Gestational carrier

Gestational carrier is a term used to describe a woman who carries a pregnancy for another person or couple. This process involves the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). The intended parents provide the egg and sperm, which are combined to create an embryo. This embryo is then transferred to the gestational carrier's uterus. The gestational carrier has no genetic connection to the baby.

Overview

A gestational carrier is different from a traditional surrogate, who provides the egg and is therefore genetically related to the baby. The use of gestational carriers has become more common as advancements in reproductive technology have made it possible to separate the roles of genetic and gestational motherhood.

Process

The process of using a gestational carrier involves several steps. First, the intended parents undergo IVF to create an embryo. This involves stimulating the woman's ovaries to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and fertilized with the man's sperm in a laboratory. The resulting embryos are cultured for several days before one or more are selected for transfer.

The gestational carrier undergoes hormone treatments to prepare her uterus for the embryo transfer. Once her uterus is ready, the embryo is transferred into her uterus in a procedure similar to a pap smear. If the transfer is successful, the gestational carrier will become pregnant and carry the pregnancy to term.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The use of gestational carriers raises a number of legal and ethical issues. Laws regarding gestational carrier arrangements vary widely from country to country and even from state to state within the U.S. It is important for all parties involved in a gestational carrier arrangement to seek legal counsel to understand their rights and responsibilities.

See Also

• Assisted reproductive technology
• In vitro fertilization
• Surrogacy

Gestational carrier Resources
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