Surrogacy and other forms of assisted reproduction, such as egg donation and
sperm donation, have always been surrounded by many misconceptions and myths that are totally false.
However, these myths, although false, continue to circulate in Internet forums and "online media" causing confusion for future parents, surrogate mothers, egg and sperm donors. The following list is here to guide you in any confusion you may have - do not hesitate to add your own concern.
1. Any woman can be a Gestational Surrogate Mother.
FALSE: Not all women are prepared physically and/or mentally to be a surrogate mother. Lifestyle, family dynamics, financial or health problems are just some things that can cause a woman to be disqualified (as a surrogate mother) at some point in her life.
2. The Gestational Surrogate Mother has the legal right to have the baby.
FALSE: Despite recent news reports, the gestational surrogate mother does not have the legal right to have the baby as long as the state laws for the birth of the baby are followed.
3. The baby will inherit DNA from the Surrogate Mother.
FALSE: A medical study from Stanford University has made it clear that a woman carrying a baby of another person does not contribute to the child´s DNA, which has no effect on the child´s DNA distribution or on the physical/mental characteristics of the child. The child already has his/her DNA from the mother and the biological father (or the egg donor and/or sperm donor).
4. My Surrogate Mother is doing it just for money.
FALSE: First, ask any surrogate mother if this is the only reason to be a surrogate mother, and she will probably tell you a little bit of what she thinks. Most, if not all, surrogate mothers really want to make a difference in the world, even if money is involved. There is a sincere desire on most women to help those who cannot conceive and give them the opportunity to enjoy the period of motherhood. If a surrogate mother is doing it just for the money, it is likely that she will not pass the psychological test in most cases.
5. Cesareans and surrogacy do not mix.
FALSE: One in three births in the United States are carried out through cesarean section, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States). In fact, women who want to be a Surrogate Mother should understand that the standard medical protocol for Surrogacy according to most IVF doctors is that it depends on the number of cesarean sections that you have had determined whether you qualify or not. As for prospective parents, talking to your IVF doctor will assure you that a woman can be a surrogate mother while she has had no more than two cesarean sections without complications throughout her life.