Potential Problems in Surrogacy
& How to Tackle Them
by Dr. Deepika Garg
Many couples, who have problems conceiving,
look for alternative options to have a baby. The solutions
for such problems are varied; they usually depend upon
the reason why a couple cannot have a baby the natural
way. For some it may be because the eggs are of poor
quality and fail to develop fully prior to fertilization.
For others, the problem might lie in the intending mother’s
ability to actually carry the child. There may also
be a problem in the uterus, the uterine lining or it
may be physically dangerous for her to carry a pregnancy.
In the latter circumstance, a couple may consider getting
eggs harvested through IVF and using a surrogate’s
service to carry the pregnancy to term. Although some
side
effects of IVF treatments have been noted, the procedure
is gradually gaining acceptance. After the eggs are
harvested, they are implanted into the surrogate, who
then carries the pregnancy to term.
Finding the perfect woman to carry your
child is a daunting task and, of course, there are potential
problems too. However, most of them are avoidable. Listed
below are some problems that may arise in surrogacy:
Failure to Implant
If the fertilized egg fails to implant into the surrogate’s
uterine lining, it results in a failed IVF.
How to avoid this?
This is avoidable by finding out the thickness of your
surrogate’s uterine lining prior to implantation.
According to a study by JE Okohue, SO Onuh et al, published
in the March 2009 edition of The African Journal
of Reproductive Health, IVF pregnancy would not
likely occur in patients having uterine lining which
is less than 7 mm thick. The study further states that
pregnancy is unlikely to occur if the uterine lining
is more than 14 mm thick.
Cycle Differences
You and your surrogate will have to have in sync menstrual
cycles for at least two months prior to the egg harvesting.
If the cycles of the two women are not the same, it
will be nearly impossible for the egg to implant.
How to remove cycle differences?
It is easy to adjust the cycle of two women through
the use of birth control pills or hormone manipulations.
Your doctor should administer this, but be sure that
you actively know the status of your surrogate’s
menstrual cycle for the months leading up to the procedure.
Surrogate-Couple Compatibility
It’s very important for a woman or a couple looking
to have a surrogate to have a good relationship. You
will be involved in each other’s lives for at
least one year and if you don’t have a good relationship,
it’s going to be a very painful ride.
How to achieve this?
Get to know your surrogate well prior to deciding to
go through this experience together. If you are considering
getting a surrogate
mother in India, Georgia, Ukraine or any other surrogacy
tourism hubs, you may be worried about a language barrier.
That may exist, but you can tell a lot about a person
without speaking the same language. Find someone with
a personality and temperament that is compatible with
your own.
Surrogate-Doctor Compatibility
The relationship between the surrogate and the doctor
working on your case is as important as the relationship
between you and the surrogate. If she feels uncomfortable
with the doctor you are working with, it will not be
a smooth experience.
How to achieve this?
Make sure that your doctor is a good match with your
surrogate. Often, clinics themselves can provide you
with a list of surrogates to choose from. In this case,
the surrogate is well known to the doctor. If this is
not how you find your surrogate, be considerate. Although
it is your child, it is her body and assuring that she
is comfortable with the medical treatment being administered
to her is important.
Author Bio
Dr. Deepika Garg – Internet Enthusiast,
has been into online content creation for over 5 years.
She is currently helping people find affordable surrogacy
abroad
This site presents stories both of surrogate mothers
and of intended parents.
Sherrie's Story
(TS)
Stephanie's Story
Rosie's Story
Beth's Story
Michelle's Story
Lia's
Story
Katherine's Story (TS)
Holly's Story (GS)
Also see:
Poems for a Surrogate Mother.
Questions to Ask a
Potential Surrogate
Publication by HFEA (UK) - Egg
Donation and Egg Sharing
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