Surrogacy
Gestational surrogacy, in which an embryo created through IVF is carried by a surrogate. Offered at Mother and Child Fountain of Life Specialist Hospital, Nnewi, following full clinical assessment and independent legal counsel for all parties.
Surrogacy may be considered where pregnancy is not possible or would carry serious risk - absence of the uterus, certain uterine abnormalities, repeated implantation failure, or a medical condition that makes carrying a pregnancy dangerous.
In gestational surrogacy the embryo is created through IVF using the intended parents’ eggs and sperm, or donor gametes where clinically indicated, and transferred to a surrogate who carries the pregnancy. The surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child.
Surrogacy arrangements carry legal and ethical dimensions well beyond the clinical procedure. Nigeria has no single comprehensive statute governing assisted reproduction, and arrangements are shaped by professional guidance and contract. We require that intended parents and surrogates each take independent legal advice before any treatment begins, and we will not proceed without evidence that this has happened.
What the process involves
- Initial consultation - Clinical assessment of the intended parents and review of whether surrogacy is appropriate.
- Independent legal advice - Intended parents and surrogate each instruct their own lawyer. Required before treatment.
- Surrogate screening - Medical, obstetric and psychological assessment.
- IVF cycle - Embryo created using intended parents’ or donor gametes.
- Embryo transfer - Transfer to the surrogate once her cycle is prepared.
- Antenatal care - The pregnancy is followed through our maternity service.
This treatment requires consultation and counselling. Legal and ethical frameworks in this area differ between countries and continue to develop in Nigeria. We provide it only after full assessment and discussion, and we require independent legal advice where an arrangement involves a third party.
Common questions
In gestational surrogacy, which is what we offer, no. The embryo is created from the intended parents’ gametes or donor gametes, and the surrogate carries the pregnancy without a genetic link.
Yes. We require intended parents and the surrogate to take separate, independent legal advice before treatment starts. This protects everyone involved, including the child.
Screening covers medical and obstetric history, infection screening, and psychological assessment. Suitability is a clinical judgement made case by case.