Surrogacy: The Pregnancy Option You Haven't Considered
By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
This weekend at the Golden Globes, Nicole Kidman was glowing. Just a day later, she and her husband Keith Urban announced that they welcomed a baby girl at the end of December.
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However, that glow was a side effect of happiness (and, no doubt, hours and hours of pre-party prep), not pregnancy hormones. The couple had a "gestational carrier," better known as a surrogate, carry their biological child.
With celebs like Kidman and Sarah Jessica Parker choosing surrogacy, it feels like it's becoming increasingly common. Could it be an option for you?
While no one tracks surrogacy rates, according to Barbara Collura, Executive Director of RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association, interest in "third-party reproduction" -- including using donated sperm, donated eggs or a surrogate -- does seem to be on the rise.
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"I think it's just becoming more normal and prevalent because there's more general conversation and media attention," says Collura. "People are ore open to it and it's definitely becoming a very popular subject."
Compared to other infertility treatments -- including IUI and IVF -- surrogacy is the most expensive option. Cost ranges greatly, but most estimates are between $60,000 and $100,000 (making it unaffordable for many non-famous people).
"You're not only paying for the medical procedures, but you're also in most cases paying a fee to the surrogate as well as covering all of her costs," says Collura. "You also have an attorney involved who specializes in surrogacy and draws up the contract."
Surrogacy laws vary state to state. In fact, in some states, including New York, it's illegal.
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"It's not one size fits all," says Collura. "It's a very personalized process and that's why it's very important to have legal counsel involved."
With the cost and complications, who's considering surrogacy? Generally, women who have exhausted every other option for safely getting pregnant and carrying a child.
"When people decide to go with a surrogate, they want a healthy baby. They want an outcome that most likely their body is not going to be able to accomplish," says Collura. "They also want that genetic link. For those individuals, a surrogate is the best alternative."
For more surrogacy information from RESOLVE, click here. And check out this amazing New York Times article about one woman's experience with surrogacy.
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Photo Credit: WWD
