Surrogate Motherhood: Alternative or Dilemma?
Surrogate Motherhood: Alternative or Dilemma?
Surrogate Motherhood: Alternative or Dilemma? Conceiving a child can be a rewarding and fulfilling process for most couples, but for others, it can be arduous and frustrating. After a couple attempts to conceive a child the natural way for over a year and is not able to, usually the next step to follow is to consider non-natural methods that facilitate this process most of the time. The two most common ones are in-vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. At this time couples decide which of these two methods is more convenient for them, and hope that it turns out to be successful. If none of this work the first time, couples may consider repeating them more than once. The problem with these procedures is not only that they are costly, but also tend to affect the couple in physical and emotional ways. This is the reason why some couples decide to rely on other alternatives such as adoption and surrogate motherhood as possible options to finally become parents. Surrogate motherhood is defined as a method of assisted reproduction where a woman agrees to become pregnant and give birth to a child who belongs to another couple. The most common method to perform this procedure is to transfer an embryo that has been fertilized by in vitro fertilization and is later introduced into the surrogate mother’s womb. (Aramesh, 2009). Many couples prefer this alternative instead of adoption since surrogacy offers the parents a possible way to have a genetic link to the child, even if he or she was not raised in his or real mother’s womb. Also, parents who choose surrogacy are able to be present in the whole gestational process of the surrogate mother (Tieu, 2008). Choosing surrogacy can be a viable alternative for couples but they should also consider the ethical and emotional dilemmas that this alternative involves. Such dilemmas include the risks and effects involved in gestational surrogacy for mother and baby, the
Surrogate Motherhood: Alternative or Dilemma? Conceiving a child can be a rewarding and fulfilling process for most couples, but for others, it can be arduous and frustrating. After a couple attempts to conceive a child the natural way for over a year and is not able to, usually the next step to follow is to consider non-natural methods that facilitate this process most of the time. The two most common ones are in-vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. At this time couples decide which of these two methods is more convenient for them, and hope that it turns out to be successful. If none of this work the first time, couples may consider repeating them more than once. The problem with these procedures is not only that they are costly, but also tend to affect the couple in physical and emotional ways. This is the reason why some couples decide to rely on other alternatives such as adoption and surrogate motherhood as possible options to finally become parents. Surrogate motherhood is defined as a method of assisted reproduction where a woman agrees to become pregnant and give birth to a child who belongs to another couple. The most common method to perform this procedure is to transfer an embryo that has been fertilized by in vitro fertilization and is later introduced into the surrogate mother’s womb. (Aramesh, 2009). Many couples prefer this alternative instead of adoption since surrogacy offers the parents a possible way to have a genetic link to the child, even if he or she was not raised in his or real mother’s womb. Also, parents who choose surrogacy are able to be present in the whole gestational process of the surrogate mother (Tieu, 2008). Choosing surrogacy can be a viable alternative for couples but they should also consider the ethical and emotional dilemmas that this alternative involves. Such dilemmas include the risks and effects involved in gestational surrogacy for mother and baby, the
References: Aramesh, K (2009) . Iran’s experience with surrogate motherhood: an Islamic view and ethical concerns. Journal of Medical Ethics. 35:320-322 doi:10.1136/jme.2008.027763 Tieu, M M (2008) . Altruistic surrogacy: the necessary objectification of surrogate mothers. Journal of Medical Ethics. 35:171-175 doi:10.1136/jme.2008.024679 Van Zyl, L., Van Niekerk, A. (2000) . Interpretations, perspectives and intentions in surrogate motherhood. Journal of Medical Ethics. 26:404-409 doi:10.1136/jme.26.5.404