Desperate Canadian couples turn to foreign surrogate mothers
For infertile couples, miracle babies are the joy of a lifetime, but they often come with a hefty price tag. More affordable surrogate mother candidates are beginning to be found overseas, however.
At Kaival Hospital in Ananad, India, women are lining up to carry babies for Canadian couples at a fraction of the cost, skirting Canadian laws at the same time.
Six years after Canada outlawed the buying and selling of human eggs and sperm and the "renting" of women's wombs, a new international baby-making business is flourishing.
While Canada's assisted human reproduction act prohibits payment for surrogacy, it doesn't prohibit couples from going to foreign countries for surrogacy or other fertility-related services.
The result is rapid rise in "reproductive tourism," a global industry in which more and more infertile Canadians are seeking fertility services abroad that would carry fines of up to $500,000 and 10 years in jail her in Canada, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
At the clinic in Anand, surrogacy costs $22,000 to $25,000 U.S., a fraction of the fees charged in the U.S., where surrogacy can cost $100,000 or more.
But while the service may be making dreams come true for some desperate couples, employing foreign surrogates is highly controversial, likened by some critics as the worst form of outsourcing and one that can potentially maim participants.
However, a recently-proposed law in India would only permit a woman to be a surrogate up to five times and would set a 35-year age limit. This is to ensure that women desperate to be surrogates can't put themselves at risk.
Dr. Nanya Patel, a pioneer in overseas in-vitro services, believes the service she provides is about local people helping people from abroad. Her impoverished surrogates enjoy good medical care, take home a cheque equivalent to several years of work, and the couples take home a baby.
Are these women being exploited or being given a new start in life? Would you travel across the globe and spend $30,000 to start a family? Should others be allowed to do so if they choose?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
At the clinic in Anand, surrogacy costs $22,000 to $25,000 U.S., a fraction of the fees charged in the U.S., where surrogacy can cost $100,000 or more.
But while the service may be making dreams come true for some desperate couples, employing foreign surrogates is highly controversial, likened by some critics as the worst form of outsourcing and one that can potentially maim participants.
However, a recently-proposed law in India would only permit a woman to be a surrogate up to five times and would set a 35-year age limit. This is to ensure that women desperate to be surrogates can't put themselves at risk.
Dr. Nanya Patel, a pioneer in overseas in-vitro services, believes the service she provides is about local people helping people from abroad. Her impoverished surrogates enjoy good medical care, take home a cheque equivalent to several years of work, and the couples take home a baby.
Are these women being exploited or being given a new start in life? Would you travel across the globe and spend $30,000 to start a family? Should others be allowed to do so if they choose?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Share:
Posted by: Andrew | Dec 13, 2021 2:43:28 PM
So now we are even outsourcing our kids! I wonder if Canada is looking at charging import fees lol
Posted by: cv | Dec 13, 2021 9:32:05 PM
Why not. I think its a win win for everyone. Too bad Canada wont allow women here to provide this service. BTW, I am a woman with three kids. All done on my own. But I can certainly understand how women must feel that are having a hard time to conceive.
Posted by: pw | Dec 14, 2021 10:52:39 AM
I totally would do this being a woman who has infertility issues. I have tried 7 rounds of fertility here only to find out it would never have worked as I had endometriosis which blocked one of my tubes so hence should have just flushed the money down the toilet anyway. Doctors here are only worried about lining their own pockets and not the emotional and mental ramifications this has on a couple who are trying to have a child. Ontario should be like Quebec and pay for a couple of rounds of IVF for a female.
Posted by: fertile | Dec 16, 2021 10:32:58 AM
I"m a fertile woman. I have no problems giving birth and have my own children. I would be willing to have someone else's children if someone paid me well, no problem, and I live on Canada.
Posted by: rashmi | Dec 17, 2021 4:35:13 AM
We were pretty bored with our love life and we had seen a few swinger couples on the dating websites, we decided to put up a profile to see what would come of it. Once we got started we found there was no shortage of couples in the same position as us, a bit bored and looking to add some spark to a dull relationship. So far it’s all played out pretty well and we have made some great contacts.
=========================
Sydney swingers
Posted by: Frank | Dec 17, 2021 10:07:04 AM
Really!!! you want some foriener living in a toilet of a country essentially raising your child for the first 9 months of its life?? thats obscene!!! (no this is not a racist rant) but really do you put such little value on the child you are brringing into this world and placing more selfish needs of yourselves to have a child (when God obviouesly in his so called great plan has made you able to have one) that your willing to have it created on diffrent values and upbringing in the womb...
You people are sick and disgusting !!!
Posted by: clink | Dec 17, 2021 4:47:30 PM
i thought pets were for raising kids. no controversy there.
Posted by: Lyn Wilson | Jan 17, 2022 7:56:09 PM
If you are a parent looking for a great surrogate, I can help and we are #1 in consulting. We find surrogates for couples and couples for surrogates.
Drop me an email and I can help you.
Posted by: Peter | May 22, 2021 11:01:40 AM
Why only people with money can have childrens? I mean in case you have infertility problems.