In the December of 2021, India, which had a $375 million surrogacy business, banned commercial substitution of motherhood. This is a country where 1 out of 6 urban couples face infertility issues. This sudden jolt from the government took away one-tenth of the $4 billion global market for surrogacy. Well, the intended couples from South East Asian areas have found refuge in the Former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The European Asian nation has emerged as the hotspot for surrogacy tourism.
This digital write-up will take a closer look at the concept of procreative tourism, why Georgia and partly Cyprus are the happy grounds for couples looking for a substitution for motherhood, and if you could fulfill your motherhood dreams via this process.
What do you mean by surrogacy tourism?
Surrogacy tourism, alternatively known as reproductive tourism or procreative tourism, is a format of tourism when an intended couple visits another country from their own country to try fertility treatments, in this case, have a baby via surrogacy. Georgia, Ukraine, and Cyprus have recently become hotspots for procreative tourism.
Georgia has become the’ most opted destination with the Russia-Ukraine war and the Greek economic crisis affecting the middle European countries.
But why Georgia specifically? We will see that –
Why is Georgia the hotspot of medical tourism?
You must have heard about this little gem residing in the Caucasus for its snow-capped mountains bordered by sublime beaches where you could enjoy a glass of wine and visit the UNESCO-marked World Heritage Sites. But since 1997, Georgia has legalized commercial surrogacy, introducing IVF tourism for intended parents.
The Article 143 of The Law of Georgia on Healthcare allows the use of egg donation and surrogacy for infertile couples. The substitute mother carries the baby, and when the baby is delivered, the parenthood is legally given to the infertile couple without any hassle.
So, what are those key factors that have cemented the position of Georgia?
1. According to Article 144 of the Healthcare Law of Georgia, it is possible to freeze the male and female gametes for IVF per the couple’s wishes. From thereon, the surrogacy process is conducted as per the couple’s schedule.
2. Gestational surrogacy is not an option in many countries. Recently, Georgia has welcomed a maximum number of couples from India, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh (the first two countries where commercial surrogacy is banned and the last two socially unacceptable).
3. The healthcare system and the medico-legal aspects are laid out clearly in Georgia. The doctors are experienced in this commercial substitution of motherhood format and sometimes have tie-ups with foreign medical professionals for better service. Also, the laws associated with surrogacy are clearly laid out, wherein the baby is handed over to the intended couple with legal parental rights. The surrogate mothers have no right on the baby.
4. Another key area where Georgia triumphs is – the affordable rates for commercial and altruistic surrogacy. Mostly the range is within $40,000 – $50,000, which (if you take current market resources into consideration) is less than a third of what American clinics charge. Also, this is mostly the price range for egg-donor or sperm-donor services.
5. One of the key reasons why surrogacy tourism has got a massive boost from the Georgian domains is – its global reputation and 70-80% success rate. Since 2018, there have been more than 7000 successful surrogacy births, with an embryo transfer rate of 80-100 per month.
6. The Georgian Healthcare system takes specific care that there is no genetic transmission of diseases in the surrogate mother’s womb. There are daily checkups, and the substitute mother and the baby are put under multiple health scans during the pregnancy. The intended parents are also kept in the loop.
7. Georgia’s surrogacy tourism program is not restricted to infertile couples only. Homosexuals, single parents (both sexes), and members of certain religions or cults can also welcome parenthood via this process.
8. The Gestational Carrier Agreement signed between the surrogate and the intended parents clearly states the compensatory amount, details about the birth certificate of the baby (issues a day after he/she is born in the name of the parents) and the relinquishing of the rights of the surrogate mother. Therefore, once your surrogate delivers the baby – the legal issues from this side is cleared out. You will have to take care of the legal complications (if at all) of your home country.
9. The Georgian procreative tourism concept comes with packages you can choose from. You can customize the details – from the egg donation process to the surrogate motherhood to the number of kids you want, as per your requirement. It also has complete control over the fertilization process, where you can pick and choose embryos with genetic factors in mind.
10. It is a legal process, and multiple donors are available for this process. Additionally, if there’s a problem regarding the citizenship of the baby born out of the surrogate mother in their home country, the intended parents could always apply for Georgian citizenship.
Can you be a part of it?
Absolutely. There are no restrictions on citizens of any country specifically. Indeed, as mentioned above, there are certain conditions (which in most cases double up as reasons) before you attempt surrogacy.
Once you fulfill the conditions, the company itself with which you are connected – will get the papers for you. Once the customs of the country clear the papers (which is fairly easy given that Georgia has legalized commercial surrogacy), you are free to leave the country with the new little member of your life.
Key takeaways
Assuming you have read this article, we may thereby conclude you have clarity about surrogacy tourism in Georgia. Be Parent has always been extremely supportive of the intended parents and will always smoothen the process for them.
If you, too, wish to envelop your bundle of cuteness and celebrate the joyous mode, you could always connect with the team at Be Parent via mails and phone calls. The representatives are there to serve your needs. For the latest updates – keep checking the website.
