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Surrogacy is generally broken down into two different types, gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy, and two types of surrogates, “gestational surrogates” and “traditional surrogates”.
Gestational surrogates are also referred to as “gestational carriers” or “host surrogates” and traditional surrogates are also referred to as “straight surrogates” or “classic surrogates”. Intended parents via surrogacy are also called prospective or commissioning parents.
Gestational Surrogacy is the most common type of surrogacy arrangement in Canada.
Did you know there are 7 different types of surrogacy arrangements in total?
Gestational Surrogacy (GS)
When the intended mother is not be able to carry a baby to term (due to hysterectomy, diabetes, cancer, etc.) her egg and the intended father's sperm are used to create an embryo (via IVF) that is implanted into and carried by the surrogate. With this method, the child born is genetically related to its parents and the surrogate has no genetic relation.
Traditional Surrogacy (TS)
This involves artificially inseminating a surrogate with the intended father's sperm via IUI, IVF or home insemination. With this method, the child born is genetically related to its father and the surrogate.
Traditional Surrogacy & Donor Sperm (TS/DS)
This involves artificially inseminating a surrogate with donor sperm via IUI, IVF or home insemination. With this method, the child born is genetically related to the sperm donor and the surrogate.
Gestational Surrogacy & Egg Donation (GS/ED)
If there is no intended mother or the intended is unable to produce eggs, the surrogate carries the embryo developed from a donor egg that has been fertilized by sperm from the intended father. With this method, the child born is genetically related to the intended father and the surrogate has no genetic relation.
Gestational Surrogacy & Donor Sperm (GS/DS)
If there is no intended father or the intended father is unable to produce sperm, the surrogate carries an embryo developed from the intended mother's egg (who is unable to carry a pregnancy herself) and donor sperm. With this method, the child born is genetically related to the intended mother and the surrogate has no genetic relation.
Gestational Surrogacy & Egg/Sperm Donation (GS/ED/DS)
When the intended parents are unable to produce either sperm, egg, or embryo, the surrogate can carry an embryo created from a donated egg/sperm. With this method, the child born is not genetically related to the intended parents and the surrogate also has no genetic relation.
Gestational Surrogacy & Donor Embryo (GS/DE)
When the intended parents are unable to produce either sperm, egg, or embryo, the surrogate can carry a donated embryo (often from other couples who have completed IVF that have leftover embryo's). With this method, the child born is not genetically related to the intended parents and the surrogate also has no genetic relation.