India's rented wombs (womb rent cheaper in India then US)

[donsu]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HF16Df03.html



India's new outsourcing business - wombs


It is a new dimension to outsourcing. An increasing number of couples are coming to India in search of cheaper fertility treatments, donor eggs and surrogate mothers. After turning to Indians to answer customer-service calls, the West, it seems, is now turning to them to carry their babies.

-snip-

In the United States, a couple would have to fork out about US$15,000 to the surrogate mother and another $30,000 to agencies involved. In India, they can do this on a smaller budget - the entire cost ranges between $2,500 and $5,000.

"Reproductive tourism" - as this trade is being referred to - is a booming business. Valued at more than $450 million in India, the industry is growing at a rapid pace. While exact figures are hard to come by, it is said that the number of cases of surrogacy has doubled over the past three years.

-snip-

Doctors in the reproductive-tourism business bristle when they are accused of engaging in unethical practice or when their trade is compared to another booming business - the trade in kidneys. After all, both are exploitative, feeding off the poverty of the donor/surrogate mother. But they insist that there is no exploitation, that the surrogate mother is well looked after by the couple paying for her services. The latter apparently ensure that she eats well when she is carrying the baby. The doctors claim they ensure that the surrogate mothers don't bond with the baby by constantly reminding them that the fetus in their womb is not theirs.

-snip-

But dig deeper and their emotional anguish becomes evident.

What is more, in countries like India where women are often forced to do as ordered by husbands and in-laws, the possibility of family pressure on her to become a surrogate mother for the sake of big money cannot be ruled out. And then there is the social stigma attached to carrying the child of a man who is not her husband.
-snip-
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probably alot of the rented wombs are forced rentals.

and the 'why' of why american/western women can't conceive and/or carry a pregnancy is not discussed.

fertility will continue to worsen for humans and all mammals.

[bleedingheart]

1. This doesn't suprise me at all.

First, this is typical of any exploitation...where there are poor people there are people willing to do something for any amount of cash.

Second, I don't know that there is some sort of epidemic of infertility here in the US, however what I do know is that women do have natural biological clocks and by the time a lot of couples have met, sorted stuff out, paid off debts and finally are ready for kids...sometimes that clock is running out. My cousin waited til she was 37 to start and has nothing but miscarriages and heartbreak...and she isn't going to be able to afford a surrogate or an adoption...all to pricey for her.

[donsu]

2. have you noticed the encrease of fertility clinics - its a booming bus.

and growing

[bleedingheart]

4. there are many reasons for infertility

now I know my personal experiences are antecdotal however...these are the situations I have seen.

1. Maternal age...in addition to my cousin, I have known many mothers who were not prepared for children during their most fertile years and as a result ended up going the fertility treatment, adoption, surrogate or no kids route because of this.

2. Second/Third/Fourth marriage issues...many people remarry and some think it is important to seal marriage with the birth of a child they share...but in many cases maternal and paternal age play a factor at that time.

3. Men with vasectomies...I have actually known of a number of men who had vasectomies during their first marriage....remarried and then the new wife wanted a child and in one case the man I know tried two times to reverse the vasectomy because his new wife wanted a baby so badly (meanwhile she was 40 and he was 46)...they ended up adopting twins from Russia.

4. Venereal Disease - Diseases like Chylamida can cause infertility and sadly they are undetectable at first when they cause the most damage to reproductive organs.

Today infertility can be addressed with better results. I know of many people in my own family who were infertile some 50-60 years ago (Of my dad's 5 sisters, 2 were infertile and they were born in the 1910's.) and there were really no good treatments...so it makes sense that fertiliy clinics are more prevalent today since there are valid treatments.

[REP]

3. Gee, Wonder Why American Women Don't Want To Do This...

Oh, yeah - the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, the psychological damage that is done to a woman who relinquinshes a child for adoption (doesn't matter really who provided the sperm and egg; her body is pregnant) and of course, being treated like a vending machine for the desires of wealthy infertile couples.

Adoption is a great option when it is done in the best interests of the child, not the wealthy couple who decides they want something. Babies are not objects; women are not ambulatory incubators.

And yes, I'll be glad to provide the studies again about the psychological harm done to relinquishing mothers, or just see my journal.