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Gestational Carrier 101 — What You Need to Know
A gestational-carrier arrangement occurs when intended parents (or donors) supply the egg & sperm but a non-related person carries the pregnancy.
Some infertility challenges may call for trying approaches known as “third-party reproduction.” This involves another person/other people beyond the intended parents.
While these advances may help you become a parent, they also call for careful consideration and consultation with experts on the medical process and the emotional and legal implications.
What are third-party techniques?
Third-party techniques include using donated eggs, sperm or embryos. Less often used is a gestational-carrier arrangement where the intended parents supply the egg and sperm (or they may use donors) but the pregnancy is carried by someone else who has no genetic link.
Surrogacy, also known as “traditional gestational carrier” refers to when the woman who carries the pregnancy also provides the egg. This latter arrangement is controversial, rare and banned by some states. It, is, however, sometimes used by gay couples and gay single men.
RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association offers resources on using a gestational carrier including myths…
