Australians' use of surrogacy

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine
• Family law
• Sociology of family

Background:

• Surrogacy arrangements are a complex pathway to parenthood for many individuals.
• Understanding the motivations and behaviors of intended parents is crucial for policy and support.
• Australian laws regarding compensated surrogacy vary by state, impacting domestic arrangements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of intended parents in Australia.
• To examine current and planned behaviors related to surrogacy arrangements.
• To assess the influence of legal frameworks on surrogacy choices.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to members of Australian parenting support forums in July 2013.
• Participants included individuals considering, commencing, or completing surrogacy arrangements.
• Data collected covered sociodemographic characteristics, arrangement types, costs, and perceived barriers.

Main Results:

• Over half of respondents considered both overseas and domestic surrogacy, with a strong preference for overseas options (92%).
• Only 8% of participants pursued surrogacy within Australia, citing concerns about child retention and process complexity.
• The most common overseas destinations were India and the United States, with significant cost variations.

Conclusions:

• The majority of Australian intended parents opt for compensated overseas surrogacy arrangements.
• Legal prohibitions on compensated surrogacy within Australia do not appear to be a significant deterrent for intended parents.
• Further research into the specific barriers and facilitators of domestic surrogacy is warranted.