Many People Think a Woman Should Only Use a Surrogate if It's Necessary

Surrogacy is often seen as a last resort option: something a woman chooses only when all of the other options have been exhausted. Especially for heterosexual couples who do not necessarily physically need to use a surrogate to carry their child, the choice can sometimes be viewed skeptically unless it's required for a mother's health. Experts say there are about 10 common medical conditions that may cause a woman to choose surrogacy. Some of these health-related reasons include infertility, age, a need for certain medications, or pre-existing medical conditions such as a hysterectomy or uterine problems. As such, surrogacy remains a relatively rare occurrence in the United States. Some estimates say that only about 5,000 children per year are born via a surrogate. Finding a surrogate is difficult and challenging for both the surrogate and the expectant mother. Trusting someone to carry a child is a huge leap of faith. Some people often judge women who choose to use a surrogate for reasons other than the medical ones enumerated here. There are stigmas associated with that, such as the idea that women are simply afraid of pain or are vain and don't want to deal with the changes in their bodies. This prevailing view does not need to continue to be the case, however. There are myriad benefits for women who choose to use a surrogate, whether for physical reasons, emotional reasons, or career reasons.