Are you a mother who has considered becoming a gestational surrogate but are concerned that the fact that you have had your “tubes tied” will automatically disqualify you? I am here to tell you not to worry about that. Your dreams of gestational surrogacy can still come true.
If you have been wondering about whether your tubal ligation will automatically rule out as a candidate for a surrogate arrangement, you are not alone. This is actually a fairly common question that women interested in gestational surrogacy seem to have. As a matter of fact, when I first looked into becoming a gestational carrier, it was the first question that came to mind.
I first played around with the idea of becoming a gestational surrogate an entire five years after my last child was born. When she was born, I had had my tubes tied. So, when I started looking into gestational surrogacy, I was afraid that my tubes being tied meant that I would be declined right away.
Fortunately, I was wrong. Since that day, I have been blessed to deliver three healthy children as a gestational surrogate- twins and a male singleton.
So, was I the exception or can other women pursue gestational surrogacy despite having had their tubes ties? In short, yes – you can. However, unless you go through surgery or have an IVF treatment, you will not be able to be a traditional surrogate.
Ok, so you may be a little confused. Let me clear it up for you. There are two types of surrogacy – gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy. Both are very commonplace here in the U.S.
With gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother is carrying a child that is not biologically related to her. In other words, it is not the result of her eggs. Instead, the eggs of the intended mother (or an egg donor) are fertilized by the intended father and then implanted into her womb via an IVF treatment. Since the surrogate’s ovaries are not needed, a woman who had had her tubes tied is able to become a gestational carrier.
A traditional surrogacy, however, involves the surrogate donating her eggs. In this situation, she is impregnated with the sperm of the intended father via artificial insemination. Biologically, she is the mother of the child. Since her eggs are necessary for a traditional surrogacy, it is more difficult for a woman who has had her tubes tied to pursue this option. It would involve a lot more money and time.
For women who have had their tubes tied, the best scenario would be to pursue a gestational surrogacy. In fact, women who have had their tubes tied are actually the preferred candidates to be a gestational surrogate. Why? Because there is no chance that she will become pregnant with her own child during the process.
So if you have harbored a fear of what your tubes being tied will do to your chances of becoming a surrogate mother – have no fear. Not only will it not hurt your chances, it may even improve your chances for becoming a gestational surrogate.