The main difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy lies in the biological relationship between the Surrogate and the child. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the two types:
1. Gestational Surrogacy:
Definition: In gestational surrogacy, the Surrogate (also called the gestational carrier) carries the child but is not biologically related to the baby.
How It Works:
The embryo is created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the ova and sperm of the Intended Parents or donors.
The embryo is implanted into the Surrogate's uterus, where it will develop.
The Surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and gives birth, but she has no genetic link to the child.
Legal Parentage: The Intended Parents are the legal and biological parents of the child because the ova and sperm used to create the embryo come from them (or donors).
Common in Modern Surrogacy: This method is more common in surrogacy arrangements today because it avoids any potential legal complications around parental rights and ensures that the Intended Parents are the genetic parents of the child.
2. Traditional Surrogacy:
Definition: In traditional surrogacy, the Surrogate is genetically related to the child and carries and delivers the child for the Intended Parents.
How It Works:
The Surrogate’s ova is fertilized by the sperm of the intended father (or a sperm donor) through artificial insemination (rather than IVF).
The Surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and gives birth to the child, but she is genetically related because her ova was used to conceive the baby.
Legal Parentage: The legal relationship can be more complicated in traditional surrogacy because of the biological or genetic relationship between the Surrogate and the child.