Indian surrogates: Their psychological well-being and experiences

Abstract

The psychological impact of surrogacy on Indian surrogates has not previously been examined. This chapter explores how factors associated with surrogacy within the Indian context may contribute to surrogates’ psychological well-being. We discuss the significance of whether the surrogate sees or meets the newborn(s) and intended parent(s), the secrecy and social stigma associated with surrogacy, the availability of social support from family and other surrogates, and the role of financial compensation. We end by evaluating the relevance of these findings to the new policy inclined towards ‘altruistic’ surrogacy being introduced in India. This research has strong implications for policy by highlighting the features of surrogacy that may affect the well-being of those involved.