Gestational Carrier
A woman who carries an embryo created from another woman's egg, with no genetic relationship to the resulting child.
Full Definition
A gestational carrier, also known as a gestational surrogate, is a woman who agrees to carry a pregnancy for intended parents using an embryo created through IVF. Unlike traditional surrogacy, the gestational carrier has no genetic connection to the child as the embryo is created using the intended parents' gametes or donor gametes. This arrangement requires extensive legal, medical, and psychological screening and coordination. Gestational carriers may be used when the intended mother cannot carry a pregnancy due to medical conditions or absence of a uterus.
Usage
Usage note: Preferred over 'surrogate' in clinical documentation. Emphasize lack of genetic relationship.
In Context
- "The couple required a gestational carrier due to Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome." — Medical indication
- "Legal contracts were finalized before embryo transfer to the gestational carrier." — Administrative note