Surrogacy

Dr. Panagiotis Polyzos MD PhD MSc

Obstetrician Gynaecologist
Doctor of Medicine, University of Athens Medical School

Panagiotis Polyzos, Gynaecologist Obstetrician, is active at the Institute of Life - IVF Unit of Iaso Maternity Hospital.

Contents

Surrogacy

Surrogacy

What is surrogacy?

A woman may turn to surrogacy when the uterus is absent or when there is a serious medical condition (e.g., heart disease, high blood pressure, liver or kidney disease, etc.) that makes pregnancy either impossible or dangerous for her life. In such cases, another woman (the surrogate mother) is used, and the embryo — created through in vitro fertilization using the mother's eggs and her partner's sperm — is transferred into the surrogate's uterus.

Surrogacy is also an option for women who have not achieved pregnancy despite undergoing other assisted reproduction techniques.

What is the surrogacy process?

In surrogacy, the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) (IVFis essentially applied. However, the embryo resulting from the couple’s own egg and sperm is transferred into a surrogate uterus.The woman who carries the pregnancy is not the biological mother of the child, since her own egg is not used.

The selection of the surrogate mother is made by the couple themselves. The attending physician certifies both the biological mother's inability to carry a pregnancy and the surrogate mother’s ability to do so. If the potential surrogate is married, her husband's consent is required. Following that, the couple and the surrogate submit a petition to the court. Once the court approves the procedure, the fertility center is authorized to proceed with the embryo embryo transfer.

Legislation and surrogacy

In many European countries, surrogacy is prohibited, but in Greece, it has been legally permitted since 2002 (Law 3089/2002).

The transfer of fertilized eggs from third parties into the surrogate’s body is allowed only with a court authorization. The applicant for the court's permission must be exclusively the woman who wishes to have a child but is medically unable to carry a pregnancy, and she must not be over 50 years old.

Both the intended parents and the woman who will carry the pregnancy must undergo medical screening for HIV, HIV2, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.

Additionally, the surrogate must undergo a thorough psychological evaluation, and her medical suitability for pregnancy must be formally certified.

According to the law, either the biological or the surrogate mother must reside in Greece. Furthermore, the egg must not come from the surrogate, but either from the woman intending to become a parent or from a third-party egg donor.

The surrogacy agreement must be made in writing and without compensation. Reimbursement of expenses related to achieving pregnancy, gestation, childbirth, and postpartum care, as well as compensation for any actual loss (positive damage) the surrogate may suffer due to absence from work or participation in the process, does not constitute unlawful compensation.

Legal guidance in the case of surrogacy is essential in order to avoid any complications during the process. A legal expert, with expertise and experience in reproductive law, will draw up the Private Agreement between the couple, the centre and the surrogate mother in order to protect all parties.

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What is the cost of surrogacy? Are the prices affordable?

The exact cost is determined based on each individual case. To find out the precise pricing and overall cost, please don’t hesitate to contact us .

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