When people think of surrogacy, they often assume it’s used by those facing medical challenges with pregnancy. And for the vast majority of cases, that’s true. However, there’s a lesser-known concept called social surrogacy, which refers to choosing surrogacy for non-medical reasons.
At Hatch, we work exclusively with individuals and couples who pursue surrogacy due to medical or reproductive necessity. While we do not support or offer social surrogacy, it’s a topic that sometimes arises in public conversations. This article aims to clearly explain what social surrogacy is, why some people explore it, and how it differs from medically indicated surrogacy.
Social surrogacy is when a woman chooses to use a surrogate to carry her child without a medical need to do so. In other words, the decision is based on personal, social, or lifestyle factors, not because she is unable to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy safely.
It’s important to note that social surrogacy does not involve a different medical process. It still uses gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate carries an embryo created using the intended parents’ or donors’ egg and sperm.
While social surrogacy is rare, there are several reasons someone might consider it. These can include:
These decisions are often deeply personal and not always easily understood by others.
Social surrogacy raises a number of ethical questions, particularly around the intent behind using a surrogate.
Critics argue that using surrogacy as a matter of choice, rather than need, may shift perceptions of surrogacy from a compassionate solution to a transactional or cosmetic one. This can lead to concerns about the commodification of pregnancy and the potential for surrogates to be viewed as service providers rather than partners in a deeply meaningful process.
Additionally, the media portrayals of social surrogacy, often focused on celebrities, creating misconceptions about who typically uses surrogacy and why. In reality, most intended parents pursue surrogacy due to medical infertility, health risks, or being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
No, Hatch does not offer social surrogacy, instead our model is built around supporting individuals and couples who are medically unable to carry a pregnancy or who require surrogacy for reproductive health reasons. This includes people facing infertility, those who’ve experienced pregnancy loss, and LGBTQ+ families building biological connections through gestational surrogacy.
Every journey at Hatch is approached with empathy, integrity, and the belief that surrogacy is a deeply personal, medically guided path to parenthood, not a convenience.
Social surrogacy refers to the use of gestational surrogacy for non-medical reasons, a topic that occasionally arises in the media and public conversation. While it reflects a small fraction of surrogacy cases, it has contributed to debate about ethics, intent, and representation in the field.
At Hatch, we remain committed to helping intended parents who pursue surrogacy out of medical need. Our approach is grounded in compassion, ethics, and thoughtful support for everyone involved — from intended parents to surrogates.