As someone interested in surrogacy, you may be wondering, “Are there traditional surrogacy agencies?” The answer is no. Most professionals in the U.S. won’t complete traditional surrogacies due to the extra legal and emotional risks. Even though a traditional surrogacy agency is difficult to find today, you might still be curious about what it is. That’s why we’re here.

You can contact us online to get free surrogacy information now. In the meantime, you can check out our detailed guide for a traditional surrogacy definition, the pros and cons of taking this path, how it compares to gestational surrogacy and more. In other words, this is your comprehensive guide for traditional surrogacy.

What Is Traditional Surrogacy? [A Basic Definition]

When it comes to the traditional surrogacy meaning, it is a type of surrogacy process in which the surrogate has a biological tie to the child that they’re carrying. It is also referred to as genetic surrogacy or partial surrogacy because of this hereditary connection. In this type of surrogacy, the surrogate becomes pregnant using her own egg, so she is the biological mother of the child she carries.

Though this genetic link can cause some emotional and legal complications, some people may be interested in the traditional surrogacy process, such as:

• Same-sex male couples
• Intended parents who need a donor egg
• Single men

But, in almost every case, it is much safer and easier to pursue a gestational surrogacy with a third-party donor egg. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not genetically related to the baby. Instead, the embryo is created using a combination of the intended parents’ and/or donor gametes. When comparing traditional vs. gestational surrogacy, gestational surrogacy is much safer and more comfortable for everyone involved — and it is the only type of surrogacy completed by most professionals today.

How Does Traditional Surrogacy Work?

As you consider traditional surrogacy vs. gestational surrogacy, there are a handful of key differences to be mindful of. For traditional surrogacy, the intended parents will be responsible for finding a traditional surrogate mother who will be willing to place her biological child with them at birth. In other words, intended parents will need to be matched with a prospective surrogate who’s willing to undergo the process.

It is also extremely important to pay attention to your state’s laws regarding traditional surrogacy, as these contracts are not enforceable in some states. This presents a number of legal risks that you need to be aware of before entering into a traditional surrogacy agreement. After you have been matched with each other, a surrogacy attorney can help you draft a traditional surrogacy contract.

Working with an attorney who has experience in traditional surrogacy is vital because it is more complex than gestational surrogacy, legally speaking. This is because the surrogate is also the child’s biological parent, which can complicate matters. Also, the non-biological intended parent will probably need to complete a stepparent adoption after the delivery so that they can have parental rights for the child.

Once you sign the traditional surrogacy contract and other paperwork, the medical process can begin. One of the key differences in traditional vs. gestational surrogacy is that the former often uses intrauterine insemination (IUI), which is a type of artificial insemination that uses the intended father’s (or a donor’s) sperm. In other words, the pregnancy will be created in a lab — not through traditional surrogacy natural insemination.

On the other hand, gestational surrogacy uses in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create an embryo, which is then transferred to the surrogate. IVF tends to be a bit pricier and more complex. It also involves a more complex medical procedure. From this point, the surrogate will carry the baby to term.

After delivery in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate will have parental rights as the baby’s biological parent. As a result, you’ll need your surrogacy attorney to coordinate the legalities to terminate the surrogate’s parental rights so that you can adopt your baby.

There are quite a few legal and emotional complications surrounding the traditional surrogacy process. For example, in some states, a surrogate could have the right to change her mind and decide to parent the baby. Because of this, many surrogacy professionals work only with clients pursuing gestational surrogacy. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your state’s traditional surrogacy laws so that you can see what states allow traditional surrogacy.

Pros And Cons of Traditional Surrogacy

Just as there are pros and cons of any type of surrogacy, there are both pros and cons of traditional surrogacy. Below, we’ll outline some general advantages and disadvantages of pursuing this path:

Pros of Traditional Surrogacy

• The traditional surrogacy cost may be lower than the cost of gestational surrogacy — though any legal complications can mean costs add up quickly.
• The medical traditional surrogacy process tends to be simpler and easier to understand than the process for gestational surrogacy.
• Intended mothers don’t have to receive any medical procedures for traditional surrogacy because their eggs aren’t needed for the embryo.

Cons of Traditional Surrogacy

• Many states have banned traditional surrogacy, making it more difficult, and in some cases, impossible, to pursue.
• Most professionals do not coordinate traditional surrogacies, and many surrogates are typically more comfortable with a gestational surrogacy.
• A traditional surrogate mother is a biological parent, so they have parental rights for your baby. Because of this, she has the right to change her mind and keep the child at the last minute. The intended parents would have to settle the matter in court.
• Intended parents may need to complete a stepparent adoption to obtain legal custody of their child.
• Because surrogates are biological mothers in traditional surrogacy, intended mothers are unable to have a biological tie to their children.
• It is much harder emotionally when a surrogate is placing their own child for adoption with the intended parents – that biological tie can create an emotional connection that can lead to feelings of grief and loss.

Do some research to find out if there are traditional surrogacy options available to you. Or, if you’re interested in gestational surrogacy, then you can reach out to a gestational surrogacy agency now. Here are some gestational surrogacy agencies you can get in touch with:

• American Surrogacy
• Circle Surrogacy
• Growing Generations
• Creating Families
• Simple Surrogacy

Is Traditional Surrogacy Legal? [Traditional Surrogacy Laws]

If you are considering traditional surrogacy, then be sure to research your state’s laws to make sure that it is legal in your area. Even though gestational surrogacy is legal in many states, traditional surrogacy carries much more legal risk and may not be possible in some states.

As we’ve mentioned earlier, traditional surrogacy laws involve the termination of parental rights and stepparent adoption, which can be confusing. There are many legal complications at play, so it is always best to reach out to a surrogacy attorney so that they can ensure everything is safe, fair and ethical.

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If this feels like a lot of information to take in at once, then we understand. Traditional surrogacy can be complex, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. In that case, contact us online at any time to get more surrogacy information now.