Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A: I am just starting the process of becoming either a gs or and ai surrogate mother and I do not have any medical insurance and I need some help on figuring out the prices to give prospective couples. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering if you all had some pros and cons that I could think about on these two topics, one is gestational surrogacy and AI surrogacy. If you have any information, it would really be helpful right away if possible. - <a href="mailto:ATKINSONMELISSA@AOL.COM">Melissa</a>

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Surrogate Mothers Online Q & A

Q & A: Financial Issues - Surrogacy

Topics may include compensation, covered expenses, overall costs, etc.

2. I am just starting the process of becoming either a gs or and ai surrogate mother and I do not have any medical insurance and I need some help on figuring out the prices to give prospective couples. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering if you all had some pros and cons that I could think about on these two topics, one is gestational surrogacy and AI surrogacy. If you have any information, it would really be helpful right away if possible. - Melissa - Top

Melissa~

will you be doing your surrogacy independently or with an agency? If you are going through an agency, they coordinator handling your case should be the one getting all the neccessary documents and information for you. If you are
going independent, then you will just have to call around to different insurance companies to get quotes, or talk to an insurance agent and explain the circumstances.

As for Gestational or Traditional surrogacy: I have done both and my feelings and emotions were the same, I didn't feel any different with one being my own genetics or the other not being a part of me at all. You have to ask yourself
if using your eggs will be ok emotionally and psychologically. There is also the process involved with gestational; you will be required to do injections before, during and up to 12 weeks after an embryo transfer. There is minimal
medications used in traditional surrogacy.

Good luck to you in your journey!

Tracie

Melissa,

Not having insurance will make things more expensive for your IPs and you may have to wait awhile to start once you do have coverage because most insurances have a 6 month waiting period before they will cover pregnancy. This does not mean you can't be a SM it just means you and your IPs need to be prepared to move slowly.

As for inputs on GS and AI here are my thoughts on them:

GS- requires the SM to be on medication to prepare her uterus to accept the embryos being transferred into her. Also requires medication post transfer until the embryos have established themselves. (Unless a natural cycle is
done then medication is minimal.) GS carries a high incidence of multiples with twins and triplets being fairly common. GS cost more due to the expense of IVF. GS is easier to do when SM and IPs live far apart because embryos can be frozen and shipped to the SM providing more than one transfer opportunity per retrival. With GS the child has absolutely no genetic ties
to the SM which is sometimes preferred by SMs and IPs.

AI - does not require any medication (but medications can used to increase chance of achieving pregnancy). Risk of multiples is no more than any other time (unless SM is taking meds to increase chance of pregnancy). AI is
relatively inexspensive. AI can become complicated when SM and IPs live far apart because freezing, shipping, unthawing, and preping semen can get complicated and expensive. With AI the child is genetically linked to the
SM.

These are just my opinions and experiences. I hope they help you in your decision.

Lynn - Updated: February 22, 2000
Topics may include compensation, covered expenses, overall costs, etc.

2. I am just starting the process of becoming either a gs or and ai surrogate mother and I do not have any medical insurance and I need some help on figuring out the prices to give prospective couples. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering if you all had some pros and cons that I could think about on these two topics, one is gestational surrogacy and AI surrogacy. If you have any information, it would really be helpful right away if possible. - Melissa - Top: Melissa~

will you be doing your surrogacy independently or with an agency? If you are going through an agency, they coordinator handling your case should be the one getting all the neccessary documents and information for you. If you are
going independent, then you will just have to call around to different insurance companies to get quotes, or talk to an insurance agent and explain the circumstances.

As for Gestational or Traditional surrogacy: I have done both and my feelings and emotions were the same, I didn't feel any different with one being my own genetics or the other not being a part of me at all. You have to ask yourself
if using your eggs will be ok emotionally and psychologically. There is also the process involved with gestational; you will be required to do injections before, during and up to 12 weeks after an embryo transfer. There is minimal
medications used in traditional surrogacy.

Good luck to you in your journey!

Tracie

Melissa,

Not having insurance will make things more expensive for your IPs and you may have to wait awhile to start once you do have coverage because most insurances have a 6 month waiting period before they will cover pregnancy. This does not mean you can't be a SM it just means you and your IPs need to be prepared to move slowly.

As for inputs on GS and AI here are my thoughts on them:

GS- requires the SM to be on medication to prepare her uterus to accept the embryos being transferred into her. Also requires medication post transfer until the embryos have established themselves. (Unless a natural cycle is
done then medication is minimal.) GS carries a high incidence of multiples with twins and triplets being fairly common. GS cost more due to the expense of IVF. GS is easier to do when SM and IPs live far apart because embryos can be frozen and shipped to the SM providing more than one transfer opportunity per retrival. With GS the child has absolutely no genetic ties
to the SM which is sometimes preferred by SMs and IPs.

AI - does not require any medication (but medications can used to increase chance of achieving pregnancy). Risk of multiples is no more than any other time (unless SM is taking meds to increase chance of pregnancy). AI is
relatively inexspensive. AI can become complicated when SM and IPs live far apart because freezing, shipping, unthawing, and preping semen can get complicated and expensive. With AI the child is genetically linked to the
SM.

These are just my opinions and experiences. I hope they help you in your decision.

Lynn - Updated: February 22, 2000

Unless stated otherwise, all responses in the SMO Q&A are courtesy of one or more of the following hosts:

Sherry - Experienced gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement

Linda - New Mommy to twins born via gestational surrogacy and egg donation

Jennifer S. - Experienced AI surrogate

Lynn - New Mommy to a daughter born via traditional surrogacy

Tracie - 5 time egg donor (triplets, 2 sets of twins and 2 singletons) and 3 time surrogate (2-AI, 1-IVF).

Lisa - Experienced egg donor and previous gestational surrogate currently working on her 2nd surrogacy arrangement (Lisa was our former ED host, prior to July 1999.)
Disclaimer: Responses from SMO Q&A Hosts do not necessarily represent the opinions and ideas of SMO. Neither the Q&A hosts nor SMO guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the responses given here. As such, neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts are responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. Neither SMO nor the Q&A hosts shall be liable or responsible to any person or entity for any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly by the information or ideas contained, suggested, or referenced in these responses.

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