Surrogacy and adoption are two ways that people who are unable to conceive and carry their own children for whatever reason can start families. While both are wonderful processes that help families get the children they so desperately desire, their slight differences make one option better than the other for some families. If you are wondering which option—surrogacy or adoption—is better for your family, ask yourself these five questions.
1. How Important is it to Me that My Child is Biologically Related to Me or My Partner?
When families receive children through adoption, the children are usually not related to them in any way. With a surrogate, families have the option of creating a baby with any combination of genetic material from a mother, a father and a donor.
2. Am I Eligible to Hire a Surrogate?
Not everyone who wants to hire a surrogate is eligible to do so. Most IVF doctors will only approve people who have a medical reason for requesting a surrogate, not those who just want to avoid the pregnancy part of having a baby. Adoptions requirements can be less stringent.
3. Can I Afford a Surrogate?
While both adoption and surrogates are very expensive, hiring a surrogate can be even more expensive. According to D. Durand Cook, most infant adoptions cost between $18,000 and $30,000, while most surrogacy arrangements cost between $40,000 and $140,000. These costs may differ greatly, however, depending on what type of insurance you have and what it covers.
4. How Long Do I Want to Wait?
With an adoption, families are generally able to have a new infant in their home in less than a year. With a surrogate, the process can take between 13 and 17 months. This is not a huge difference, but it may be a factor.
5. Which Situation Seems Less Risky to Me?
Both adoption and surrogacy arrangements come with risks. Not only are there health risks to the baby, but there are legal custody issues that can pop up at any time as well. In either situation, the women giving birth to the babies may try to change their minds and keep the children. Research your rights and determine which situation is less risky for your family.
Author Bio: Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer from Sacramento, California. A mother of two, Hannah enjoys writing on blogs of all niches. Parents who decide that surrogacy is the right path for them should contact CSP The Center for Surrogate Parenting.
