What to Know Before Your Surrogacy Journey

(nytimes.com) Surrogacy is an important family planning option, but be prepared for a lengthy, expensive and emotional process.

The Gist – What is surrogacy about

1. In “gestational surrogacy,” your surrogate and egg donor will be different.
2. You are not required to work with a surrogacy agency, but complications often arise throughout the process. Most experts advise against going it alone.
3. Your surrogacy “team” will probably include a reproductive endocrinologist, a lawyer, a psychologist and an insurance specialist — interview several of each before hiring them.
4. Advancements in DNA testing have rendered the concept of “anonymous” egg and sperm donation obsolete, so decide what degree of openness you are comfortable with.
5. A good surrogacy agency will ensure carriers undergo health, criminal, financial and psychological screenings before you “match” with her, but take time to make sure it’s a good fit.
6. Surrogacy is expensive. In the United States, the average journey costs $150,000, but the final cost can be much more or less depending on your circumstances.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com – What to Know Before Your Surrogacy Journey

Read more: Surrogacy step by step