Abstract
BackgroundDuring a commercial surrogacy arrangement, the event of embryo transfer can be seen as the formal starting point of the arrangement. However, it is common for surrogates to undergo a failed attempt at pregnancy conception or missed conception after an embryo transfer. This paper attempts to argue that such failed attempts can be understood as a loss. It aims to reconstruct the experiences of loss and grief of the surrogates and the intended parents as a consequence of their collective failure to conceive a surrogate pregnancy.MethodsDrawing on a qualitative study conducted over a period of eight months between 2014 and 2015 at two fertility clinics in Delhi and two in Kolkata, India, this paper examines the experiences of the surrogates and the intended parents when faced with missed conceptions or failed conceptions during a surrogacy arrangement.ResultsWe argue that while the surrogate grieves the non-arrival of a ‘good news’ as an uncertain loss, the intended parents experience yet another, failure in addition to the losses they might have incurred during their previous fertility treatments. The body of the surrogate becomes a site of ‘a lost opportunity’. The surrogate embodies a loss in her quest to achieve social mobility and the intended parents experience a disembodied pregnancy loss. This very emotional experience stands in stark contrast to the conceptualisation of such failed attempts as non-events within the discourse of the surrogacy industry. The experience of loss of the intended parents is recognised but their grief is given no space. We argue that such ambiguity around the nature of losses resulting out of a missed or failed conception during surrogacy is an outcome of lack of interpersonal relationship between the surrogate and the intended parents.ConclusionsSince commercial surrogacy is a relational process, the only way in which the experiences of losses and failures of the actors at the preconception stage can be better addressed is through developing close sharing and understanding between each other through an ethics of care. Therefore, to nurture caring relationships, surrogacy needs to be understood as a moral commitment by –the surrogates and intended parents. To enable such a commitment, there is a need to reconsider the pre-defined and legally regulated professional duty of the doctors, agents and agencies. It cannot be a one-sided commitment, but has to have elements of mutuality.
Highlights
During a commercial surrogacy arrangement, the event of embryo transfer can be seen as the formal starting point of the arrangement
According to Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology’s Report 2008, out of the 2502 gestational surrogacy cycles performed at the reported clinics, only 39,45 % of cycles were successful in terms of live births leading to 987 gestational births and 1395 gestational surrogacy babies [12]
The study was multi-sited as it was conducted in surrogacy clinics, surrogate homes, surrogacy agency offices, public places and homes by employing methods of semi-structured in-depth interviews [each lasting on an average of 25–40 mins], nonparticipant observation and case studies
Summary
During a commercial surrogacy arrangement, the event of embryo transfer can be seen as the formal starting point of the arrangement. Surrogate conceptions have been described by scholars as conceptions having its genesis in the heart [1] These conceptions take place much ahead of its materialisation, in the minds of the actors through their continuous planning, strategising and participation during the actual preconception phase. This includes the process of hormonal stimulation, conducting vaginal ultrasounds, or even embryo fertilisation. The 2013 data for clinics in the U.S.A., show that out of the reported cycles performed for gestational carriers with patient oocytes (of ages below 35), 46 % of those cycles failed [13] This clearly indicates that not all embryo transfer performed towards achieving a surrogate pregnancy results in a success. If the result is positive, an ultra-sonographic scan of the surrogate is conducted two weeks later to re-confirm pregnancy and dismiss all chances of chemical pregnancies. But if the test result is negative due to failure of the embryo to implant, the actors are informed about the result and all medications are stopped (see Table 1 for a temporal understanding about the preconception stage of surrogacy)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
