Surrogacy

There are two types of surrogacy - Traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. With traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own eggs, along with the intended father's ( or donor's ) sperm. This may be through IUI, IVF, or at home insemination.

In gestational surrogacy, the baby carried by the surrogate does not contain any genetic material. IVF is necessary in this case, where either the intended mother's egg, or a donor's egg is combined with the intended father's sperm, or a donor's sperm, and replaced into the surrogate ( for further explanation of IVF procedures, see "making babies: with help".

We recommend that a clinic is used as it offers safeguards at several levels, for all parties involved.

People considering surrogacy should contact a fertility clinic who will guide you through the process. ECHART ( Ethics Committee for Assisted Reproductive Technology ) approval is required for IVF surrogacy applications and the clinic can assist you with this. Traditional surrogacy ( with the surrogates own egg ) is legally considered donor insemination of the surrogate, so ECHART approval is not officially required, although some clinics follow the ECHART process as it offers some protection of parties involved.

Surrogacy in New Zealand must be altruistic although direct expenses can be reimbursed. It is illegal topay a surrogate or advertise for a surrogate. There are medical criteria for all parties involved must be met. There are counselling requirements for all parties involved - this is implications counselling which assists the parties to consider how things will work over the course of the pregnancy and childhood, and prepare for the journey ahead. There are also legal requirements.

The surrogate and recipients must have known each other for six months. Surrogacy is legally unenforceable. The birth mother ( and her partner, if she has one ) is the legal parent until adoption takes place.