Legalization of Paid Surrogacy in New York State: 'A Triumph for Modern Families'

ConceiveAbilities Shares Research on Surrogates' Motivations

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Feb 08, 2021, 16:36 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The state of New York Monday will legalize paid surrogacy, a milestone event that will help thousands of people struggling with fertility build families.

"This is a triumph for modern families," said Nazca Fontes, the CEO of ConceiveAbilities, a nationwide surrogacy and egg donation agency with an office in New York City. "New Yorkers will no longer have to hopscotch around the country, incurring ridiculous costs, absurd inconvenience and now the risk of COVID infection, just to become a parent."

Why A Woman Becomes A Surrogate: ConceiveAbilities' State of Surrogacy research study on gestational carriers found that 3/4 of women surveyed knew someone who had struggled with infertility and 68% of surrogate mothers wanted to help a member of the LGBTQ community build their family. 87% of surrogates said they find joy in helping others and say that it is a deciding factor to become a surrogate.

Surrogacy laws still vary throughout the United States with all but four states allowing paid surrogacy. In Louisiana, paid surrogacy is prohibited, while uncompensated surrogacy is legal only for hetero, married couples. And in Michigan, paid surrogacy is illegal and all surrogacy contracts unenforceable.

"Surrogates provide a much-needed service, but suffer incredible stigma and misunderstanding for the important work they do in building families," said Dr. James Grifo, director of the NYU Langone Fertility Clinic.

ConceiveAbilities recently hired research firm Accelerant Research to better understand surrogates. The firm surveyed 100 surrogates, more than 500 qualified surrogacy prospects, and more than 1,000 women from the general population. Of the surrogates and qualified surrogacy prospects, it found:

More than 60% reported a household income above $75,000.
More than half volunteer regularly.
Nearly half are registered blood and organ donors.
Almost one-quarter of them foster pets.
68% see surrogacy as a way to support the LGBTQ community.
More than three-quarters said they did so because they knew someone personally in need.
Two-thirds said they had first-hand exposure to a relative or close friend's struggle with infertility.

"We found that the single biggest motivation for surrogates is the simple desire to help," Fontes said. "Eighty-seven percent said they find joy in helping others; 74% reported they are motivated by a sense of empowerment as a surrogate."

New York's new law includes the Surrogates' Bill of Rights, the strongest protections for surrogates in the country. These include:

The surrogate must be at least 21-years-old
Intended parents must pay for the surrogate's legal counsel
Intended parents are required to pay for health and life insurance for one year after the surrogate gives birth
Minimum compensation of $35,000 for the surrogate

ABOUT CONCEIVEABILITIES

At ConceiveAbilities, we believe that everyone who wants to become a parent, can. Our egg donor and surrogate agency has helped build thousands of families for a quarter century. Whether you are an intended parent ready to fulfill your family destiny, a surrogate answering your calling or an egg donor wanting to expand what's possible in your life, we are your people.

SOURCE ConceiveAbilities