There is nothing like parenthood — from the moment you realize you’re about to become one to seeing your kids all grown up. While the journey to parenthood may still be relatively smoother for a lot of women, it’s far more challenging for a few.
With the advancement of technology, there are many options to help individuals and couples expand their families. IVF and surrogacies are some of the most common alternative routes to family building. Although both treatments aim to achieve a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, they’re intrinsically different. Let us explain the difference between these methods.
IVF Procedure
IVF treatment involves fertilizing eggs with sperm outside a woman’s body. It takes several months to complete the procedure.
The procedure starts with hormone therapy to enhance the development of eggs in the patient’s ovaries. The infertile woman is kept under observation with proper medication until she produces matured eggs. Using a simple procedure, eggs are removed and are combined with the male sperms inside a lab.
Meanwhile, the inner lining of the woman’s womb will be prepared with special medications to sustain the pregnancy. After careful observation, one or two quality embryos (fertilized eggs) will be transferred to the woman’s uterus. If the embryos get attached to the uterine wall, pregnancy takes place.
Surrogacy Procedure
In the surrogacy procedure, the intended parent(s) hires a surrogate mother. The surrogate woman carries the baby in her womb as the original mother cannot carry the baby in her womb.
When the surrogate mother is not genetically related to the child she carried, this is called gestational surrogacy. The procedure involves collecting eggs from the original mother (or an egg donor) at the right time which are then fertilized with the father’s (or donor) sperm and are implanted into the womb of the surrogate. In this case, the baby will be genetically the child of the original parents.
Surrogacy is being opted for when a female uterus is got removed due to an underlying medical condition or was damaged by a specific treatment (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy). Couples also choose surrogacy when the woman experiences multiple miscarriages. Same-sex couples also benefit from this family-building option.
Main Differences Between IVF and Surrogacy
The main difference between IVF and Surrogacy is that fertilized eggs are transferred to the patient’s uterus, whereas in surrogacy, the embryo(s) are implanted into the womb of the surrogate. However, both IVF and surrogacy are used to help people achieve their dream of parenthood.
Before deciding between surrogacy and IVF, consult a fertility specialist to choose the best treatment approach. There is nothing wrong with both the procedures and you can even discuss with your friends and family to choose the right option for you.
Take Your First Step Today with AtlasCARE IVF!
If you are planning for a biological child, AtlasCARE is the right place for you. Every fertility treatment plan is reviewed by our team throughout the process. Moreover, the clinic offers efficient treatments at an affordable cost. Do not delay and book your appointment today!