Gestational carrier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A gestational carrier is a woman who carries a pregnancy for another woman. She does not provide a genetic contribution (ovum) to the pregnancy but provides strictly a pregnancy carrier service ("a rented womb") and hands the baby over to the biological mother at the conclusion of the pregnancy.
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[edit] Terminology
A gestational carrier service is a form of surrogate motherhood, however there is a tendency now to limit the term 'surrogacy' to those services where both ovum donation and gestational carrier services are done together.[citation needed] A famous situation is the Baby M case that exposed certain legal and ethical risks. Egg donation itself is another example of third party reproduction.
[edit] Usage
Gestational carrier services may be needed in women who have normal ovarian function but have no uterus, be it the result of a congenital defect (i.e. Mullerian agenesis) or a hysterectomy at young age. Also, in some women, the uterus may be damaged from scarring (Asherman's Syndrome) or leiomyoma.
[edit] Carriers
Women who provide such services may be relatives, friends, or individuals specifically recruited through agencies who do this for a payment, but also altruistically. Careful screening is needed to assure their health. Generally it is advisable to secure the services through legal documentation. The gestational carrier incurs potential obstetrical risks.
