Like natural pregnancy, surrogacy also brings both physical and emotional changes due to hormonal alterations required to prepare women’s physiology to carry the fetus and support its growth of the fetus. Therefore, weight gain, nausea, heartburn, back pain, and swelling are some common side effects of surrogacy as traditional pregnancy. Rarely, serious complications like hypertension and loss of reproductive organs may occur as likely as in conventional pregnancy cases.
Side effects related to physical health
But apart from these natural pregnancy-related side effects, the risk of some additional side effects can occur in surrogacy due to mild to moderate adverse effects of medication prescribed in IVF treatment. Some common side effects are the injection site becoming bruised, temporary skin allergy or pain at the site of injection, etc. During the embryo transfer procedure, the surrogate may experience mild bleeding associated with abdominal cramps. The chance of the development of infection is rare.
However, antibiotic treatment can cure occurred infections. The chance of carrying multiples in surrogacy is higher, which also brings some side effects like placental abruption, preterm labor, low birth weight for the babies, etc. The chances of Cesarean section are higher with multiples and the associated complications may occur.
Follow-up visits for a medical check-up during the gestational period and after childbirth can minimize the physical risks. Therefore, the surrogate needs to follow all the clinical instructions given by her medical professional healthy birth of the child/children along with maintaining her health.
Although it is necessary to mention, that medical screening tests are conducted before commencing the medical treatment of a surrogate to reduce the physical health risks. Therefore, the major risk of physical health issues is minimal with surrogacy.
Side effects related to emotional health
Apart from physical health, emotional health risks also have considerable side effects in surrogacy. Postpartum depression is possible after delivery due to hormonal fluctuation. Emotional health problems may occur due to additional hormonal therapy prescribed to support the IVF process.
Although the surrogate is aware of the fetus, that she carries she has to relinquish it to the intended parents after the birth of the child/children, the building of natural bonding causes emotional attachment. Many surrogates suffer from depressive disorders after detachment from the child.
These side effects burden can be reduced by consultation with surrogacy experts and psychological counseling. Along with this, support from family and friends also helps surrogates to overcome emotional health issues during and after childbirth and relinquish them to the intended parents. Surrogates can also join online social groups dealing with surrogacy, where they can share their problems with others having similar issues and can find out the way to rid of this side effect.
Ravi Sharma is a self-motivated, successful entrepreneur and has a solid experience in the fertility segment. and he is the director at ARTbaby Global (ARThealthcare). He is a pharmacy graduate with post-graduation in business administration and has 14 years of rich experience in the field of infertility segment. He loves to write about IVF, Surrogacy, and other ART (assisted reproductive technology) news, issues, and updates. He is a Pharmacy graduate (B. Pharm) and M.B.A (marketing).
His most recent success includes the successful launch of the medical tourism company, ARTbaby, which offers treatment options for infertility, egg donation, and surrogacy. He likes spending time with his family and writing about various aspects of IVF surrogacy and donating eggs.