Commercial surrogacy, a billion-dollar industry projected to reach $129 billion by 2032, is under scrutiny in Europe. While it’s largely banned across the continent due to concerns of commodifying the human body, the demand for surrogacy remains high. Factors driving this demand include delayed childbearing, rising medical challenges, and the growth of LGBTQ+ family-building.
Currently, only a handful of European countries, notably Ukraine and Greece, permit commercial surrogacy. These countries operate in a legal gray area with minimal supervision, leading to a largely unregulated industry riddled with issues such as women trafficking, falsified documents, and sham embryo transfers.
Ukraine was a global surrogacy hub before the 2022 invasion, with an estimated 2,000-2,500 surrogacy contracts annually. Despite the ongoing conflict, the industry continues, with women still carrying pregnancies in war-torn Ukraine. In a controversial move, Ukrainian surrogates now leave their families behind, traveling to Greece and Northern Cyprus to complete pregnancies.
The surrogacy market, valued at $14 billion in 2022, is projected to skyrocket to $129 billion by 2032.
According to Global Market Insights.
Advocates for reform argue that the current practices neglect the welfare of the surrogates. Wes Johnson-Ellis, co-founder of the U.K. non-profit My Surrogacy Journey (MSJ), asserts that surrogates should not have to leave their families to move to another country for the pregnancy to help others build their families.
Johnson-Ellis reveals heartbreaking stories of families who have faced trying circumstances with other agencies. One couple pursuing surrogacy in Cyprus discovered their surrogate was not Cypriot as they had believed but from Eastern Europe. Tragically, the baby did not survive when the surrogate returned to her country and gave birth prematurely. The couple is still fighting to have the baby’s body exhumed and sent back to their home country for a proper burial.
Surrogacy Scandals and Swiftly Shifting Laws
Last year, Greek authorities raided the Mediterranean Fertility Institute in Crete and arrested staff amid allegations of trafficking nearly 100 women from Eastern Europe to act as surrogates. The institute, now closed, was also accused of falsifying adoption papers for clients from countries where surrogacy is illegal.
The Republic of Georgia, once a popular surrogacy destination in Europe, announced last year that commercial surrogacy would be restricted to Georgian citizens only. This has left the legality of programs in Georgia in limbo, affecting intended parents from around the world who had considered the country for surrogacy.
With scandals and swiftly shifting surrogacy laws, intended parents in Europe are scrambling to relocate their embryos to countries with more stable or established surrogacy frameworks, primarily in the Americas.
The Americas: A New Surrogacy Hub?
The United States is the top destination for commercial surrogacy due to its well-established legal framework and advanced medical care. However, it’s also the most expensive, with total costs for IVF and surrogacy averaging $190,000 to $230,000.
Canada has been a more affordable option, with costs for IVF and surrogacy averaging $60,000 to $100,000. Although commercial surrogacy is banned, Canadian law permits altruistic surrogacy, making it a popular choice.
Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico are emerging as attractive alternatives to Europe for intended parents, with costs typically under $80,000. Mexico City has become particularly popular due to its low costs and progressive surrogacy laws.
“There’s no gray. It’s very black and white. And I think with surrogacy, you need black and white.”
According to Johnson-Ellis.
Johnson-Ellis of My Surrogacy Journey reveals that confidence in Mexico is shifting as it has more regulations in place than the U.S., even receiving the support of the Mexican Supreme Court since 2021.
While the surrogacy boom in the Americas is coming at Europe’s expense, advocates argue that Europe’s ban on commercial surrogacy ironically increases the exploitation and coercion of women. They assert that a commercial model provides clarity for all parties involved, eliminating the gray areas in surrogacy agreements.
As the demand for surrogacy continues to rise, the need for clear regulations and protections for all parties involved becomes increasingly vital. Whether in Europe, the Americas, or elsewhere, the welfare of the surrogates must always be a priority.
