If a woman is unable to carry a pregnancy to term, she and her partner may choose a surrogate or a gestational carrier.
A surrogate is a woman inseminated with the sperm from the male partner of the couple. The resulting child will be biologically related to the surrogate and the male partner.
Surrogacy can be used when the female of the couple does not produce healthy eggs that can be fertilized.
In contrast, a gestational carrier is implanted with an embryo that is not biologically related to her. This alternative can be used when a woman produces healthy eggs but is unable to carry a pregnancy to term. If needed, egg or sperm donation can be used in this situation.
