The surrogacy experience: a survey of psychosocial impacts on gestational carriers

Abstract

Aims/Background: Surrogacy is a complex endeavour, with various medical, legal, financial, interpersonal, and emotional impacts. This study examines surrogacy from the Gestational Carrier (GC)’s viewpoint, with attention paid to motivation, relationship with Intended Parents, and the short- and long-term impacts to self and family members. Design/Method: Fertility clinic patients who carried a pregnancy for other person(s) at least one time were asked by the clinic health psychologist via letter to complete anonymous online/written survey data about their experiences. Data were gathered using a 49-item self-report questionnaire with collection occurring between January 4-March 1, 2019. Results: 28 GCs responded, with last surrogacy ranging from current time (pregnant at time of survey completion) to 5.5 years prior. 93% of respondents were white and 78.5% were married/partnered, with a median age of 33.8 years and median number of own children being 2.6. Most carried 1–2 surrogate pregnancies. Subjects reported primarily altruistic reasons for engaging in surrogacy though 25% also endorsed monetary compensation as being important. GCs largely viewed the surrogacy experience favourably, with positive impacts to self-concept, partner relationships, and children, and reported generally positive interactions with Intended Parents. Almost 70% of GCs worked with a surrogacy agency, and about one-third of these found the relationship to be beneficial. Conclusion: This study supports existing research indicating that surrogacy is generally satisfactory to the parties involved with few negative outcomes. A description of GCs’ experiences with surrogacy agencies, seldom examined in previous literature, adds valuable insights. GCs’ qualitative comments enhance the quantitative data.