For the average person who has never been interested in modern medical technology, and faces the problem of infertility year after year, the reproductive motherhood program does not seem to be entirely easy to use. Mostly because of its intricacies in process, and terminology. Gestational surrogacy refers to – one type of assisted reproductive technology that uses a technique such as “insemination.” If in case of loss of reproductive function of one of the spouses, which is often the case with women, and there is no possibility to get an egg for further fertilization with the sperm of the spouse, the family has recourse to the surrogate mother, but with several amendments.
The husband’s genetic material, which has been laboratory tested in advance and found suitable for use, is injected into the uterus of the surrogate on a fixed date by means of special endoscopic instruments. The date is determined based on the surrogate’s medical examination at a certain time of the menstrual cycle, namely, on the day of the highest probability of pregnancy – the day of ovulation. If there is a need for hormonal stimulation, various medications are used to speed up and enhance the likelihood of ovulation.
Further on, all the stages of surrogacy are repeated in the same order, until the determination of pregnancy, up to the birth of the child. However, the most important nuance, and for some it is an obstacle, is the genetic relationship between the future parents and the child. Naturally, the child will inherit everything from the genetic father, but in the case of the genetic mother, everything is more complicated. Even though a strange woman carries a child for an infertile couple, the child becomes a relative of the surrogate mother not only according to documents (if the woman refuses to give the child away) but also a true relative, as all genetic material in the not yet born child will belong to the surrogate mother and the genetic father.
Hence the great amount of controversy and indignation, because for some women it is essential to confirm the genetic relationship and to exclude the inheritance of any traits of character or appearance from another woman.
We would like to point out that in Ukraine only gestational surrogacy is allowed, i.e. traditional surrogacy is prohibited by law. We think this is right since many parents want their own child and that the genetics are theirs.