-
-
Woman, 61, gives birth to her own grandchild
A 61-year-old Japanese woman has given birth to her own grandchild using an egg donated by her daughter.
-
More and more gay men 'married with children'
Even though it is much more difficult (and expensive) for gay men as opposed to lesbian couples to have children, more and more are choosing the possibility of becoming a biological father with the help of a surrogate mother.
Fertility clinics and surrogacy programs report increased interest from gay men, who often consider getting marriage in order to provide more security and stability for their children.
"We wanted our daughter to know her parents were married — that was the big thing for us," said Tommy Starling of Pawley's Island, South Carolina, who wed his partner of 12 years, Jeff Littlefield, on July 11 in Hollywood. Their two-year-old daughter, Carrigan, was present at the ceremony.
Starling said he and Littlefield had tried previously to adopt a child, but encountered anti-gay hostility. Therefore, the couple opted to become parents through a surrogacy program which can cost up to $150,000, instead.
Gail Taylor, president of surrogacy organistation Growing Generations, believes the option of marriage will, over time, lead to more biological gay dads. "For future generations, knowing they can fall in love, get married, have a child — absolutely, that will become a way of life more than it is," she said. Even though it is much more difficult (and expensive) for gay men as opposed to lesbian couples to have children, more and more are ch... more -
Conceived in Japan, abandoned in Jaipur
She's only 11 days old, and already her fate is tied in legal knots and international complications. Her biological parents are Japanese. When her mother, Yuki Yamada, could not conceive, she chose a surrogate mother in Ahmedabad to carry her child.
The child was born on July 25 in Anand, Gujarat. But a month before that, Yuki divorced her husband, Dr Ikufumi Yamada, and disowned the child. And that, it seems, is the root of all trouble for the infant who still does not have a name.
Her father is keen to take the girl back home to Tokyo, but a law enacted 120 years ago is in the way. First, as Dr Ikufumi is only the biological father of the child, the girl's legitimacy will have to be proved. Secondly, according to the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, a single father cannot adopt a girl child. She's only 11 days old, and already her fate is tied in legal knots and international complications. Her biological parents are J... more -
Credit crunch forces women to donate eggs
The number of women donating eggs to clinics for infertile couples has increased significantly since financial difficulties have hit individuals and families, Fox 5 News reports (in stern and disapproving tones).
It appears that the credit crunch is causing many more women to offer their eggs (and uteruses. Or, um, uterii?) to make some much-needed cash.
The Center For Egg Options in Illinois reports that the number of women donating has increased significantly since April. Fertility centers have also a surge repeat donors and surrogates.
"There's no reason to think that suddenly there's 30 percent more people who have suddenly had this inner feeling to help out people. And what's changed? It’s the economy," said fertility specialist Ed Marut.
A woman who passes the health and psychological screenings can get thousands of dollars in return for her donation.
"The donors will make in the area of $7,000, and the surrogates will make anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 plus," said Nancy Block, founder of the Center For Egg Options.
Dr. Bruce Shapiro, of the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, said compensation is closer to $3,000 to $5,000. But he said he hopes the economy is not the main reason more women are donating.
"We really try to have people who donate for altruistic reasons. That's the best of all worlds," Shapiro said.
He said it is a fairly simple process that takes about three weeks.
$3,000 to $5,000 (that's about £1500 to £2500) for three weeks' work - tempted? Would you donate your eggs or sperm if you were desperate for money? Have you already? What do you think about the ethics of egg or sperm donation, or surrogate mum-ing, for cold, hard cash? The number of women donating eggs to clinics for infertile couples has increased significantly since financial difficulties have hit i... more -
Woman born without a womb to have child
A woman born without a womb will become a mother for the first time after a friend offered to carry her baby as a wedding present.
And I thought people just bought the bride and groom some cutlery! Remind me not to go to any weddings in the near future, my uterus is kind of busy right now.
Fiona O'Driscoll suffers from Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome, which means she was born with ovaries but without a womb, so using a surrogate mother or adopting were her and her husband's only options to have children.
They met mother-of-two Kate Housley through a not-for-profit organisation and after months of getting to know each other she offered to be their surrogate mum just five days before their wedding. She is now carrying the O'Driscoll's biological baby and is due to give birth in October.
The best gift in the world, or a potential emotional minefield? Could you do this for an infertile woman? Should you? A woman born without a womb will become a mother for the first time after a friend offered to carry her baby as a wedding present. ... more -
India's booming womb rental business
Foreign women can pay Indian women one third of what they pay in the US to be a surrogate, but it's a morally complex issue.
-
Wombs for Rent
It costs roughly $80,000 to hire a surrogate mother in the U.S. Couples are turning to India for a cheaper option. An Indian surrogate costs merely $6,000 - $10,000. While it's dramatically less than an American surrogate, it is enough for an Indian woman to buy a house. Judith Warner explores the ethical issues with womb outsourcing. It costs roughly $80,000 to hire a surrogate mother in the U.S. Couples are turning to India for a cheaper option. An Indian surroga... more
-
Pregnancy "outsourced to India"
Jobs being outsourced to India is nothing new, but who would have imagined that ‘giving birth’ would become the latest profession to follow that trend.
The Indian city of Anand, once only famed for its milk, now leads the way in providing surrogate mothers for infertile couples across the globe.
Childless couples from the US, the UK, Taiwan and elsewhere are said to be taking part in the programme which has already yielded approximately 40 babies.
The financial reward for these surrogate mothers is huge with many of them earning from one pregnancy more than they “would make in 15 years”.
Some critics have aired their concerns saying that “a necessity for the infertile could become a convenience for the rich.” Jobs being outsourced to India is nothing new, but who would have imagined that ‘giving birth’ would become the latest profession to f... more -
Latest in outsourcing trends: Pregnancy
Commercial surrogacy is growing in India. Wombs for rent? Hmmmm. What do you think?
-
Cat-bits vs. Rabbit-tens
Not the two animals you would imagine sharing a bed, but according to the orphaned kittens' rescuer, they haven't been happier!
Originally rescued by veterinary nurse Melanie Humble, she hoped her own 'feline friend' would act as a surrogate mum for the six kittens, but was surprised when her cat wasn't interested at all and paw-ned them off onto Melanie's pet rabbit, Summer. They have been inseparable since and refuse to go anywhere without their new mum.
It's quite cute, but does anyone else see the potential risks that may lie ahead? What if the kittens grow up and realise they have been 'sleeping with the enemy' All the other cats in the neighbourhood could turn against Summer and cause a true CATastrophe!
Know of any other strange animal relationships? Not the two animals you would imagine sharing a bed, but according to the orphaned kittens' rescuer, they haven't been happi... more
-
related topics
Surrogacy
Contributors (49)
Surrogacy
