Oct 10, 2025
The article contends that surrogacy presents serious ethical, health, and psychological risks to both women and children, challenging the prevailing narrative that portrays surrogacy as wholly positive. It urges a shift in the conversation to focus on the rights and well-being of women and children, rather than prioritizing the desires of adults seeking to become parents.
Surrogacy arrangements can exploit vulnerable women by commodifying their bodies and the children they bear. The article highlights testimonies from surrogate-born individuals who describe feelings of loss, commodification, and confusion about their origins. Often, surrogacy intentionally separates children from at least one biological parent, which can lead to psychological trauma and a sense of genealogical bewilderment. The process is criticized for placing adult desires above the best interests of the child.
Women who serve as surrogate mothers face increased health risks, such as hypertension and pre-eclampsia, particularly in gestational surrogacy involving donor eggs. Egg donors have reported complications including blood clots, kidney disease, premature menopause, and even loss of fertility, with little long-term data available to fully understand these risks. Children born through surrogacy are more likely to have low birth weights and face a higher risk of stillbirth, and the long-term physical and psychological effects remain largely unknown.
International surrogacy arrangements introduce complex challenges related to citizenship, legal parentage, and recognition of parental rights. The global surrogacy market is rapidly expanding, with significant differences in national laws and a growing overlap with human trafficking concerns. Some countries have responded by restricting or banning international surrogacy to prevent exploitation and abuse.
There is no international consensus on how to regulate surrogacy. The United States does not officially consider surrogacy to be child commodification, and its laws vary widely by state, with some permitting commercial surrogacy, others allowing only altruistic arrangements, and many lacking clear regulations. The UN Special Rapporteur recommends regulation to prevent exploitation but stops short of calling for a global ban, though some organizations advocate for a worldwide prohibition on commercial surrogacy.
The article argues that discussions about surrogacy should prioritize the rights and welfare of women and children, rather than focusing solely on adult desires for parenthood. It asserts that legal or regulatory reforms alone cannot resolve the ethical challenges and harms associated with surrogacy. Advocacy groups are working to amplify the voices of women and children affected by surrogacy, emphasizing the need for their experiences to be central in policy and cultural debates.
Policymakers are encouraged to place the dignity, health, and fundamental rights of women and children at the forefront of surrogacy discussions. The article calls for society to listen to and support those harmed by surrogacy, ensuring that ethical considerations remain central in legislative and cultural conversations about the practice.