Surrogacy programs in Russia too?

Surrogacy programs in Russia too?

In addition to IVF clinics in Ukraine and Georgia, at the beginning of this year, we began cooperation with a clinic offers all types of IVF programs in Russia, including surrogacy programs.

Surrogate motherhood is legally regulated and allowed in Russia, but only for heterosexual couples and single mothers who are unable to have a pregnancy.

Also, the law allows prospective parents to use their own genetic material or donor if they need it, as long as the basic requirements for using donated eggs and sperm are met. Each country has its own model by which this process is organized.

And what is the Russian law on surrogacy?

In Russia, surrogacy is legal under the provisions of the Federal Law on the Basics of Health Care for Citizens of the Russian Federation, published in January 2012. The law grants couples, foreign nationals and unmarried couples the right to participate in gestational surrogacy arrangements in the country under the following conditions:

• Only heterosexual couples and single women are allowed.
• The intended mother should have a medical cause that prevents her from becoming pregnant. The most common causes include uterine deficiency, uterine anomalies, risk of somatic symptom disorder, recurrent failure of IVF, etc.
• Single mothers who have to use their own eggs to create an embryo that will be placed in the uterus of a surrogate mother.

What conditions does Surrogate mother need to meet?

Article 55 of the Federal Law on Health Care establishes a number of conditions for women who wish to be a surrogate mother. It also identifies indications and contraindications to the surrogacy process and determines the medical screening process that both prospective parents and the mother’s surrogate must undergo. All women who are ready to become a surrogate mother can do so as long as they meet the following criteria:

• 20 to 35 years old,
• Have at least one child
• To be physically and mentally healthy
• In case she is married, she also needs the consent of her partner in order to be accepted into the surrogate program.

How do we register as a child’s parents?

Regarding the formalities required to register as the legal parents of a child, the steps to be followed are summarized in the following pieces of legislation:

• Article 51 – The surrogate mother must give written consent in order for the names of intended parents to be entered in the child’s birth certificate.
• Article 52 – When the names of intended parents are entered in the Birth certificate, they are officially the legal parents of the child. A surrogate mother has no right to claim maternity rights and parents cannot waive their rights as legal parents.
• Also, for the registration process to be effective, a document issued by a medical organization confirming the consent of the surrogate mother is required. This request can be found on page 16 of the Law on Civil Status Laws.

With these documents, and birth certificate and written consent of the surrogate mother, intended parents can continue to register the child born through the surrogacy program in their country.

There are also surrogate programs with donated oocytes or sperm

While this is a desirable option, unfortunately in some cases the mother is unable to use her eggs for IVF. In these cases, the use of donor eggs is allowed in Russia.  However, in some countries, such a program can only be implemented if the male partner can use his or her own sperm, as it requires that at the time of registering a child in the country of origin, at least one of the parents has a genetic connection to their future child. When registering a child, genetic affiliation with the child is determined through DNA.

In the case of single mothers, they have no alternative but to provide the eggs themselves to have a baby through a surrogate mother in Russia. According to Russian law, two egg donor profiles are legal in the country:

• Anonymous donors – The identity of the egg donor is not disclosed to the prospective parent, but not the other way around. However, some of the physical characteristics of the donor may be revealed. It is also possible to see a donor picture. This is the most common donor profile in Russia.
• Known donors – Parents and donors may already know each other. This is the case with family members or close friends.

It should be noted, however, that the vast majority of Russian fertility clinics offer exclusively anonymous egg donation programs. Russia is a very popular option for those who need a surrogate program, but it is essential that you keep in mind the set of legal requirements set by Russian law.

Read more about the surrogacy programs we offer in Ukraine, Russia and Georgia HERE or contact us at

office@link4med.com

+381.64.888.6013