FertilityZone

AN INTRODUCTION TO SURROGACY

Surrogacy could be the answer to your dreams. Whether you have been struggling with infertility for years, or have had it thrust upon you by illness, it is a heartbreaking situation to be in. There have been approximately over 600 successful surrogate births in this country since the first one made the headlines in 1985. Although the vast majority of these have been wonderful experiences for the Surrogate Mother and the Intended Parents, a few have not gone according to plan. Therefore the more information you can gather in the early stages, the better equipped you will be to cope with the myriad of emotions encountered in your surrogacy journey.

The information contained within these pages is relevant only to Surrogate Mothers and Intended Parents within the United Kingdom.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF SURROGACY

STRAIGHT (This is also known as Traditional Surrogacy): This method uses the egg of the Surrogate Mother and the sperm of the Intended Father. This can be performed in an IVF clinic, but more often the technique of Artificial Insemination happens at home. In this situation the baby is biologically related to the Intended Father and the Surrogate Mother. Although it is the simpler of the two types of surrogacy in as much as conceiving is less complicated, mentally it can be the hardest to accept. Not only for the Surrogate Mother to give up her own biological child, but also for the Intended Mother to accept a child which her husband has fathered with another woman.

HOST (Also known as Gestational Surrogacy): This method uses the egg of the Intended Mother combined with the sperm of her husband or donor sperm. In this case an IVF clinic is always required. The Intended Father's sperm sometimes has to be frozen for 6 months. This depends on which clinic you choose to work with. A baby conceived by this method has no biological connection to the Surrogate Mother. This is by far the more difficult way to get pregnant. The chances of it working are low and it consumes a lot more time and energy to complete. However, many people feel more comfortable knowing the Surrogate Mother has no biological ties to the Surrogate baby she is to carry.

You have to be 100% comfortable with the whole situation, imagine the heartache that can occur when Intended Parents and Surrogate Mothers find out that they do not get along after conception has occurred. Once the pregnancy has started there is no going back. Nine months can be a very long time if you don't have a good relationship. This may sound daunting BUT surrogacy can and does work beautifully.

IS SURROGACY LEGAL IN THE UK?
Surrogacy IS legal in the UK. The main proviso is that no money other than 'reasonable expenses' should be paid to the surrogate. While there is no strict definition as what constitutes ' reasonable expenses ' it is left up to the individuals involved in a surrogate arrangement to come to an agreement regarding these expenses. Any costs incurred by a surrogate that are as a result of the pregnancy would be regarded as expenses.

It should also be noted that, at present, the law does not recognise surrogacy as a binding agreement on either parties. There is very little the intended parents can do to secure their position prior to the birth, even in the case of gestational surrogacy where the baby is genetically related to both intended parents and not the surrogate.

Once the child is born and if the intended father's name goes on the birth certificate, then he automatically has equal rights over the child with the surrogate. If not a Parent Responsibility Agreement can be entered into by the intended father with the surrogate mother, which gives them equal rights over the child, this only applies in certain cases, see link above. After six weeks the 'parents' can apply for a Parental Order that will give them full and permanent parental rights over the child. At this stage the surrogate relinquishes all her rights over the child.

It is illegal to advertise for surrogates or intended parents.

(A detailed description of the issues surrounding surrogacy and the law are attached here in the 'Introduction to surrogacy' booklet)

UK SURROGACY WEBSITES

http://uksurrogatefamiliesonline.co.uk/

http://www.surrogacy.org.uk/

http://www.surrogacyuk.org/

SURROGACY SUPPORT UK

CLINICS

Many factors must be taken into account when choosing your clinic. Don't just judge them by their 'live birth rate' alone.

Clinics and Assisted Conception Units all have different criteria. Some only allow younger patients, therefore their success rates will seem higher. Those that also treat the more difficult cases are bound to have a slightly lower success rate but may be better for you.

Another thing to consider is the travelling distance to the clinic. Your Surrogate will have to undergo many tests and scans. She will probably have to juggle these with a busy family life and will be much less stressed if the clinic is no more that 2 hours drive away.

Shortlist 2 or 3 units, go to their New Patient Day and talk to their medical staff. One will probably stand out as being the best for you.


Scotland

Ninewells
Ninewells Hospital And Medical School
Dundee
DD1 9SY

Tel: 01382 632 111
Fax: 01382 633 853

email:
anne.mcconnell@tuht.scot.nhs.uk

Website:
www.acudundee.co.uk

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University of Aberdeen
Department Of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
University Of Aberdeen
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB9 2ZD

Tel: 01224 554 482
Fax: 01224 684 880

email:
a.r.mctavish@abdn.co.uk

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Glasgow Nuffield Hospital
Glasgow Nuffield Hospital
29 Beaconsfield Road
Glasgow
G12 0PJ

Tel: 0141 576 2748
Fax: 0141 339 1352

Website:
www.nuffieldhospitals.org.uk


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Edinburgh
Assisted Conception Unit
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Little France
Edinburgh
EH16 4SU

Tel: 0131 242 2446
Fax: 0131 242 2447

email:
christine.macleod@luht.scot.nhs.uk

Website:
www.edinburghivf.org

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ENGLAND

Manchester Fertility Service
Manchester BUPA Hospital
Russell House
Russell Road
Whalley Range
Manchester
M16 8AJ

Tel: 0161 862 9567
Fax: 0161 860 6120

email:
mfs@bupa.u-net.com

Website:
www.manchesterfertility.com

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Regional IVF and DI Unit, Manchester
The Department of Reproductive Medicine
St Mary's Hospital
Whitworth Park
Manchester
M13 OJH

Tel: 0161 276 6340
Fax: 0161 224 0957


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CARE at the Alexandra Victoria Park
Alexandra Hospital Victoria Park
108-112 Daisy Bank Road
Manchester
M1 5QH
Tel: 0161 257 3799
Fax: 0161 224 4283

email:
info@CAREfertility.com

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Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre
Singleton Hospital
Sketty Lane
Swansea
SA2 8QA

Tel: 01792 285 954
Fax: 01792 285 955

email:
c_ivfcentre@hotmail.com.

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Cardiff Assisted Reproduction Unit
University Hospital Of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
Wales
CF14 4XW

Tel: 0292 074 3237

email:
GregoryL@cardiff.ac.uk

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Brentwood Fertility Centre
The Essex Nuffield Hospital
Shenfield Road
Brentwood
Essex
CM15 8EH

Tel: 01277 263 263
Fax: 01277 201 158

email:
brentwoodfertility@nuffieldhospitals.org.uk


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Birmingham Womens Hospital
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TG

Tel: 0121 627 2699
Fax: 0121 627 2701

email:
amsoud.afnan@bham-womens.thenhs.com

Website:
www.birmingham-ivf.uk.ne

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Middle England Fertility Centre
BUPA Hospital Leicester
Gartree Road
Oadby
Leicester
LE2 2FF

Tel: 0116 265 3023
Fax: 0116 272 0666

email:
cacudep@bupa.com

Website:
www.bupahospitals.co.uk/leicester


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Walsgrave Hospitals NHS Trust
Clifford Bridge Road
Coventry
CV2 2DX

Tel: 02476 538 874
Fax: 02476 538 729 info@uhcw.nhs.uk

Website:
www.uhcw.nhs.uk/

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CARE at the Three Shires Hospital
The Avenue
Cliftonville
Northampton
NN1 5DR

Tel: 01604 601 606
Fax: 01604 603 275

email:
info@CAREfertility.com

Website:
www.CAREfertility.com


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Midland Fertility Services

Third Floor - Centre House
Court Parade Aldridge
West Midlands
WS9 8LT

Tel: 01922 455 911
Fax: 01922 459 020
Email :
mfs@midlandfertility.com

Website:
www.midlandfertility.com

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Bourn Hall Clinic
Bourn Hall
Bourn
Cambridge
CB3 7TR

Tel: 01954 719 111
Fax: 01954 718 826

email:
mary.walmsley@serono.com

Website:
bourn-hall-clinic.co.uk

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The Isis Fertility Centre
The Oaks Hospital
Mile End Road
Colchester
Essex
CO4 5XR

Tel: 01206 752 121
Fax: 01206 852 586

email: info@isisfertility.com

Website:
www.isisfertility.com

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BUPA Chalybeate IVF Programme
Chalybeate Close
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6UY

Tel: 02380 764 318

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BMI Esperance Private Hospital
The Esperance Private Hospital
Hartington Place
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 3BG

Tel: 01323 411 188

email: iuto@sussex-fertility.co.uk

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UCLH
University College London Hospital
The New Wing
Eastman Dental Hospital
256 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8LD
WC1E 6DB


Tel: 020 7837 2905 (direct)
Tel: 020 7837 3675 (direct)
Fax: 020 7278 5152
email:
acu@uclh.org

Website:
www.conception-acu.com

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The Bridge Centre
1 St Thomas Street
London
SE1 9RY

Tel: 0207 403 3363
Fax: 0207 403 8552

email:
bridge@thebridgecentre.co.uk

Website:
www.thebridgecentre.co.uk

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London Fertility Centre
Cozens House
112a Harley Street
London
W1N 1AF

Tel: 0207 224 0707
Fax: 0207 224 3102

email:
info@Lfc.org.uk

Website:
www.Lfc.org.uk

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CRM London
Park Lorne
111 Park Road
London
NW8 7JL

Tel: 0207 616 6767
Fax: 0207 616 6789

email:
info@crmlondon.co.uk

Website:
www.crmlondon.co.uk

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Barts and The London Centre
for Reproductive Medicine
2nd Floor
King George V Block
St Bartholomew's Hospital
West Smithfield
London
EC1A 7BE

Tel: 0207 601 7176
Fax: 0207 601 7181

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London Women’s Clinic
113-115 Harley Street
London
W1N 1DG

Tel: 0207 589 4400
Fax: 0207 631 1170

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Assisted Conception Unit
Kings College Hospital
7th Floor, Ruskin Wing
Kings College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 9RS

Tel: 0207 346 3158
Fax: 0207 346 4542

email:
jeremy.fry@kingsch.nhs.uk

Website:
www.kingshealth.com

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Homerton Hospital
Homerton Row
Hackney
London
E9 6SR

Tel: 0208 510 7660
Fax: 0208 510 7637

email:
fertility.unit@homerton.nhs.uk

Website:
www.the-homerton.demon.co.uk/fertility

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The Harley Street Fertility Centre
122 Harley Street
London
W1N 1AG

Tel: 0207 935 2234
Fax: 0207 935 7401

email:
rgoswamy@aol.com

Website:
www.harleystreetfertility.co.uk

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The Winterbourne Hospital
Herringston Road
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2DR

Tel: 01305 263 252
Fax: 01305 265 424

email:
fertilitycentre@winterbourne-hospital.fsnet.co.uk

Website:
www.bmihealthcare.co.uk

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Bath Assisted Conception Clinic
Forbes Fraser Unit
Royal United Hospital
Combe Park
Bath
BA1 3NG

Tel: 01225 825 560
Fax: 01225 825 558

email:
bacc@ruh-bath.swest.nhs.uk