Traditional Surrogacy vs. Gestational Surrogacy: Differences in the Medical Process
Surrogacy has become a popular option for couples or individuals who are unable to conceive a child on their own. It involves a woman carrying a pregnancy for another person or couple, with the intention of giving the child to them after birth. There are two types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. While both involve a surrogate carrying a pregnancy for someone else, there are significant differences in the medical process between the two. In this blog post, we will dive into the medical procedures involved in traditional and gestational surrogacy and explore the key differences between them.
Traditional Surrogacy
Traditional surrogacy, also known as genetic or partial surrogacy, is the process in which the surrogate’s own eggs are used to conceive the child. This means that the child will be biologically related to the surrogate, making her not just the carrier but also the biological mother. In this process, the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm. The insemination is usually done through intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques.
The Medical Process of Traditional Surrogacy
The medical process of traditional surrogacy starts with the evaluation of the surrogate’s health and fertility. The surrogate will undergo a series of tests, including blood tests, a pelvic exam, and an ultrasound, to ensure she is physically fit to carry a pregnancy. Once the surrogate has been cleared, the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm will be collected and prepared for insemination. The sperm is then injected into the surrogate’s uterus, where fertilization will hopefully occur.
If the traditional surrogacy is achieved through IVF, the surrogate will take fertility medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. These eggs will then be retrieved and fertilized in a laboratory with the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm. The resulting embryo(s) will then be transferred into the surrogate’s uterus, where they will hopefully implant and develop into a pregnancy.
The Differences in the Medical Process of Traditional Surrogacy
One of the main differences between traditional and gestational surrogacy is the use of the surrogate’s eggs. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is the biological mother of the child, and the intended father or donor is the biological father. This can lead to legal and emotional complications, as the surrogate may have a strong bond with the child she carries, even if she has no legal rights to the child.

Traditional Surrogacy vs. Gestational Surrogacy: Differences in the Medical Process
Another difference is the lower success rates of traditional surrogacy compared to gestational surrogacy. This is often due to the age and fertility of the surrogate, as well as the fact that the surrogate’s eggs are used. The use of fertility medications in traditional surrogacy can also increase the risk of multiple pregnancies, which can be complicated for both the surrogate and the intended parents.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy, also known as full surrogacy, is the process in which the surrogate carries a pregnancy conceived with the intended parents’ or donors’ sperm and eggs through IVF. This means that the surrogate is not biologically related to the child she carries, making her just the carrier.
The Medical Process of Gestational Surrogacy
The medical process of gestational surrogacy starts with the evaluation of the surrogate’s health and fertility, just like in traditional surrogacy. However, in this process, the surrogate will undergo IVF using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents or donors. The resulting embryos will then be transferred into the surrogate’s uterus, where they will hopefully implant and develop into a pregnancy.
The Differences in the Medical Process of Gestational Surrogacy
The main difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy is the use of the surrogate’s eggs. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no biological connection to the child she carries, which can eliminate any legal or emotional complications. This also makes the intended parents the biological parents of the child, which may be an important factor for some individuals or couples.
Another difference is the higher success rates of gestational surrogacy compared to traditional surrogacy. This is because the surrogate is usually younger and healthier, and the use of IVF allows for the selection of the healthiest embryos to be transferred. The risk of multiple pregnancies is also lower in gestational surrogacy, as only one or two embryos are usually transferred.
Summary
In summary, traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate using her own eggs to conceive the child, making her the biological mother. The medical process includes artificial insemination or IVF using fertility medications. On the other hand, gestational surrogacy involves the surrogate carrying a pregnancy conceived through IVF using the intended parents’ or donors’ eggs and sperm, making her just the carrier. This eliminates any legal or emotional complications and usually results in higher success rates. Both types of surrogacy have their own unique medical processes and considerations, and it is important for intended parents to understand these differences when considering surrogacy as an option.
