sijaissynnytystä

Sijaissynnytys, known in English as surrogacy, is an arrangement where a woman agrees to carry and give birth to a child for another person or couple. The resulting child is then raised by the intended parent(s). There are two main types of surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate mother using her own egg, which is fertilized by the sperm of the intended father or a donor. In this case, the surrogate is the biological mother of the child. Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, involves fertilizing the intended mother's or a donor's egg with the intended father's or a donor's sperm through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The resulting embryo is then implanted into the surrogate mother's uterus. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child.

The motivations for pursuing surrogacy can vary. For individuals or couples struggling with infertility, the absence of a uterus, or recurring pregnancy losses, surrogacy offers a path to parenthood. Same-sex couples may also opt for surrogacy to have a child genetically related to one of them. The legal framework surrounding surrogacy varies significantly by country and even by region within countries. Some jurisdictions permit surrogacy arrangements with varying regulations, while others prohibit it entirely or have strict conditions. These laws often address issues such as compensation for the surrogate, parental rights, and the process of establishing legal parentage. Ethical considerations are also a prominent aspect of discussions surrounding surrogacy, including questions about the commodification of reproduction, the well-being of the child, and the potential exploitation of surrogates.