IVF vs Surrogacy: Which is the Right Choice For You?

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures such as in vitro fertilization and surrogacy provide a glimmer of hope to couples who have been diagnosed with infertility. When considering fertility treatment in India, you may be unsure which one to choose. IVF vs surrogacy: which is the right choice for you? In this blog, we discuss the differences between them to help you make the right decision.

What Is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is a type of assisted reproductive technology that involves retrieving the eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them outside the body, in a laboratory. An embryo is then transferred to her uterus to help her get pregnant.

IVF can be used to treat both male and female factor infertility issues like poor egg or sperm quality, low AMH, sperm DNA fragmentation, blocked fallopian tubes, and so on.

What Is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a fertility treatment in which a woman carries a baby for another individual or couple. Instead of the intended mother, another woman, known as the ‘surrogate,’ carries the baby for her.

Often, it is because the intended mother cannot carry a pregnancy to term for medical reasons such as not having a uterus, having recurrent miscarriages, having blocked or removed fallopian tubes, and similar reasons that make a pregnancy dangerous or impossible.

Types of Surrogacy and IVF Treatment in India

Surrogacy is broadly classified into four types: altruistic, commercial, gestational and traditional.

Type	Legal Status in India	Description	Drawbacks
Altruistic	Legal	Surrogates receive no monetary reward and are compensated for reasonable medical expenses.	Finding surrogates is harder
Commercial	Illegal	Surrogates receive monetary compensation along with compensation for medical expenses.	Ethically dubious, can result in the exploitation and human trafficking of women
Gestational	Legal	The surrogate’s eggs are not used during the process. The surrogate is not biologically related to the baby.	It can become very expensive, especially when an egg donor is required.
Traditional	Illegal	The surrogate’s own eggs are used during the surrogacy process. The baby is genetically related to the surrogate.	Separating a baby from its biological mother raises ethical issues. Poses legal challenges if surrogates are not willing to give up parental rights.

Now, let’s take a look at the types of IVF treatment offered in India:

Type of IVF	Description	Benefits	Drawbacks
Conventional IVF	Involves both medication and surgical procedures	High success rates and multiple use cases	Poses medical risks like OHSS and ovarian torsion
Natural IVF/Mini IVF	Medication is entirely skipped or reduced to focus on retrieving naturally produced eggs	Useful for patients who are at high risk of OHSS	Has low success rates
ICSI	Instead of waiting for fertilization to occur naturally, sperm is injected into a healthy egg	Improves success rates in cases of male factor infertility	Can damage the eggs when performed carelessly

IVF vs Surrogacy: Key Differences Between The Two

The main difference between IVF vs surrogacy is who carries the baby. Even the medical processes of the two procedures are similar. Here are some other ways in which they differ:

Carrying The Baby

After ovarian stimulation and fertilizing the eggs in vitro, the eggs and sperm are combined to create embryos. In a typical IVF process, the embryo is transferred to the uterus of the intended mother. But in the surrogacy process, the embryo is transferred to the uterus of a third party (surrogate) instead.

Genetic Connection

Both IVF and surrogacy allow intended parents to maintain a biological connection with the baby, unless donor gametes are used.

Legal Considerations

Unlike IVF, surrogacy requires formal contracts and is subject to strict legal guidelines (The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021). While IVF also has strict eligibility criteria (The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021), it does not require formal contracts and a legal procedure to start treatment and establish parental rights.

Ability To Give Birth

Surrogacy in India is only offered to women who are unable to give birth themselves. This may be because pregnancy is highly dangerous or impossible for them. It is often the only way they can have a baby. Meanwhile, IVF allows the intended mother to experience the pregnancy journey.

Cost of Treatment

Cost is an important consideration while deciding on IVF vs surrogacy. While both procedures are expensive, surrogacy costs at least three to four times more than IVF. The average cost of IVF is between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh, while that of surrogacy treatment begins at ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh.

IVF vs Surrogacy: What Is The Best Option For You?

While making the choice between IVF and surrogacy, you should consider your fertility goals, medical history, and legal eligibility for both procedures. If you can give birth, IVF may be the preferred treatment due to its shorter process, fewer legal requirements, and more affordable costs. If you cannot give birth, surrogacy can help you complete your family.

Speak to an IVF and surrogacy expert at Corion Fertility Clinic for expert advice and personalized guidance on your journey to becoming a parent.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Is surrogacy banned in India?
A. No, surrogacy is not banned in India. Commercial surrogacy, in which surrogates are paid, is banned, while altruistic surrogacy is still legal for Indian citizens.

Q. Can women who were born without a uterus become pregnant?
A. Müllerian agenesis (MRKH syndrome) is a rare condition in which a woman is born without a uterus. Women with this condition cannot get pregnant but can have a baby through surrogacy if they produce eggs.

Q. Does surrogacy take longer than IVF treatment?
A. Yes, a typical IVF cycle takes 4-8 weeks, while an average surrogacy cycle can take anywhere between 12 months and 2 years.

Q. Can single women choose surrogacy or IVF in India?
A. Single women can choose IVF treatment in India according to The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. Surrogacy is currently prohibited for single women in India, while divorced women with no children are eligible according to the current laws.

Q. Can same-sex couples choose IVF or surrogacy in India?

A. According to current laws, same-sex couples in India are not eligible for IVF treatment or surrogacy.

Disclaimer:

The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.