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