The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday 19th of December. The bill is said to help prevent commercialisation of the procedure of surrogacy. Surrogacy Bill aims to curb exploitation of vulnerable women and make the process of surrogacy free of any loopholes. However, the process of surrogacy is one misunderstood subjects especially in countries like India. Using a surrogate mother being a new concept even now, needs more clarity and awareness to different aspects of it like who can become a surrogate mother, how to find a surrogate mother, legal processes behind it and who can opt for surrogacy as a process to become parents. Here's everything you would want to know about surrogacy. Lesbian Couple ‘Give Birth’ To The Same Baby! US Women Take Turns To Carry The Child In Their Wombs. 

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a process of helping couples who are unable to bear a child in any way to have a baby via a different mother. Surrogate mothers help couples from diverse backgrounds to help them have a baby. The process involves. In an arrangement that is usually supported by a legal agreement, a surrogate mother may agree to carry the pregnancy and give birth to a child or children for another person or persons who are unable to have a baby for any legit reason. The parents who opt for a surrogate mother for help will ultimately become the real parents of the newborn child or children.

Two Types of Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy- The process of traditional surrogacy involves a surrogate mother to be artificially inseminated by the intended father or in some case an anonymous donor. The woman then carries the baby to term who is thereby genetically related to both the surrogate mother and the intended father or anonymous donor.

Gestational surrogacy- In the case of gestational surrogacy the egg from the intended mother or an anonymous donor is removed and is fertilised with the sperm of the intended father or anonymous donor in many cases after which the fertilised egg is then transferred to a surrogate who then carries the baby. This causes the child to be genetically related to the woman who donated the egg and the intended father or sperm donor and not the surrogate. Various Lesbian couples are really fond of this process. Surrogacy Bill Passed in Lok Sabha During Winter Session of Parliament; Commercial Surrogacy to be Banned.

Surrogate Mothers- Types of Surrogate Mothers

The different types of surrogate mothers are based on the process opted for surrogacy, i.e. Gestational surrogacy and Traditional Surrogacy. Therefore there are two types of surrogate mothers, gestational surrogates and traditional surrogate. The gestational surrogate is sometimes also called the "birth mother." However, in the case of traditional surrogates, they are the baby's biological mothers.

Who is Eligible to Become a Surrogate Mother?

While there is no legal definition of the eligibility criteria of the surrogate mothers but the surrogate mother should suffice these points-

  1. She should be in good physical and mental health.

  2. She should have carried and delivered at least one child.

  3. She should have had full-term pregnancies free of complications.

  4. Should not smoke or abuse alcohol.

  5. She should be between the age of 25-35 and can act as a surrogate mother only once, according to the recent surrogacy bill passed.

  6. According to the 2016 surrogacy bill passed, both the surrogate mother and the intending couple will need eligibility certificates from authorities appointed by the state and the central government.

Who Can Opt for Surrogacy to Become Parents?

People who unable to become parents by any means can opt for surrogacy. According to the new rule in India, a couple opting for surrogacy will have to provide a certificate of infertility within 90 days. Here are the couples who can choose for a surrogate mother-

  1. Heterosexual couples struggling with infertility

  2. Parents who have a genetic defect or health condition they don't want to pass onto the child, like HIV.

  3. Same-sex intended parents.

  4. Mother facing medical problems with your uterus

  5. If the mother had a hysterectomy that removed the uterus

  6. Conditions that make pregnancy for the couple impossible or risky for their health, such as severe heart disease. However, just yesterday Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 Passed has been passed - Everything You Need To Know About The Bill.

Where Can you Find a Surrogate Mother?

In India, according to the latest Surrogacy (Regulation), Bill 2016 Passed yesterday the surrogate mother should be a close relative of the couple. However, the definition of "close relative" isn't specified. The bill only allows altruistic surrogacy which prevents commercialisation of surrogacy. Moreover, the Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also mentioned while introducing the bill that people who want to opt for surrogacy will have to submit their certificate of infertility with 90 days.

If you are facing issues related to pregnancy, you may want to give surrogacy a try. Surrogacy has helped a lot of distressed couples and even celebrities have opted for the procedure.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 20, 2018 12:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).