5 Myths About Surrogacy Around the World – and the Truth Behind Them

Surrogacy, once a niche subject unfamiliar to many, has in recent years become a widely recognized and discussed topic around the world. The influence of social media, alongside social, regulatory, and scientific developments, has led to greater exposure of the field — but also to the spread of misinformation and myths.
Therefore, we have gathered five common myths — and the truth behind them:

Myth 1: Surrogacy is available to everyone, everywhere in the world
Truth: Surrogacy is regulated differently from country to country. In some countries, such as France and Germany, surrogacy is completely prohibited. In others, strict regulations apply, allowing surrogacy only under certain conditions — for example, exclusively altruistic surrogacy, surrogacy only for married heterosexual couples, or surrogacy permitted only in clear medical cases.

Myth 2: A surrogate can change her mind after birth and keep the baby
Truth: In countries where surrogacy is legally regulated, a binding legal agreement is signed in advance, defining the intended parents’ identity and rights. This agreement secures the legal rights of the intended parents and clearly outlines the parties’ intentions, including eliminating the possibility for the surrogate to change her mind. Moreover, nowadays, cases of surrogates attempting to keep the baby are extremely rare and mostly stem from past instances of “traditional surrogacy” — where the surrogate had a genetic link to the child.

Myth 3: Surrogates do it only for the money
Truth: While surrogates often receive financial compensation (in countries where compensated surrogacy is permitted), many studies and personal testimonies show that even when financial reasons may initially motivate a surrogate, altruistic motives often take on greater significance throughout the process. This is especially true when there is a direct relationship between the surrogate and the intended parents. Many surrogates genuinely choose this path out of a heartfelt desire to help couples or individuals fulfill their dream of parenthood.

Myth 4: Surrogacy uses the surrogate’s own eggs
Truth: In all countries where surrogacy is legally regulated, gestational surrogacy is the standard — meaning the pregnancy is carried using an embryo created from the intended mother’s egg or a donor’s egg, not the surrogate’s own egg. This ensures that there is no genetic connection between the surrogate and the baby.

Myth 5: Any fertile woman can become a surrogate
Truth: Each country sets clear criteria for surrogate candidates. In most places, it is required that the surrogate has experienced at least one successful pregnancy and birth. This experience is important both medically — to reduce potential risks — and legally, as it minimizes the chances of emotional or legal complications in the future.