zlacker

> While the science is amazing, why go this route rather than having a surrogate mother?

Or even just adoption. Adoption is far cheaper as well.

There are plenty of reasons why people want their own biological children... but this seems like it carries a ton more risk with it. With complications from the transplant and heck even just childbirth.

>>nvahal+(OP)
Yes that's what I was trying to get at. The increased cost comes with significantly increased risk yet the same end result (a biological child).

>>koolba+s
It's not the same end result. There are huge psychological issues that can come up with being the genetic mother to your child but having someone else carry them for you. Then you also have to figure out how (if?) the surrogate is involved in the child's life at all, how you explain to the child that someone else birthed them, etc. If you ever find yourself favoring one child over another, you'll always wonder if it's because it's not "your" baby.

Basically, it's not as simple as just handing off an embryo to another person and 9 months later acting like nothing happened. There are huge ramifications to a decision like this that don't come with being the birth mother.

>>nvahal+(OP)
Adoptions in the US cost ~$40k, a lot more then the 10-15k for pregnancy.

>>theli0+Qf
I’m always struck that people overestimate how difficult it is to explain things to children. I think people often project their own discomfort about talking about something onto the child that is hearing about whatever it is.

>>ecopoe+Hk
If you are trying to import a baby, yes. The price can be considerably lower, if not free, for foster to adopt, especially for older children.

>>nvahal+(OP)
Surrogacy is illegal in some places and countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogacy_laws_by_country

Adoption on the other hand can be a risky path, leading to a different kind of problems, and some are very hard for parents. Everybody wants their sons being healthy and able to have a normal life but this is not always guaranteed with adoption. Some countries use shady practices and lie to the parents to obtain an emotional (not logical) choice. The cheaper the worst. Systematic racketeering is the minor of them. "Forgetting" about some important condition or omiting relevant medical information is much worse.

>>dizzys+ov
Domestic adoption costs a lot too. Source: I adopted a baby from Virginia and it cost over $50,000. It is a very broken system.