# Surrogacy > Citation bundle for Surrogacy on The Treatment Registry. > URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/surrogacy > Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/surrogacy - Category: ivf-fertility ## Description Surrogacy is an arrangement whereby a woman gets pregnant and gives birth on behalf of another person or couple who will become the child's legal parents after birth. People pursue surrogacy for a variety of reasons such as infertility, dangers or undesirable factors of pregnancy, or when pregnancy is a medical impossibility. ## Overview Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth on behalf of another person or couple, who become the child's legal parents after birth. People pursue surrogacy for reasons such as infertility, medical dangers or other undesirable factors of pregnancy, or when pregnancy is medically impossible. The woman who carries the pregnancy is the gestational carrier, also called the surrogate or birth mother, and those who take custody are the intended or commissioning parents; gestational carriers are usually introduced to intended parents through third-party agencies or other matching channels. There are two main forms. In gestational surrogacy, also called host or full surrogacy, an embryo created by in-vitro fertilisation is transferred to the carrier, and the resulting child is genetically unrelated to her; the embryo may be created from the intended parents' own egg and sperm, from a donor egg or donor sperm, or from a donated embryo. In traditional surrogacy, also called partial, natural or straight surrogacy, the carrier's own egg is fertilised, usually by the intended father's or a donor's sperm, so she is genetically related to the child. Surrogacy may be undertaken with or without payment; paying the carrier is known as commercial surrogacy, which is regulated or banned in many jurisdictions. Because the legality and cost vary widely between countries, some intended parents travel abroad to access it, contributing to fertility tourism. Medical indications include an absent or abnormal uterus, prior hysterectomy, repeated implantation failure or miscarriage, and serious heart or kidney conditions that make pregnancy harmful. ## Common risks - Higher overall medical risk for the gestational carrier than carrying her own genetically related baby, including pre-eclampsia - Placenta previa or placental abruption (about 5% of surrogate pregnancies), which can be dangerous for carrier and baby - Higher risk of complications when multiple embryos are transferred and a multiple gestation results - Preterm labour and delivery, particularly in surrogate twin pregnancies - The standard risks that any embryo faces when transferred through IVF ## FAQs ### What is surrogacy? Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth on behalf of another person or couple, who become the child's legal parents after birth. The woman carrying the pregnancy is the gestational carrier or surrogate. ### What is the difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy? In gestational (host or full) surrogacy, an embryo created by IVF is transferred to the carrier, who is genetically unrelated to the child. In traditional (partial or natural) surrogacy, the carrier's own egg is used, so she is genetically related to the child. ### Is the surrogate genetically related to the child? It depends on the type. In gestational surrogacy the child is genetically unrelated to the carrier. In traditional surrogacy the carrier's own egg is fertilised, so she is genetically related to the child. ### Who chooses surrogacy? It is chosen by people facing infertility, single men wishing to raise a child, same-sex couples, and women who cannot safely carry a pregnancy, for reasons such as an absent or abnormal uterus, prior hysterectomy, repeated miscarriage, or serious heart or kidney conditions. ### Is surrogacy legal everywhere? No. The legality and cost of surrogacy vary widely between jurisdictions. Paying the carrier, known as commercial surrogacy, is legally regulated or banned in many countries, and these differences contribute to fertility tourism. ### Are outcomes safe for the baby? Children born through singleton IVF surrogacy have been shown to have no physical or mental abnormalities compared with children born through natural conception. However, multiple gestations carried by surrogates more often result in preterm delivery and associated risks.