How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in Ontario?

Surrogacy is a form of fertility treatment where a woman that is referred to as the surrogate agrees to get pregnant and bear a child for an individual or a couple that are called the intended parent or parents. Surrogacy is a very crucial family-building option for couples that cannot carry a pregnancy or same-sex couples that desire to have biologically related offspring. The process is complex and requires proper preparation and significant financial involvement. It will also require extensive legal advice, mental and psychological assessment as well as physical and medical fitness. Surrogacy is a legally complex process subject to different laws and regulations in different countries. Sometimes, even different states in the same country will have different laws guiding surrogacy.

What are the types of surrogacy?

Two main forms of surrogacy are generally recognized, they include:

Gestational surrogacy 

In this form of surrogacy, the egg and sperm are obtained from the intended parents or donors. They are then mixed in vitro in the laboratory and an embryo is created. The embryo is then grown in the lab for a few days, with some tests carried out. After which, the embryo is then implanted into the uterus of the surrogate via embryo transfer. After giving birth and carrying the child to term, the surrogate gives the child to the intended parents.

Due to the way the embryo is created, there is no genetic or biological relationship between the surrogate and the baby. This will ensure that there are no legal claims by the surrogate in the instance that she changes her mind about giving up the baby to the intended parents after the delivery. This type of surrogacy is more expensive and complex to carry out. It is also done with the contractual agreement that the surrogate will be settled financially after the surrogacy. This form of surrogacy, while it is preferred by most fertility agencies, is illegal in Canada. It is also referred to as commercial surrogacy.

Traditional surrogacy 

In this type of surrogacy, the surrogate gets pregnant using her own eggs through artificial insemination or intra-uterine sperm injection. The sperm is gotten from the intended father. Since the surrogate uses her eggs to get pregnant, she has a biological relationship with the baby. This form of surrogacy is not popular with fertility agencies due to that fact. However, it is the only form that is legal in Canada. It is also cheaper and less complicated than the gestational form of surrogacy. There is also usually no financial payout for the surrogacy service for the surrogate, but she may be reimbursed for her reasonable medical and other sundry expenses that were spent in the course of the surrogacy.

Surrogacy, while not being an easy process for the intended parents, is deemed necessary as a last resort to individuals who have exhausted all other options in their desire to have their biological children. Usually, the people that resort to it are couples that have a condition that prevents the female from getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. It can also be for same-sex couples who desire to have children that have a biological relationship with them. Some of the conditions that may cause the necessity of surrogacy include:

• Absence of a uterus
• Significant issues with the uterus or the testes
• Inability to biologically carry a pregnancy
• Major medical conditions that may threaten either the fetus or the mother during pregnancy.

How Much Does Surrogacy Cost in Ontario?

In Ontario, like other parts of Canada, it is illegal to pay for surrogacy or to buy human eggs and sperm. However, the Canadian government permits altruistic forms of surrogacy. This means that while it is illegal to pay a surrogate for her services, they can be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses that were incurred in the process of surrogacy, be it medical charges or other expenses. The fertility agencies that match surrogates with parents are also restricted. Commercial services that support either the parents or the surrogate are also prohibited. This is why the exact cost of surrogacy in Ontario is difficult to pinpoint. 

Also, the surrogacy process is not a perfect science; there may be failures which may lead to repetitions and extra costs. This is why the intended parents must be prepared financially before embarking on the surrogacy journey. An example of a situation that can occur is in the instance that the surrogate did not have a free pregnancy, and is confined to bed rest. All the expenses that are incurred will be significantly more than in the instance of a free and uncomplicated pregnancy. 

Furthermore, other sundry charges like transportation to the hospitals are expected to be covered by the intended parents. All these situations mean that the exact cost of surrogacy is hard to estimate, but for the purpose of having a figure, intended parents who want to pursue surrogacy in Canada should have a minimum budget of around 85k dollars. Of course, this is in the instance that everything goes hitch-free and there are no complications.

Things to consider before deciding on surrogacy 

It is important to be aware that surrogacy is a very complicated process. There are a lot of things to consider and decide on before embarking on the journey. Things like the financial costs, the legal aspects, the emotional involvement, and the ethical considerations. Usually, the medical fees of the entire process as well as the welfare of the surrogate lie squarely on the intended parents. This will also include any miscellaneous financial charges. 

The estimated cost of surrogacy may start from around 85k dollars but may climb to around 150k dollars or more. The legal aspect of the process is also crucial: the legal contracts that are required before the process is started, the lawyer fees for the surrogate as well and the ones done after the birth of the child, which is intended to protect the rights and state the responsibilities of all the parties involved in the process. All these should be properly researched and considered by the intended parents before they can start their surrogacy journey.