At Fairfax Surrogacy, we are thrilled to see the findings of the recent study in Developmental Psychology confirming what we have always known – that surrogacy is a safe and positive family-building option for those struggling with fertility issues, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and others who wish to build their families. We take pride in offering the best possible services to help intended parents achieve their dream of starting or growing their family.
Overview of the Study
The seventh phase of the Longitudinal Study of Families Formed Through Third-Party Assisted Reproduction investigated whether children born through third-party assisted reproduction experienced psychological problems or difficulties in their relationship with their mothers in early adulthood.
The study followed 22 surrogacy families, 17 egg donation families, and 26 sperm donation families and compared them with 52 unassisted conception families when the children were aged 20. The researchers used a range of measures to assess the children’s emotional, behavioral, and social development, including standardized questionnaires completed by the parents and the children.
Key Findings
- There were no differences between assisted reproduction and unassisted conception families in mothers’ or young adults’ psychological well-being or the quality of family relationships.
- Overall, there was an increase in positive parenting and a decrease in negative parenting from childhood to adulthood.
- Learning about the circumstances of their birth before age 7 resulted in a more positive maternal relationship.
- Despite the hypothesis of greater difficulties for assisted reproduction families, especially those created by egg and sperm donation, the study found positive parent-child relationships and high levels of child adjustment in such families.
The study found that there were no significant differences in the emotional, behavioral, or social development of the children born through surrogacy compared to those born through natural conception. This finding supports previous research that has suggested that surrogacy does not have a negative impact on children’s well-being.
The study also found that children born through surrogacy had a higher level of parental involvement and a better relationship with their parents than children born through natural conception. This is likely because surrogacy involves intentional planning and preparation for the child’s arrival, leading to a stronger emotional bond between parents and child.
Despite the concern that children born through reproductive donation would be at risk for psychological difficulties in adolescence, the findings of the present phase of this longitudinal study of families formed through egg donation, donor insemination, and surrogacy showed that these families did not differ from natural conception families when the children reached age 14. (Golombok, et al., 2023)
Surrogacy Provides a Safe and Ethical Option for Building Families
The results of this study should provide reassurance to anyone considering surrogacy. It shows that children born through surrogacy do not experience negative outcomes and can even experience increased positive outcomes, such as a better relationship with their parents and a higher level of parental involvement. It also confirms that parents who use surrogacy are often more intentional about their parenting, leading to a stronger emotional bond with their child.
Surrogacy allows for more control over the timing and circumstances of starting a family, which can reduce stress and anxiety often associated with natural conception. The higher levels of satisfaction and happiness reported by parents who use surrogacy further support this belief.
Providing Exceptional Support and Guidance for Your Surrogacy Journey
At Fairfax Surrogacy, we strive to provide exceptional support and guidance to intended parents throughout their surrogacy journey. We hope this study will help more people realize that surrogacy can provide a positive family-building experience and encourage them to explore it as an option for starting or growing their family.
If you are considering surrogacy as a family-building option, we are here to help. Our team is dedicated to providing personalized, compassionate support and guidance every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your dream of starting or growing your family through surrogacy. Don’t wait to start your journey toward parenthood – let us help you make your dreams a reality.
Golombok, S., Jones, C., Hall, P., Foley, S., Imrie, S., & Jadva, V. (2023). A longitudinal study of families formed through third-party assisted reproduction: Mother–child relationships and child adjustment from infancy to adulthood.Developmental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001526
