Surrogacy is a process in which a woman carries and delivers a baby for another person or couple who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves due to medical reasons. In surrogacy, an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) is transferred into the surrogate mother’s uterus, and she carries the pregnancy to term. Surrogacy can be an option for women who have had a hysterectomy, suffer from certain medical conditions, or have experienced repeated pregnancy loss, among other reasons.
A surrogate mother carries an embryo that is created through IVF using the eggs and sperm of the couple or an anonymous donor. The surrogate mother plays an important role in carrying the embryo to term, but she is not biologically related to it.
Surrogacy may be recommended in cases where a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy to term due to medical reasons such as hysterectomy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, chronic disease (e.g. kidney disease, heart conditions), a higher risk of miscarriage or multiple miscarriages, congenital absence or malformation of the uterus, or multiple fibroids. It may also be recommended for same-sex male couples or individuals who wish to have biological children. However, it is important to note that menopause is not an indication for surrogacy. Ultimately, the decision to pursue surrogacy should be made in consultation with a medical professional.
In Greece, there are certain conditions that must be met for a couple to have a child through surrogacy.
The surrogate mother must be between the ages of 25 and 45, be in good health, sign a private agreement, and not use her own eggs.
The woman who wishes to become a mother must be under 45 years old, have proven health problems that prevent her from becoming pregnant, and provide her eggs for IVF treatment.
The couple must cover all expenses related to the surrogate mother’s care and pregnancy, including medical evaluations, psychological evaluations, pregnancy monitoring, prenatal screening, labor and delivery, neonatal hospitalization, and postpartum care. These expenses may include food, accommodation, and travel, depending on the agreement.
After the birth, the relevant court permit must be submitted to the Registry Office, and the baby is registered as the mother. The surrogate mother has no legal say in the matter.
If you are considering this option, we offer extensive counseling on the issue of surrogacy, including emotional and mental effects, necessary tests for surrogate mothers, and optimal IVF methods. We adhere to the legal framework in place.
