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Surrogacy

Surrogacy gives a couple a chance of having a child where the female partner is unable to carry a pregnancy. Indications for this is where the woman has no womb been advised that it would be life threatening for her to become pregnant or has had numerous unsuccessful attempts at IVF. 

Surrogacy Options

• Partial surrogacy (surrogate mother is genetically related to the child) -the surrogate's own egg is fertilised with the commissioning father's sperm. Assistance and advice can be given regarding self insemination and clinic insemination.
• Full surrogacy (surrogate mother has no genetic link with the child) - egg and sperm from the commissioning couple are used to create embryos which are placed in the surrogate's womb (donated eggs or sperm may also be used).

The unit does not recruit surrogates therefore couples embarking on this route need to find their own surrogate.

For more information about Surrogacy see 'A Gift of Life' (PI-DO-0023).

Further advice regarding surrogacy can be obtained from COTS  (Childlessness Overcome Through surrogacy) or Surrogacy UK (See useful websites).