When a woman is not capable to carry a child, whether due to medical, genetic or social reasons, the couple or single woman may choose to find a surrogate mother who can carry the baby. In other words, surrogacy is the practice wherein a woman carries and delivers a baby for someone else. A contract is usually involved and the surrogate agrees to give in the baby at birth. The contract may or may not include a financial arrangement.

In some cases the surrogate is a family member of the couple wanting to have a child. In other cases the surrogate is found by using an agency that focuses on these issues of fertility. Using a family member could however lead to problems.

A lot of couples decide to use a surrogacy agency to help them find the way the complex personal, medical and legal issues. Having an agency involved helps to bring in a neutral party that can make recommendations without the bias of a personal connection.

There are two options of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy is where the surrogate donates her ovum and is artificially inseminated with the sperm of the man who will become the custodial father. In gestational surrogacy, the embryo is implanted in the surrogate.

There have been a lot of discussions on the issue of surrogate parenting in the past. A lot of people criticize surrogate parenting saying that it is immoral for another woman to carry the child of another woman in her womb. On the other hand, there are also many people who think that surrogate parenting is something that is good. According to these people, there are many women who want to have children but their bodies cannot withstand the rigors of pregnancy and the only way that they can have children is through surrogate parenting.

Since the 1970s, an estimated 35,000 children have been born through surrogate arrangements. Surrogacy offers the infertile, the unmarried, gay and lesbian couples, and many more, the opportunity to become parents. Surrogate mothers come from a range of backgrounds. They may be married or single mothers.