In today’s world, Women now have more ability to decide what goes on inside and outside of their bodies. Choosing to have kids is one of these options.
While many women are able to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term without issue, others may face challenges that make it difficult or impossible to conceive naturally.
This is where fertility preservation and surrogacy come in. In this article, we will explore the concepts of fertility preservation and surrogacy and how they can empower women in building a family.
What is fertility preservation?
The practice of preserving reproductive organs such as eggs, sperm, or tissue is known as fertility preservation. There are several reasons why someone might choose to preserve their fertility:
● Medical reasons:
Some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, can damage or destroy reproductive organs or cells.
Fertility preservation allows individuals to store their reproductive cells before undergoing these treatments, so they can try to conceive later.
● Social reasons:
Some people may choose to preserve their fertility because they are not ready to have children yet, but want to ensure that they have the option in the future. This may be due to career goals, financial stability, or other personal reasons.
● Age-related reasons:
As women age, their fertility naturally declines. Women can improve their chances of becoming pregnant successfully later in life by freezing their eggs or embryos when they are younger.
Fertility preservation options
There are several options for fertility preservation, including:
1. Egg freezing:
In order to do this, eggs from a woman’s ovaries must be removed, frozen, and kept for eventual use.
2. Sperm freezing:
This involves collecting and freezing sperm for later use.
3. Embryo freezing:
In this process, sperm is used to fertilize a woman’s eggs in a lab, and the resulting embryos are then frozen for use in the future.
4. Ovarian tissue freezing:
A part of a woman’s ovary, which houses immature eggs, is taken out and frozen in this procedure for future use.
Each of these options has its own benefits and drawbacks, and the choice of which option to use will depend on a variety of factors, including the individual’s age, medical history, and personal preferences.
What is surrogacy?
Utilizing a third party to carry a pregnancy for another person is known as surrogacy. There are several reasons why someone might choose surrogacy:
● Medical reasons:
Some women may be unable to carry a pregnancy to term due to medical conditions, such as a malformed uterus or a history of multiple miscarriages.
● Age-related reasons:
As women age, their fertility naturally declines. Women can improve their chances of conceiving successfully by employing a younger surrogate.
● Personal reasons:
Some people may choose surrogacy because they do not want to or are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves.
Types of surrogacy
Surrogacy can be classified into two forms:
1. Traditional surrogacy:
In order to do this, the intended father’s or donor’s sperm is used to fertilizing the surrogate’s own egg.
2. Gestational surrogacy:
This involves using a surrogate who is carrying an embryo that was created using the sperm of the desired father or donor and the egg of the intended mother. In case you decide to use a donor egg/sperm it involves a separate process of screenings for the egg donor profile.
Due to the fact that there is no genetic connection between the surrogate and the child, gestational surrogacy is more widely employed than conventional surrogacy.
The surrogacy process
There are various steps in the surrogacy procedure:
1. Finding a surrogate:
This can be done through an agency or through personal connections.
2. Legal agreements:
Both the intended parents and the surrogate must sign a legal document outlining the terms of the surrogacy agreement.
3. Medical procedures:
The intended mother will undergo IVF to create embryos, which will then be transferred to the surrogate’s uterus.
Once the embryos have been implanted, the surrogate will undergo medical procedures to get her body ready for pregnancy and to sustain the pregnancy. Before anything else do have detailed knowledge of the IVF process from start to finish.
4. Pregnancy and delivery:
The intended parents will get the child once the surrogate gives birth and carries the pregnancy to term.
Legal and ethical considerations
Surrogacy is a complex process that raises a number of legal and ethical considerations. These include:
● Legal agreements:
It is crucial that all parties sign a formal document outlining the conditions of the surrogacy relationship. By doing so, conflicts can be avoided and everyone’s rights and obligations are made apparent.
● Parental rights:
In some jurisdictions, the surrogate may have parental rights over the child. It’s crucial to have legal counsel to make sure the rights of the intended parents are safeguarded.
● Exploitation:
There are worries that surrogacy can be exploitative, especially when the surrogate is from a developing nation and receives a little sum of money in exchange for carrying the child.
● Emotional impact:
Surrogacy may be an extremely draining experience for everyone involved. To make sure that everyone can effectively traverse the process, it is crucial to seek help and therapy.
Empowering women to build their families
Fertility preservation and surrogacy can empower women to build their families in a number of ways:
● Choice:
By giving women the option to preserve their fertility or use a surrogate, they are able to make choices about their reproductive futures.
● Flexibility:
Fertility preservation and surrogacy allow women to build their families on their own timelines, which can be particularly important for those who are pursuing careers or other goals.
● Access:
Fertility preservation and surrogacy can be particularly beneficial for women who face challenges conceiving naturally, such as those with medical conditions or older women.
Conclusion
Fertility preservation and surrogacy can be powerful tools for empowering women to build their families. By giving women the option to preserve their fertility or use a surrogate, they are able to make choices about their reproductive futures and build families on their own terms.
While there are legal and ethical considerations to be aware of, with the right support and guidance, fertility preservation and surrogacy can be successful ways for women to achieve their reproductive goals.
