Surrogacy In Ukraine With World Center of Baby Agency

In this article you will read about:

Surrogacy in Ukraine Laws
Who Can go for Surrogacy in Ukraine
How is a Surrogate Chosen?
How is the Baby Conceived in Surrogacy?
Can Single Women or Same-Sex Couples Benefit from Surrogacy in Ukraine?
Traditional and Gestational Surrogacy
Can a Surrogate Keep the Baby?
How Much Surrogacy in Ukraine Costs?

"My name is Ekaterina, I am the manager of the French-speaking clients' department of the World Center of Baby surrogacy agency. I have 6 years of experience in the reproductive medicine industry, accompanying French-speaking clients throughout all stages of the program - from the first letter asking for help to happy parents leaving home with their child. My job is my passion, as I help infertile couples fulfill their dream of being parents!"

How is the Process of Surrogacy in Ukraine?

"Many specialists take part in the process of surrogacy in Ukraine - these are reproductive doctors, embryologists, ultrasound specialists, obstetricians-gynecologists, pediatricians, lawyers, notaries, translators, nannies, but there are always three main participants in this process - these are the parents - the genetic father who provided their sperm for fertilization and consent after the birth of the child to take on the responsibilities of the father, a genetic mother who provided her egg for fertilization and consent after the birth of the child to take on the responsibilities of the mother (if she is unable to give an egg due to age or health condition, potential parents can apply for an egg donor) and a surrogate mother - a woman who agreed for monetary compensation to bear and give birth to a child from genetic parents without pretending to be the mother of this child. Gestational surrogacy is absolutely legal in Ukraine if all the norms and requirements of the law are respected."

Who can Benefit from Surrogacy in Ukraine?

"Foreign heterosexual couples who are officially married and have a certificate from a doctor, which confirms the impossibility of carrying and giving birth to a child on their own. There are also a number of indications for surrogacy, such as:"

congenital absence of the uterus (Rokitansky syndrome)
hysterectomy
multiple unsuccessful IVF attempts (more than 4)
severe somatic diseases
diseases in which pregnancy and childbirth can threaten a woman's life.
structural and morphological or anatomical changes in the endometrium of the uterus

From which Countries can Patients come for Surrogacy in Ukraine?

"Surrogacy is legal in Ukraine, in contrast to many countries of the world. Our clients come from different parts of our planet, mainly from countries where surrogacy is prohibited. But also from countries where it is allowed at the state level, but prices are significantly higher than in Ukraine. For example, the United States of America, where the cost of surrogacy starts from 80 thousand dollars and can reach 180 thousand (the cost can significantly increase in the event of any medical complications) or in Canada, where the price varies between 80,000-100,000 thousand dollars. Among European countries where such a practice is possible, one can single out Greece, where the prices for surrogacy are 70-85 thousand euros."

Can Single Women or Same-Sex Couples Benefit from Surrogacy in Ukraine?

"According to the legislation of Ukraine, heterosexual couples who are officially married have the right to resort to surrogacy services. Same-sex couples or single women and men cannot use this type of fertility treatment."

How is the Baby Conceived in Surrogacy?

IUI Pregnancy. Photo Credits: freepik.com

"For conception, we use the IVF procedure, which means in vitro fertilization. IVF works using a combination of medications and surgical procedures to help the sperm fertilize the egg and help the fertilized egg implant in the uterus.

For starters, the woman takes the medication as part of hormonal stimulation, due to which several of her follicles will mature and be ready for fertilization. The doctor will then perform an ovarian puncture under anesthesia in order to remove the eggs from her body and fertilize them with the sperm of a potential father in the laboratory using the ICSI technique, which involves taking the best sperm from a sample.

Then there is a stage of cultivation of embryos for 5 days and their further study for genetic abnormalities using PGD / PGS. After signing the contract with the surrogate mother, the received embryos (the number discussed with the parents and the surrogate mother) will be transferred into the uterine cavity. Thus, the surrogate mother will not have a genetic link to the child."

Find Hospitals and Clinics offering Fertility Treatment Worldwide.

What is the Difference Between Traditional and Gestational Surrogacy?

"Gestational and traditional surrogacy have one factor in common: in both cases, a third party (surrogate mother) is involved in carrying the child for potential parents. In the case of traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is the donor of the egg and is thus genetically related to the child she is carrying.

With gestational surrogate motherhood, the surrogate mother has no genetic connection with the child she is carrying. The child in this case has a genetic link with potential parents (or one of them and, accordingly, with the egg donor). At the same time, it should be noted that the traditional type of surrogate motherhood, in which a child is genetically related to a surrogate mother, is prohibited in Ukraine."

How do You Monitor the Baby and Surrogate Mother During Pregnancy?

World Center of Baby Surrogacy Agency Ukraine

"During pregnancy, the surrogate mother and child undergo a series of necessary examinations. These include regular ultrasounds (every month), 2 screenings for genetic pathologies at 12 and 16 weeks, general blood and urine tests, glucose tolerance tests, consultations with a dentist, ophthalmologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, CTG, etc. Everything is in order to be sure that the pregnancy is proceeding correctly. In addition, surrogate mothers are regularly consulted by psychologists and accompanied by our managers, who make sure that the surrogate mother always receives the necessary support on time."

Read more about IVF Treatment Step-By-Step Guide.

What are the Surrogate Laws in Ukraine?

"At the legislative level, surrogate motherhood is regulated in Article 123 of the Family Code of Ukraine, which provides for the procedure for determining the origin of a child from father and mother during artificial insemination and embryo implantation. According to this article, parental rights for a newborn belong exclusively to the couple who is the baby’s biological parents. This article of the law immediately denies the possibility that a surrogate mother can keep the child.

Also, the basis of legal regulation is the Law of Ukraine "On the Fundamentals of Legislation on Health Care" and the Procedure for the Application of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Ukraine, approved by Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine dated 09.09.2013 No. 787. This decree regulates indications and contraindications for resorting to assisted reproductive technologies, requirements for participants in ART programs, and also establishes new forms of reporting documentation in this area."

What Legal and Bureaucratic Processes are Required for Surrogacy?

"In order to do surrogacy in Ukraine, you need to sign and notarize an agreement with a surrogate mother that regulates all processes of carrying a pregnancy, the rights, and obligations of the parties. Also a contract with a clinic that takes over the medical part of the program and a contract with an agency that deals with many processes such as: organizing and coordinating all stages of the program, starting with the selection of the ideal clinic and meeting at the airport, providing accommodation, and ending with the departure of a couple with a child and the necessary documents.

In general, the agency is responsible for the comfort of our clients during their stay in Ukraine. The list of documents required for registration of a child at the embassy of the country depends directly on the embassy of which the clients are citizens. Clients are offered to be accompanied by representatives of the agency in the registry office to register the child and obtain a birth certificate, after which the parents will contact the embassy of their country to register the child with the local civil status authorities."

Who is Eligible to Be a Surrogate Mother?

"According to Ukrainian legislation, a surrogate mother can be a woman who meets certain requirements. Firstly, any woman over the age of 18 can become a surrogate mother. In our agency, the maximum age of a surrogate mother is 36 years, this is not a legal norm, but this is how we protect ourselves from risks during the program both for the surrogate mother and for the child because with age, bearing a child becomes more difficult and the risk of gestational diabetes also rises.

Also, she undergoes a full medical examination in our partner clinics, which includes: consultation with a gynecologist, psychologist, narcologist, therapist, ultrasound OBT, smears, urine tests, tests for genital infections, TORCH - infections, hepatitis, AIDS / HIV, syphilis, mammography, cardiogram, thyroid ultrasound, fluorography, and any additional tests if the doctor considers them appropriate.

Be sure to choose mothers with Rh-positive blood group in order to avoid Rh conflict with the child and not endanger the pregnancy. Also, our coordinators study the social level of a surrogate mother, her education, work, and family. Additionally, surrogate mothers monthly take tests for alcohol, drugs, and nicotine to make sure that she complies with the terms of the contract with her parents. Of course, women with any of these bad habits cannot become surrogate mothers. In addition, we check the surrogate mother for the absence of a criminal record."

What Information About the Surrogate is Disclosed to Clients?

"Under the terms of our contract, we select a surrogate mother for the client. A couple can also express their preferences, and we will definitely take them into consideration. A couple can get acquainted with a surrogate mother even before signing the contract - if clients cannot personally attend the signing, we are happy to organize a Skype conference with their mother, during which they can ask each other all questions.

In the future, we also offer our clients regular Skype meetings with a surrogate mother so that both mother and parents feel connected with each other. This is important to both sides of the process! Also, couples have the opportunity to come for an ultrasound scan with a surrogate mother. Most couples remain in a warm and friendly relationship with their surrogate mother even after the program ends."

What Happens After a Baby is Born? What Happens if the Surrogate Child is Born Sick?

"After the birth of the child, the WCOB team proceeds to register the child with the local registry office, where the parents will appear in the birth certificate as the official parents of the child, the surrogate mother will not be mentioned in this document. To do this, it will be necessary to make a DNA test confirming the genetic relationship with the child and notarize the surrogate mother's refusal of the rights to the child in favor of the parents - this is a pure formality required for the registry office.

After receiving a birth certificate, our employees begin to prepare a package of documents for the embassy of the country where the parents are from, and after passing all the formalities of the embassy, happy parents can return home with their child."

If the Surrogate Child Needs to be Hospitalized, do You Help the Family With This? Or are They on Their Own?

"We offer 6 types of contracts with different prices, some of which cover the costs associated with hospitalization of a child after birth, if necessary, some of the contracts do not provide this possibility. Nevertheless, no one leaves parents in a difficult situation, and our employees are always there to help. We help organize hospitalization, accompany parents, and provide all the necessary assistance, but whether they have to pay for medical services or not depends on the type of contract."

Read also IVF Price Comparison In Different Countries.

What if The Surrogate Child has a Lifelong Illness?

"We all certainly want healthy children, and our agency makes every effort to ensure that the child is healthy and the delivery is successful. That is why we offer our clients the opportunity to test embryos for genetic abnormalities (PGD 5, 9, and 24) before their implantation into the surrogate mother's uterus. In addition, according to the protocols of the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine on the management of pregnancy, every pregnant woman in Ukraine (including surrogate mothers) must undergo screening for genetic diseases at 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy in order to avoid pathologies.

We do our best to protect the child from illness, but we are not Gods to give guarantees. Therefore, parents in need are always warned of such risks and are expected to be held accountable in these matters and on their part as well."

What Happens if the Intended Parents Change Their Minds about the Surrogate Baby?

"A couple may end the contract at any time prior to embryo transfer. After the transfer, if pregnancy occurs, they cannot change their minds, since abortion is carried out only for medical reasons and strictly until the 20th week of pregnancy.

The couples who come to us are desperate for a child. They have years of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant, adopt a child, or overcome a disease that prevents them from carrying out a pregnancy. The likelihood that they will abandon the long-awaited child is reduced to almost zero."

What if the Surrogate Mother Does not Want to Give the Child?

"First of all, it should be reminded that according to the legislation of Ukraine, biological parents have legal rights to a child conceived artificially using their genetic material (sperm and ovum), which the surrogate mother carried and gave birth to.

Also, the law states that the surrogate mother does not have any legal rights to the child, since she has no genetic connection with the child she gave birth to, and also on the basis of a notarized contract signed between the surrogate mother and the parents before transferring embryos into the surrogate mother's uterus."

Read also Top Countries For IVF And Legislation

Do Surrogates Suffer from the Negative Consequences of Surrogacy?

"The emotional connection between mother and child is difficult to subordinate to some kind of rules. There are women who are acutely worried about parting with a newborn, there are those who, from the moment of conception to discharge from the hospital, adjust themselves to the fact that this is not their child and try not to become attached to them.

Either way, we have surrogacy psychologists who help our mothers deal with emotions during pregnancy and after childbirth. On the physical level, the procedures that surrogate mothers undergo during the program do not cause discomfort or negative consequences, since our doctors responsibly approach the process of stimulating the endometrium (according to the protocols of the Ministry of Health) and the management of pregnancy and childbirth. At all stages, there is an escort who helps the surrogate mother to cope with all situations without risks and stress."

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in Ukraine?

"Prices vary and start from 35 000 and end at 150 000 euros. It all depends on the quality of services, their variety, and additional options. In Ukraine, packages with a guarantee and full support throughout the entire surrogacy process are very popular. Such packages provide a birth guarantee of a healthy child with an unlimited number of attempts and complete comfort for the couple since these packages also provide the services of lawyers, translators, and managers.

Under the terms of the package, they have a driver, housing provided by the agency, and limited worries when processing documents for a child - the agency is engaged in all this. The prices of such packages are usually fixed, you do not need to pay anything extra, except for additional options, such as the birth of twins or the choice of a non-standard egg donor."