Skip to content 
The Difference Between Altruistic Surrogacy and Commercial Surrogacy
- Category
How effective is surrogacy?
Surrogacy can be an ideal family-building treatment for couples and individuals struggling to conceive. Compared to other fertility treatments, surrogacy is more reliable and has high success rates. The success rate of surrogacy is between 75% and 85% which might increase up to 95% with a successful pregnancy. While you begin searching for the best surrogacy agency and different aspects of this method, you must have come across two types of this treatment i.e. altruistic surrogacy vs commercial surrogacy.
Most of the states of the USA and other countries permit commercial surrogacy. While other states or countries do not allow practicing compensated surrogacy, altruistic surrogacy may only be an option for citizens of that country.
Most of the states of the USA and other countries permit commercial surrogacy. While other states or countries do not allow practicing compensated surrogacy, altruistic surrogacy may only be an option for citizens of that country.
Confused? Don’t worry, in this blog for your better understanding, we have covered everything about altruistic surrogacy vs commercial surrogacy and its process. Though both categories of surrogacy use the process of gestational surrogacy wherein the surrogate mother does not have any biological link with the infant, the process of both surrogacy types differ.
Let us walk you through the different aspects of commercial vs altruistic surrogacy to simplify your research phase and help you choose the right option.
Let us walk you through the different aspects of commercial vs altruistic surrogacy to simplify your research phase and help you choose the right option.
Commercial surrogacy vs altruistic surrogacy
Legal issues with altruistic surrogacy
Motivation and money with altruistic vs commercial surrogacy
Pros and cons of commercial surrogacy
Pros and cons of altruistic surrogacy
Bottom Line
Altruistic vs commercial surrogacy
What is altruistic surrogacy?
In an altruistic surrogacy arrangement, no monetary compensation for surrogacy is given to the gestational carrier in exchange for her time, effort, and sacrifices. However, the altruistic surrogate must be someone known, either relative, family, or friend of the intended parents.
In addition, the surrogate can receive reimbursement for medical costs and other vital pregnancy expenses, though it depends on the surrogacy law of a particular country and the terms that both parties agreed to in the contract. Altruistic surrogates agree to carry a child for the intended parents solely out of kindness, compassion, and goodwill.
In addition, the surrogate can receive reimbursement for medical costs and other vital pregnancy expenses, though it depends on the surrogacy law of a particular country and the terms that both parties agreed to in the contract. Altruistic surrogates agree to carry a child for the intended parents solely out of kindness, compassion, and goodwill.
What is commercial surrogacy?
In a commercial surrogacy arrangement, a surrogate receives monetary compensation from the intended parents in exchange for her time, efforts, pain, struggle, and sacrifices that she makes during the pregnancy. In addition, commercial surrogacy is managed by a surrogacy agency or professional in most cases who are expert and well-versed in third-party reproduction.
Furthermore, along with compensation in commercial surrogacy arrangements, a surrogate is entitled to be reimbursed for medical costs and other expenses like maternity clothes, travel costs, and other expenses for her pregnancy. And, in commercial surrogacy, surrogates are anonymous, they don’t have a relationship with the intended parents, and their sole purpose in a surrogacy arrangement is to help the intended parents conceive a healthy child.
Compared to commercial surrogacy vs altruistic surrogacy, the main difference is the monetary compensation for surrogacy. The other factors that intended parents must determine about these two categories of surrogacy are the legal proceedings with altruistic and commercial surrogacy.
To learn more about surrogacy in detail, click on the below articles:
Legal issues with altruistic surrogacy
The laws regarding commercial surrogacy and altruistic surrogacy vary from country to country. In surrogacy in USA, most states permit practicing surrogacy and accept surrogacy contracts. While a few states do not allow conceiving a baby through any form of surrogacy at all. And, commercial surrogacy in Michigan is prohibited.
In a few USA states like Louisiana, only altruistic surrogacy is legalized which means a surrogate mother would not receive any monetary compensation for her efforts and struggles with pregnancy, and only know a woman a family member, a relative, or a friend can be a surrogate mother for the intended parents.
In a few USA states like Louisiana, only altruistic surrogacy is legalized which means a surrogate mother would not receive any monetary compensation for her efforts and struggles with pregnancy, and only know a woman a family member, a relative, or a friend can be a surrogate mother for the intended parents.
Apart from the USA, surrogacy in Canada, surrogacy in Australia, surrogacy in the UK, surrogacy in Brazil, surrogacy in the Netherlands, and other countries permit only altruistic forms of surrogacy arrangements. In an altruistic surrogacy, receiving reimbursement for approved medical and other pregnancy-related expenses is permitted for surrogates but any other monetary compensation for surrogacy is considered illegal in this arrangement.
There are a few surrogacy-friendly states in the USA that permit altruistic surrogacy and commercial surrogacy arrangements. In the states of California, Washington, and the District of Columbia surrogacy professionals or agencies can guide intended parents through the process and assist them to surpass the legalities efficiently.
Purpose and money with altruistic vs commercial surrogacy
While considering surrogacy, intended parents often think that surrogates choose to carry a child for someone only to make money. But the fact is, to become a surrogate a woman and her partner (if applicable) must be financially stable as she won’t receive any financial assistance from the state for the expenses of housing, basic food necessities, and medical care.
When an agency, or surrogacy professional, coordinates with a prospective surrogate, she needs to submit it as proof of her financial stability to showcase that she and her family are capable of managing and maintaining the lifestyle that a pregnant woman needs without being reliant on the compensation for surrogacy, in case of the commercial surrogacy arrangement.
Irrespective of any type – altruistic vs commercial surrogacy, a surrogate mother’s sole purpose must be the joy of carrying the baby, helping the intended parents to begin a family with compassion. If the motivation is otherwise, it can reflect in the surrogacy journey.
Irrespective of any type – altruistic vs commercial surrogacy, a surrogate mother’s sole purpose must be the joy of carrying the baby, helping the intended parents to begin a family with compassion. If the motivation is otherwise, it can reflect in the surrogacy journey.
This is the reason we at Global Star Surrogacy ensure that every prospective surrogate undergoes a thorough medical, physical, and psychological screening test. After a surrogate candidate surpasses a physical screening test she has to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine her motive and emotional readiness for the surrogacy journey. A counselor selects only a candidate who is genuinely interested or enthusiastic to help intended parents conceive a healthy baby.
Whether it is an altruistic or commercial surrogacy arrangement, being a surrogate isn’t about earning dollars but helping someone with generosity and kindness. Often, intended parents have concerns about selecting a surrogate as she is the one who will carry their future son or daughter and when you know a surrogate’s motive, the selection process can become easier.
Whether it is an altruistic or commercial surrogacy arrangement, being a surrogate isn’t about earning dollars but helping someone with generosity and kindness. Often, intended parents have concerns about selecting a surrogate as she is the one who will carry their future son or daughter and when you know a surrogate’s motive, the selection process can become easier.
Pros and cons of commercial surrogacy
While there is ongoing debate and confusion regarding the process and benefits of commercial and altruistic surrogacy all around the world, both processes have their perks and drawbacks, before you commit to one procedure intended parents need to consider the pros and cons of commercial surrogacy.
Pros of commercial surrogacy
- Commercial surrogacy allows the surrogate to be fairly compensated in exchange for her efforts, pain, and emotional struggles throughout the surrogacy pregnancy.
- In commercial surrogacy, with the help of attorney contracts are negotiated beforehand which include compensation for surrogacy which avoids unwanted disputes about reimbursement during or after pregnancy.
- Both parties are legally protected and since the surrogate here is anonymous and experienced so she is more likely to hand over the baby without having any emotional complications.
- There are most commercial surrogacy legal countries and even gay couples and hopeful singles can become parents with the assurance of obtaining a child’s legal custody.
Cons of commercial surrogacy
- Commercial surrogacy can be expensive compared to altruistic as intended parents are responsible to provide compensation for surrogacy to their gestational carrier.
- Commercial surrogacy isn’t legalized in many countries which makes intended parents practice altruistic surrogacy leading to legal or ethical complications.
Pros and Cons of altruistic surrogacy
Out of debate and comparison between two categories of surrogacy, even altruistic surrogacy has its benefits and challenges just as any other treatment or medicine. To help you select your ideal form of surrogacy, we have listed below a few perks and drawbacks of altruistic surrogacy.
Pros of altruistic surrogacy
- Since intended parents are only responsible to provide medical reimbursement to the surrogate mothers, this form of surrogacy become much more affordable than commercial surrogacy.
- Intended parents can have a sense of trust and peace throughout the surrogacy journey as they have an identified surrogate i.e known gestational carrier.
Cons of altruistic surrogacy
- Since altruistic surrogacy allows only identified surrogates, this may lead to emotional complications after the birth of the infant as a carrier is someone from the family she may find it difficult to hand over the baby.
- Intended parents may feel they have less control over surrogacy pregnancy in altruistic surrogacy. When a surrogate is known, intended parents may feel hesitant to make a specific request to the surrogate if they aren’t compensating her.
- A surrogate mother in altruistic surrogacy may feel pressured to enter into a surrogacy journey in some cases. At times, the surrogate may be underappreciated just because she is someone from the family, overall situations like these can have an adverse impact on the relationship between the intended parents and surrogate post-pregnancy.
Places where commercial surrogacy is legal
Bottom Line
Altruistic vs commercial surrogacy, both have their benefits and challenges to look after. However, the reason why intended parents choose commercial surrogacy is to avoid emotional and legal complications with their close ones. And, in some cases having a relative as your surrogate may not feel comfortable or an appropriate arrangement for some couples or individuals.
Global Star Surrogacy is known for assisting intended parents to conceive a baby through commercial surrogacy. From consulting you with the right guidance to helping you to protect your legal rights, we ensure you have a hassle-free experience. If you have any further queries, you can visit our website or book our free consultation call.
Global Star Surrogacy is known for assisting intended parents to conceive a baby through commercial surrogacy. From consulting you with the right guidance to helping you to protect your legal rights, we ensure you have a hassle-free experience. If you have any further queries, you can visit our website or book our free consultation call.
