Medical and Mental Health Implications of Gestational Surrogacy

Abstract Gestational surrogacy in the United States has quadrupled since 1999, but to date, few states explicitly permit compensated gestational surrogacy. Current legal prohibitions are often influenced by outdated and stereotyped understandings of surrogacy. It is increasingly important to understand the current literature on the medical and mental health impacts of surrogacy, as well as how state legislatures have addressed compensated gestational surrogacy in recent years. In this review, we find that there are no significant adverse medical or psychological outcomes for women who are gestational carriers or the children they give birth to. The literature suggests that gestational surrogacy is a safe and increasingly popular option for families so long as rigorous screening and medical, psychological, and social supports are equitably provided. As states move to responsibly legalize and regulate gestational surrogacy, there is a continued need for further longitudinal study of the health and psychological outcomes of gestational surrogacy.