Whether you have been struggling with infertility for years, or have had it thrust upon you by illness, it is a heartbreaking situation to be in. There have been approximately over 600 successful surrogate births in this country since the first one made the headlines in 1985. Although the vast majority of these have been wonderful experiences for the Surrogate Mother and the Intended Parents, a few have not gone according to plan. Therefore the more information you can gather in the early stages, the better equipped you will be to cope with the myriad of emotions encountered in your surrogacy journey.

Although this website is accessible to anyone using the internet, the information contained within these pages is relevant only to Surrogate Mothers and Intended Parents within the United Kingdom. If you live outside of the UK please read this Adoption

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF SURROGACY

STRAIGHT (This is also known as Traditional Surrogacy): This method uses the egg of the Surrogate Mother and the sperm of the Intended Father. This can be performed in an IVF clinic, but more often the technique of Artificial Insemination happens at home. In this situation the baby is biologically related to the Intended Father and the Surrogate Mother. Although it is the simpler of the two types of surrogacy in as much as conceiving is less complicated, mentally it can be the hardest to accept. Not only for the Surrogate Mother to give up her own biological child, but also for the Intended Mother to accept a child which her husband has fathered with another woman.

HOST (Also known as Gestational Surrogacy): This method uses the egg of the Intended Mother combined with the sperm of her husband or donor sperm. In this case an IVF clinic is always required. The Intended Father's sperm sometimes has to be frozen for 6 months. This depends on which clinic you choose to work with. A baby conceived by this method has no biological connection to the Surrogate Mother. This is by far the more difficult way to get pregnant. The chances of it working are low and it consumes a lot more time and energy to complete. However, many people feel more comfortable knowing the Surrogate Mother has no biological ties to the Surrogate baby she is to carry.

You have to be 100% comfortable with the whole situation, imagine the heartache that can occur when Intended Parents and Surrogate Mothers find out that they do not get along after conception has occurred. Once the pregnancy has started there is no going back. Nine months can be a very long time if you don't have a good relationship. This may sound daunting BUT surrogacy can and does work beautifully.

Surrogacy is legal in the United Kingdom and reasonable expenses can be paid to the Surrogate Mother. This can vary as every person's expenses will be different. Surrogacy Arrangements are not legally enforceable and therefore great care and time is needed before embarking on such a journey to prevent potential problems becoming too great to overcome afterwards.

It is illegal to advertise for a Surrogate in this country like Surrogacy UK in order to receive support from others in the same position.

Surrogacy UK does NOT initiate, negotiate, commission or facilitate surrogacy arrangements as to do so is against the law in the United Kingdom. Members are reminded that it is also illegal to advertise that you are willing to enter into a surrogacy arrangement, so messages posted that may be considered as advertising will be removed.