Most couples in the world get married with the intent of having children. A most devastating time in a couple's life could be if they are incapable of producing children of their own. There are always other options to turn to, but if adoption or other painful procedures don't appeal to a couple, another controversial option is surrogacy. .
"Surrogacy is where another woman carries a baby for an infertile couple" (surrogacy UK). There are two types of surrogacy: straight and host. Straight Surrogacy is when the surrogate uses her own egg fertilized with the intended husband's sperm. Host Surrogacy is where a surrogate would carry the infertile couples genetic child. This is carried out using the In Vitro Fertilization technique. Dr. Richard M. Levin discovered this procedure in 1979. .
Today's society has both objected to and approved of this topic. If the parents and the surrogate mother agree to do the procedure, no one is being forced to do anything that he/she doesn't want to do. The outcome of this procedure is something so wonderful and rewarding; how could there be anything wrong with it? "Surrogate motherhood, an infertile couple's chance for a miracle and a medical ethicist's gold mine, has become a relative thing" (Twedt). Many people argue over whether surrogacy should be available or not. In a poll, research has found that twenty-four percent of common people think surrogacy should be available to anyone who wants it and can afford it. Forty-four percent think those with medical or gender-specific issues that preclude pregnancy should be allowed to use surrogacy. Thirty-one percent feel that surrogacy should not be available at all. .
Surrogacy has very high success rates. It is one of the most successful forms of reproductive technology. Surrogacy has made dreams come true for many couples. Kayla Cambell gave birth to her sister's triplets. Arlette Schweitzer is the first woman to give birth to her grandchildren.