March is Surrogacy Awareness Month in the United States, and for me, it’s a time to reflect on the incredible journey that led to my son’s arrival. Every day, I’m reminded of the love and selflessness of our amazing gestational surrogate, who carried and delivered him into this world. Thanks to her, my dream of becoming a parent became a reality.
As I look around, I see more and more families like mine who have turned to surrogacy as a way to build or grow their families. Surrogacy has come into the spotlight recently as an increasing number of high-profile individuals have shared their experience with building their families in this way. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, and Paris Hilton have all opened up about their journeys with surrogacy, bringing much-needed attention to the countless couples and individuals who face fertility challenges, require third-party assistance to become parents, or are otherwise unable to carry a pregnancy to term. By sharing their stories, these celebrities have helped to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around infertility and surrogacy, highlighting the joy and fulfillment that it can bring to those who choose this path to parenthood.
Surrogacy Awareness Month is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the incredible women who generously offer their time and bodies to help build families by serving as surrogates. But it is also meant to help normalize the conversation around surrogacy, as this method of family building becomes more commonplace thanks to advances in science.
Surrogacy by the Numbers
- 1 in 8 couples in America encounter fertility hurdles
- Between 1999 and 2013, about 2% (30,927) of all assisted reproductive technology cycles used a gestational carrier.
- In 2015, 2,807 babies were born via surrogacy in the United States, up from just 738 in 2004.
- According to a Georgetown Law article, in the United States, the average cost of surrogacy ranges from $90,000 to $130,000.
The Gift of Surrogacy
It might sound extreme, but by carrying our son, our surrogate brought me back to life. She healed my broken heart after a long infertility journey. Through bringing our son into the world, she made our parents grandparents, made our siblings aunts and uncles, and gave us the opportunity to hopefully one day be grandparents. The gift of surrogacy gave us our son but also built a family that will span generations. I cannot adequately convey my gratitude for her, and I tear up every time I think of her and what she did for us.
For those who are looking to start a family, surrogacy can be the ultimate gift. It offers the hope and possibility of having a biological child, even if there are medical or other challenges that would otherwise make it impossible. For those who choose to be surrogates, it’s a chance to help someone else start their family, and to give the gift of life and love.
Whether you are looking to start a family of your own, or help a family in need, the Marks Gray Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Technologies team can assist you in your journey. Contact us today!