Most people would consider child conception to be a simple and natural process. However, some individuals may find it difficult to get pregnant due to low sperm count, diminished ovarian function or uterus related diseases. Thanks to advances in modern medicine, treatments such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) assist intended parents in cultivating potent embryos to grow in either themselves or a surrogate. While infertility is the most common reason why intended parents choose to use a surrogate, there are a variety of other reasons why they may be experiencing difficulty in becoming parents on their own.
# 1 - Infertility
Despite the ability to help intended parents create and test embryos genetically in the lab, success in fully developing their child isn’t guaranteed. Complications may arise during embryo implantation into the host uterus or be lost due to miscarriage. Examples of medical issues include endometriosis, salpingitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
# 2 - Unable to carry full-term
While some individuals have an easier time getting pregnant compared to others, fetuses may underdeveloped during the earlier stages of the term. In these cases, medical professionals usually recommend that the fetus be carried in a surrogate womb to increase the chances of survival and carry the child to full term.
# 3 - Same-sex couples
Throughout the pregnancy journey, intended parents can experience important milestones along the way such as hearing their child’s heartbeat for the first time, scanning the womb for ultrasound pictures as they grow, and finally witnessing their birth. Hetero-couples previously shared these intimate moments. Now through embryos carried by a surrogate with donor sources, homo-sexual and non-binary couples can be a part of all the same tender moments when becoming parents.
# 4 - Physical limitation
Individuals with certain medical conditions are highly unlikely to carry a child in their own womb such as congenital uterine abnormality. Others like heart disease, kidney disease, or severe diabetes can become a life-threatening situation for both mother and child. Medical professionals strongly advise not to go through the pregnancy if the individual has a history of those illnesses. Turning to a surrogate without ailing conditions greatly reduces the risk to their health.
# 5 - Individuals
Those who are unable to undergo pregnancy on their own due to previous commitments or physical limitations may look towards a surrogate to help during the laboring process. Individuals without a womb or partner may also seek to become a parent on their own. They also have the same access to surrogates that are capable of carrying the child on their behalf.
# 6 - Lifestyle differences
As more individuals progress through their careers to positions with greater responsibility, they are often burdened with difficulty relating to maternity leave, postpartum recovery, and childcare leave. They can feel torn between a fulfilling career and bearing a child. Opting for a surrogate allows them the chance to stay competitive at work while still having children at their desired age.
# 7 - Past Trauma
A conversation that is often missed during pregnancy is regarding those who have already experienced childbirth at least once. While most individuals make a full recovery and can bear another child, some might not have. Due to complications or past trauma during their previous pregnancy, medical professionals usually advise a surrogate as an alternative if the individual is deemed unfit to carry again.