When a couple is having trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy, sometimes a “third party” is enlisted to help. These women—egg donors and surrogates—are giving one of the greatest gifts of all. Find out why they do it.
The phrase “third-party reproduction” sounds so impersonal. But the egg donors and surrogates who help couples achieve their dream of parenthood are anything but. These women are giving of themselves in the most personal way possible. And most times the couples who are the recipients of these gifts are strangers
Who are these women? Why do they do what they do? If you’re cynically thinking it’s just for the money, think again. Donating eggs or carrying a pregnancy involves real health risks that money really can’t compensate for. Egg retrieval is a surgical procedure that requires weeks of shots and discomfort followed by another couple of weeks of recuperation. Pregnancy and childbirth, of course, with the preliminary hormonal treatments and recuperation following delivery, affects at least a year of the surrogate mother’s life (and her family’s). The majority of women who carry a child for another woman are “gestational surrogates,” meaning the child inside them was created with the egg from either the intended mother or another donor. Traditional surrogacy arrangements, in which the surrogate also provides the egg, are much less common today, because both the intended parents and the surrogates have concerns about issues of attachment if the baby is both genetically created and carried by the same woman.
For both egg donors and surrogates, the fees that are paid are meant to cover medical fees as well as pain and suffering. Laws from state to state vary, and some are more surrogate- and donor-friendly than others. Fees also vary, with areas such as California paying as much as $25,000 for a surrogacy and $8,500 for egg donation. It’s unlikely that anyone would agree to be a surrogate or egg donor for strangers without compensation, but money alone can’t explain why women put their lives on the line to do it.
Conceive talked with six egg donors and surrogates and asked them to tell their own stories of why they do what they do.
I've searched for Kuro Surrogacy and Beyond with no results. Are they still in business?
to whom it may concern i am a 36 year old woman with stage three breast cancer. haave been clean for 2 years now and am trying to get pregnant by donor sperm so i guess my question is how hard is it to get pregnant using this method
Hello my name is Tai, I was morbidly obese for a few year at 280lbs 292 being my highest(shame shame on me) Well I have the gastric sleeve surgery and I am wanting to conceive a child now. It has been amazing thus far losing the weight, but I am wanting to fill that void in my life, and that would be to become a mother. Me and my husband did try our second year of marriage but I was diagnosed with PCOS from being overweight and maybe having asthma and taking steroids had something to do with as well, but now the surgery has regulated my periods and my body is functioning the way its supposed to so now this week i am ovulating and hope to become pregnant this month if not I would like to try ivf heard it was extremely expensive what is the best way for me to get donations or sponsers to help with the procedure, also is it painful and how long does it take?? doeivide
I had a conversation with a friend of mine at work about donating her egg. I wasn't sure what her real motive was but it was her decision, so fine to each his/her own. After long contemplations about my life I think if the option were available to me to donate my egg to another woman to be able to have a child I think I would do it too. Children are a blessing. I believe children come into this word for a reason and if I could help my friend create a life to fulfill her dreams then it is worth it.
Please pass this comment onto Brooke Wilson, the donor from Atlanta. I am a five time egg donor and have been trying for 2 years to get pregnant. My PCOS made me an excellent donor but I don't ovulate on my own and we're really struggling. Brooke, I hope if you decide you want kids of your own you don't have any problems, but if you do, I don't want you to be blindsided by infertility, like I was. Thanks!