The practice of surrogacy is regulated by regional legislation – in some countries, it is permitted by law, while in others, it is prohibited. In Ukraine, surrogacy is allowed and regulated by several legal acts, including orders from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, and the Family Code.
According to statistics, the number of search queries like “surrogate mother in Kyiv” is constantly increasing. This is linked to the rise in infertility-causing diseases and the overall decline in fertility (a global trend). According to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), surrogacy should be considered a viable alternative for infertility or when carrying a child independently is impossible. We share this view. UAmedTOURS is a modern company specializing in the selection of clinics and assisting foreign couples who wish to undergo surrogacy in Kyiv. Here, infertile couples are helped to become parents, and surrogate mothers are given the opportunity to assist others in exchange for fair compensation.
A Brief History
The first mentions of using a surrogate mother date back to Ancient Rome. However, at that time, women had significantly fewer rights, and the service itself was hardly regulated by the state. When it comes to modern methods and legal regulation of reproductive technology, the first woman to carry a child for an infertile couple was Elizabeth Kane from the United States. The service was formalized with a contract that clearly outlined the conditions. This happened in 1980.
The procedure of carrying a child for an infertile couple by a surrogate mother became possible due to the development of artificial fertilization technologies, particularly in vitro fertilization (IVF). Once doctors learned how to fertilize an egg in a test tube (in vitro) and transplant the embryo into the surrogate mother’s uterus, the demand for the service grew. Infertile couples were given the opportunity to raise their genetically related children. At the same time, the number of women choosing to become surrogate mothers increased.
Who Is the Program Suitable For?
The answer is – for women who, for various reasons, are unable to carry and give birth to a child on their own. If we talk about medical reasons, surrogacy is recommended in the following cases:
- The woman’s uterus is deformed or completely absent (hysterectomy);
- There are deep structural-morphological damages to the endometrial layer, making conception (natural or artificial) and carrying a pregnancy impossible;
- The patient has undergone more than three unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles;
- There is a high risk of miscarriage (due to various reasons);
- Congenital anomalies of the uterus and vagina – absence of the organ (agenesis) or part of it (aplasia), fusion, underdevelopment, or absence of the vagina (atresia), small organ size (hypoplasia), pathological duplication of the uterus;
- A history of severe hereditary diseases caused by defects in nuclear or mitochondrial DNA;
- Autoimmune diseases that reduce fertility or cause immune infertility;
- Diagnosed cancer, such as uterine cancer;
- The woman has undergone radiation or chemotherapy for the treatment of local malignant tumors, resulting in infertility;
- There are high risks of genetic disorders.
Usually, when a woman begins looking for a surrogacy clinic, she already knows her diagnosis. The next step is to choose the right medical center that meets high standards and personal preferences of the woman (or infertile couple). If you are unsure where to turn, choose UAmedTOURS. The company’s specialists will help you select the best surrogacy clinic in Ukraine.
Requirements for Candidates
More and more often on thematic forums or social media, one can come across offers such as “I will become a surrogate mother.” Many women are ready to help infertile couples who have lost hope. Moreover, the service is quite well-paid, along with expenses for travel, accommodation, diagnostic procedures, and more.
The list of requirements for candidates for surrogacy:
- The age of the future surrogate mother should range from 19 to 36 years old.
- The candidate must have good health. This is not only about the reproductive system but also involves evaluating the health of all organs and systems through a range of diagnostic tests and various analyses.
- A mandatory requirement is the absence of harmful habits. Smoking and alcohol consumption (even in small doses) are absolutely unacceptable.
- The future surrogate mother must have at least one healthy child.
- To participate in the surrogacy program, the body must recover from the previous pregnancy. To qualify for the program, the candidate must wait at least one year after the last pregnancy.
- The surrogate mother must be a citizen of Ukraine, as required by the law.
Preparation and Features of the Program
When an infertile couple decides to use the services of a surrogate mother, many questions arise about how the preparation process works, what stages need to be completed, and what to expect. To give a preview, all information can be obtained during a consultation with a reproductive specialist at one of the clinics listed on the UAmedTOURS website. If you are not yet ready to take this step and simply want to know more, here are the stages that all patients at the clinic participating in the surrogacy program go through.
What is included in the program:
- Meeting the surrogate mother. This is an extremely important step. You need to trust the person who will carry your child. Ideally, you should become friends, at least during the period of pregnancy.
- Complete medical examination of the surrogate mother. The doctors and the infertile couple must be confident that the surrogacy program will be successful. For this, the surrogate mother undergoes a comprehensive examination.
- Agreement. A contract is signed between the infertile couple and the surrogate mother, outlining the rights and obligations of each party, as well as the guarantees from the clinic and compensation options in case of failure. Our lawyer will explain all the clauses of the agreement before signing. This is a standard procedure.
- After signing the contract, the woman undergoes hormonal stimulation for ovulation, followed by egg retrieval through transvaginal puncture. The partner (husband) provides sperm for the IVF program.
- Next, the egg is fertilized (in the laboratory), and the embryo is transferred to the surrogate mother’s uterus. If “fresh transfer” is used, the cycles of the surrogate and genetic mother need to be synchronized. This takes longer and is more complicated, which is why many choose to cryopreserve oocytes for use at the appropriate moment.
- After conception, a standard course of screenings is assigned (first, second, and third-trimester screenings).
- The final step is the birth and handover of the child to the couple according to the agreement.
Documents Required for Contract Conclusion
The list of documents needed to prepare the contract is relatively short:
- Original passports and identification codes of all individuals involved in the program.
- Marriage certificate of the couple and the surrogate mother (if married).
- Birth certificate of the child (for the surrogate mother).
At the clinic, the couple and the surrogate mother submit applications to participate in the program. Additionally, the surrogate mother signs a consent form for carrying the child for the biological parents, which must be notarized. If the surrogate mother is married, written consent from her spouse is also required and must be notarized. The clinic provides a certificate for the use of IVF and confirmation of the biological relationship of the future child with one of the parents.
If you haven’t yet decided on a surrogacy clinic and have been searching terms like “looking for a surrogate mother” or “surrogate services,” contact “UAmedTOURS.” The clinics we collaborate with have experienced reproductive specialists, modern reproductive departments equipped according to the best European standards, and a pool of healthy surrogate mothers ready to assist couples.
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Surrogacy
How legal is surrogacy in Ukraine, and which legal acts regulate surrogacy services? In Ukraine, these services are regulated by several laws and legal acts. These include:
- Order No. 787 of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MOH) – This act outlines the requirements for candidates for surrogacy.
- Order No. 52/5 of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine – The rules for registering children carried and born by a surrogate mother.
- Article 40 of the Healthcare Law – This article outlines the confidentiality of surrogacy services.
- Chapter 12, Article 123 of the Family Code of Ukraine – This article recognizes the rights of infertile couples (the clients) over the child born by the surrogate mother.
As shown, surrogacy services in Ukraine are clearly regulated by several laws and legal acts, making it entirely legal from a legal standpoint.
Regarding the ethical side, opinions vary. For some, surrogacy is an acceptable method of treating infertility, while for others, it may be seen as a violation of ethical norms. Ultimately, everyone has the choice to use surrogacy services or not. The same choice is available to women who decide to become surrogate mothers.
Cost of Surrogate Mother Services
At the clinics listed on the UAmedTOURS website, the fee for the surrogate mother after the birth of the child is around $13,000 USD. This amount includes a set of free services, which are initially outlined in the contract. These services include:
- Travel expenses
- Selective meal provisions
- Partial compensation for purchasing special maternity clothes (negotiated individually)
- A full range of diagnostic procedures and examinations, including screenings for the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy
- The procedure for in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Delivery
All compensations and the fee amount are clearly specified in the contract, and for each surrogate mother, this is considered individually.
Surrogacy with UAmedTOURS
The birth of a child is truly a miracle, and most would agree with this sentiment. Unfortunately, not all women are able to carry a child themselves. This is a significant problem, not only in Ukraine but worldwide, where fertility rates are gradually declining and the number of diseases leading to severe forms of infertility is increasing.
Are you interested in becoming a surrogate mother and meet the requirements? Do you feel that you can and want to help infertile couples become parents? You have the opportunity to do so – simply get in touch with the managers at “UAmedTOURS!”
Or, if you belong to those who cannot carry a child on your own, we work with kind and caring surrogate mothers, offering an efficient system for going through the surrogacy program, from the first visit to delivery and even after. UAmedTOURS is your best partner for surrogacy in Kyiv. Contact us, and we will definitely help you!
