Worldwide Surrogacy Survey Reveals Public Largely Unaware of Gestational Surrogacy as Family-Building Option

Worldwide Surrogacy, Connecticut’s first full-service surrogacy matching agency, today released findings from the poll it conducted for National Surrogacy Awareness Month that shows the populous is largely unaware of or, in some cases, is largely misinformed about gestational surrogacy and its purpose.

The findings are especially intriguing as recent legal changes have made gestational surrogacy a viable family-building option for couples facing infertility, as well as same-sex couples hoping to experience the joy of parenthood.

“Gestational surrogacy plays a vital role in growing many modern families,” said Worldwide Surrogacy Founder and CEO, Victoria T. Ferrara. “It’s fascinating to see that our polls show a significant lack of general knowledge about gestational surrogacy and how it benefits Intended Parents looking for assisted reproduction options.”

In gestational surrogacy, an embryo using sperm from the Intended Father and egg from the Intended Mother (or made from gamete donors) is carried by a gestational surrogate. In contrast to traditional surrogacy, the gestational surrogate bears no genetic connection to the child she is carrying.

The Worldwide Surrogacy survey indicates that 73% of respondents do not know the difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy.

Highlights from the survey reveal:

• 41% of respondents are unaware that there are family-building options for couples facing infertility.
• One-quarter (25%) have not heard of surrogacy as a family-building option.
• 73% of respondents do not know the difference between gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy—and 58% were unaware that there were multiple types of surrogacy.
• 61% of respondents are unfamiliar with the surrogacy process.

The survey also shows that same-sex couples appear to be better informed about assisted reproduction options when compared to the population at large. The survey revealed:

• 70% of those in a same-sex couple are aware that there are options for couples facing infertility compared to 59% of the general audience.
• 62% of same-sex couples claim that they are familiar with the surrogacy process, while only 39% of the general audience claims the same.
• 76% of those in same-sex couples would choose surrogacy as an option whereas only 60% of the general audience would choose the same.

The survey suggests that people who are informed about surrogacy look upon it as a good thing:

• 60% of respondents would choose surrogacy as an option.
• 55% of respondents believe that all people who want to become parents should be allowed to pursue surrogacy to build their families, saying that everyone should have the right to raise a family.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about the surrogacy process,” Ferrara says. “It’s one of the reasons we wanted to find out what people believe, consider, or understand about gestational surrogacy and hopefully raise awareness about the viability of surrogacy as an assisted reproduction option.”

The survey revealed just how unfamiliar people are with gestational surrogacy when compared with other assisted reproduction options:

• 9% of respondents have heard of gestational surrogacy.
• 15% have heard of traditional surrogacy.
• 38% have heard of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

“This is exactly why National Surrogacy Awareness Month was founded,” Ferrara says. “Educating the public about surrogacy is a critical step for our nation. As surrogacy becomes a more widely accepted path to parenthood for couples and individuals, it’s important that everyone understands that their dream of starting or building their family is closer than ever.”

To learn more about Worldwide Surrogacy visit:

https://www.worldwidesurrogacy.org

About Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, LLC

Founded by leading reproductive lawyer Victoria T. Ferrara, Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists is a surrogacy matching agency dedicated to helping Intended Parents of every race, gender, and sexual orientation across the globe build their families through gestational surrogacy. Worldwide Surrogacy approaches the surrogacy process with the utmost sensitivity and professionalism, protecting the best interests of Intended Parents and helping them build the family of their dreams. Our compassionate team of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) legal experts, case managers, social workers, and clinical psychologists bring decades of experience helping both gay and straight couples and singles build their families through surrogacy.