UPSC Express

What is surrogacy?

• Surrogacy is where a woman becomes pregnant with the intention of handing over the child to someone else after giving birth.
• Generally, she carries the baby for a couple or parent who cannot conceive a child themselves – they are known as “intended parents”.
• There are two forms of surrogacy.
• In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother’s egg is used, making her the genetic mother.
• In gestational surrogacy, the egg is provided by the intended mother or a donor.
• The egg is fertilised through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and then placed inside the surrogate mother.

Is surrogacy legal?

• It varies from country to country.
• Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria prohibit all forms of surrogacy.
• In countries including the UK, Ireland, Denmark and Belgium, surrogacy is allowed where the surrogate mother is not paid, or only paid for reasonable expenses.
• Paying the mother a fee (known as commercial surrogacy) is prohibited.
• Commercial surrogacy is legal in some US states, and countries including, Russia and Ukraine.

Where do people go for surrogacy?

• countries popular with parents for surrogacy arrangements are the US,  Thailand, Ukraine and Russia.
• Mexico, Nepal, Poland and Georgia are also among the countries described as possibilities for surrogacy arrangements.
• Costs vary significantly from country to country, and also depend on the number of IVF cycles needed, and whether health insurance is required.

Cambodia the new destinations:

• While Cambodia has become popular among people — both Indians and from other parts of the world — countries such as Ukraine and Kenya are attracting doctors from India.
• India is no longer on the surrogacy map and after Bangkok and Thailand stopped surrogacy, Cambodia opened up.
• As in the early days of surrogacy in India, the lack of proper laws or guidelines in Cambodia has proved a big attraction.
• There is growth in surrogacy in Cambodia since last year.
• There is a huge pressure building and Cambodia is ill-prepared to handle it.
• Besides, there are no laws in place in Cambodia.
• Doctors who offered surrogacy service in India are aware of the new hubs.