Understanding Surrogacy: Types, Processes, and Legal Considerations

Surrogacy is a contract in which a woman becomes "pregnant" for another couple. Once the woman delivers, she gives her baby to the couple for whom she conceived. Surrogacy is considered a long process. Apart from this, it is also legally valid in India.

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Here we are giving information about the types of surrogacy. Mainly two types of surrogacy have been considered-

Let us now know what types of benefits are available through surrogacy -

The biggest advantage of surrogacy is that the couple who is unable to have the happiness of a child, can get the happiness of their own child. With this, the couple can get a chance to become biological parents of their child.

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There are strict laws regarding surrogacy in India. To choose the option of surrogacy, the couple must fulfill the following criteria -

• Only needy Indian couples, i.e. those unable to produce children, have the right to choose the option of surrogacy.
• The couple has been married for at least five years and should have a certificate of infertility from a doctor.
• The wife's age should be between 23 to 50 years and the husband's age should be between 26 to 55 years.

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The first process of surrogacy is to find a surrogate mother i.e. a woman who is ready for surrogacy. Mainly according to the new rules, the surrogate woman should be married and a relative of the couple. To become a surrogate mother, it is necessary to know some more criteria. These criteria are as follows -

• Age – The age of the female candidate should be between 25 to 35 years. A woman can opt for surrogacy only once in her lifetime, whereas earlier it was thrice.
• Reproductive Background – The woman must have had at least one pregnancy without any complications and has had a child of her own.
• Lifestyle – The lifestyle of the surrogate should be good. The environment where she is living and her way of living should be right. Do not consume alcohol or drugs.
• Test – The mental health of the surrogate should be tested. Along with this, there should also be a complete physical examination, which includes testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

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Once the couple finds a surrogate mother, the process of surrogacy depends on the type of surrogacy process they want to go with –

The cost of surrogacy in India is in lakhs. A lot of money is spent on this entire process. The price of the surrogacy process may vary from state to state and center/hospital.

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Surrogacy is a big and expensive decision for any couple. Not only does it cost a lot of money, but it is also an emotional decision. Therefore, it is important that this decision is taken thoughtfully and with complete information. We hope that the information given here will be beneficial for you. To know more about this topic, the couple should take expert advice.