sijaissynnyttäjäisyys

Surrogacy, known in Finnish as sijaissynnyttäjäisyys, is an arrangement where a woman carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple who will become the child's intended parents. This arrangement is typically made when the intended parents are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves due to medical reasons, or in cases of same-sex couples or single individuals who wish to have a child.

There are two main types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is the biological mother of the child, as her egg is used and fertilized by the sperm of the intended father or a donor. In gestational surrogacy, which is more common today, the surrogate mother carries an embryo created from the eggs and sperm of the intended parents or from donor eggs and/or sperm. The surrogate mother has no genetic link to the child.

The legal and ethical considerations surrounding surrogacy vary significantly by country and even by region. In Finland, surrogacy is not explicitly regulated by law, and altruistic surrogacy (where the surrogate is not compensated beyond reasonable expenses) is generally considered permissible, although commercial surrogacy is prohibited. The intended parents typically enter into a surrogacy agreement with the surrogate mother outlining the terms of the arrangement. After the birth, legal parentage is usually established through adoption or by legal processes that recognize the intended parents as the child's legal guardians, depending on the specific circumstances and Finnish law. The process requires careful consideration of legal, medical, and emotional aspects for all parties involved.