What is surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an assisted reproductive treatment (ART) in which a woman (surrogate) carries a child in her uterus on behalf of another person because they are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves. For some women, using a surrogate is their only hope of having a child.
‘Gestational surrogacy’ is where an embryo created using an egg and sperm produced by the commissioning parent(s) or donors is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. In these circumstances, the surrogate has no genetic link to the child.
Surrogacy is a highly complex process and there are many important steps in place to ensure all parties are well informed.
The surrogate’s eggs cannot be used to conceive the child.
> Unlikely to become pregnant,
> Unlikely to be able to carry a child or give birth,
> Likely to place their life or health (or that of the baby) at risk if they become pregnant, carry the baby or give birth.
Our medical guidelines for surrogacy include:
> Absence of the uterus,
> An abnormality of the uterus preventing safe pregnancy,
> Other medical conditions making pregnancy too risky for the mother or baby.
Under Naiorbi IVF clinical guidelines the commissioning woman may use her own eggs until her 46th birthday, if medically appropriate. If using donor eggs or embryos, the upper age limit for treatment is the commissioning woman’s 51st birthday.
The commissioning parent(s) must find their own surrogate and it is illegal to advertise for someone to act as a surrogate.
> The surrogate must have previously carried a child and given birth to a live child,
> The surrogate must be at least 25 years of age,
> The surrogate’s eggs must not be used in the conception of the child.
All parties to the surrogacy arrangement must undergo a Criminal Records check (to be sighted by the counsellor providing counselling) and consent to a Child Protection Order check.
It is illegal for a woman to advertise that she is willing to act as a surrogate mother.
Under Nairobi IVF clinical guidelines:
> The upper recommended age limit for the intended surrogate is 40 years of age,
> Only one embryo will be transferred into a surrogate at any given time,
> It is highly recommended that the surrogate has completed her own family.
Satisfying the above eligibility requirements does not guarantee approval for a surrogacy arrangement to proceed.
To find out more information about the Nairobi IVF Centre surrogacy program call our Surrogacy Programme Coordinator on +254 20 2731982.