Surrogate Mothering

Surrogate mothering involves a woman, called a surrogate, who agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person or couple who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves. There are two main types: traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate's own eggs are used and she is genetically related; and gestational surrogacy, where an embryo created with the intended parents' or donors' eggs and sperm is implanted into the surrogate. The surrogate carries the pregnancy to term, and afterward, the baby is handed over to the intended parents. It is often used in assisted reproduction when other methods are not successful.