assistance in building their family.
Finding the right surrogate takes time, trust, and careful planning. Compatibility, communication, and shared expectations are key.
Next steps:
Once a surrogate is identified, the next steps usually include:
Medical screening to ensure the surrogate is physically suitable
Psychological evaluations to ensure emotional readiness
Legal agreements outlining rights, responsibilities, compensation (if applicable), and expectations
Clinic coordination for cycle planning, embryo transfer, and pregnancy care
Exit planning to prepare for the legal and logistical steps needed after the baby is born, including citizenship, travel documents, and returning home safely
Growing Families can help you understand this process, connect you with trusted professionals, and provide guidance at every step.
Ready to embark on your surrogacy journey?
Schedule a consultation with the Growing Families team and take the first step toward parenthood.
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