Types of Surrogacy: A Simple Guide to Every Option

If you just started researching surrogacy, you have probably noticed something: every website seems to give you a different answer. One source says there are two types of surrogacy. Another says four. A few list six or more. That kind of inconsistency is genuinely confusing and one of the most common sources of frustration for people when they first explore this path to parenthood.

Here is the honest truth: the confusion usually comes from mixing up two completely different things. Some sources are talking about the medical type of surrogacy (how the pregnancy happens biologically). Others are discussing the legal or financial arrangements (how the surrogate is compensated and which laws apply). Once you understand that difference, everything becomes much clearer.

This guide will walk you through it all in plain language, so that by the time you finish reading, you will know exactly what your surrogacy options are and which questions to ask next.

How Many Types of Surrogacy Are There?

The short answer: two main medical types. Almost every respected medical and legal organization in the world, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), recognizes the same two core categories when it comes to what the types of surrogacy are:

• Traditional surrogacy: the surrogate is genetically related to the baby.

• Gestational surrogacy: the surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby.

Everything else you read about, altruistic surrogacy, commercial surrogacy, and independent surrogacy,  falls under the umbrella of legal and financial arrangements, not separate medical types. We will cover those, too, because they matter a great deal when you actually plan your journey. But the medical foundation starts with just two.

 2026 Data Point: According to a 2026 market analysis by Mordor Intelligence, gestational surrogacy accounted for 91.88% of revenue in 2025, confirming that it is by far the dominant model practiced today. The global surrogacy market is valued at USD 28.91 billion in 2026.

Type 1: Traditional Surrogacy

What It Is

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own egg. That means she is the biological mother of the child she carries. The egg is fertilized using the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm, usually through a procedure called intrauterine insemination (IUI) or, less commonly, IVF.

This was actually the original form of surrogacy, used before IVF technology became widely available. Today, it is far less common.

How It Works

• The surrogate’s egg is fertilized using the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm.

• Fertilization happens through IUI (the simpler, lower-cost option) or through IVF if genetic screening is needed.

• The surrogate carries the pregnancy to term and, after birth, legally transfers parental rights to the intended parents.

Costs

According to a 2026 comparison guide by OVU.com, traditional surrogacy usually costs between $40,000 and $90,000, significantly less than gestational surrogacy, largely because it skips the IVF embryo transfer process.

Why It Is Rarely Used Today

Despite the lower cost, traditional surrogacy comes with serious legal and emotional complexities. Because the surrogate is also the biological mother, her parental rights are harder to terminate. Courts in many countries and U.S. states treat this differently from gestational arrangements, and there have been high-profile cases where surrogates challenged the intended parents’ custody.

Professional bodies like ASRM and ACOG strongly favor gestational surrogacy and advise extra caution, or outright avoidance of traditional arrangements.

Type 2: Gestational Surrogacy

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate, often called a gestational carrier, has no genetic relationship to the baby. The embryo is created in a laboratory using IVF, combining the intended mother’s egg (or a donor egg) with the intended father’s sperm (or donor sperm). The embryo is then transferred into the surrogate’s uterus.

This is the most common and most legally straightforward form of surrogacy practiced today. According to ACRC Global’s 2026 Surrogacy Statistics, gestational surrogacy now represents over 95% of all surrogacy arrangements globally, with traditional surrogacy becoming increasingly rare.

How It Works

• An embryo is created through IVF using eggs and sperm from the intended parents, donors, or a combination.

• The embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s uterus in a fertility clinic procedure.

• The surrogate carries the pregnancy with no genetic link to the baby.

• Legal parentage is typically established before birth through a pre-birth order.

Costs

Gestational surrogacy is more expensive because it requires IVF. According to the 2026 U.S. Surrogacy Trends Report by EDSI, most full U.S. programs fall between $150,000 and $220,000, with complex cases, multiple IVF cycles, donor eggs, and live birth guarantees reaching $250,000 to $300,000. Internationally, programs in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and Georgia typically cost $50,000 to $80,000.

Why It Is the Preferred Model

The legal clarity is the main reason. Because the surrogate has no genetic link to the child, courts across most jurisdictions find it far easier to establish the intended parents’ legal rights. The emotional boundaries are also cleaner, which reduces the risk of disputes during and after the pregnancy.

Expert Consensus (2026): The ESHRE Ethics Committee’s 2025 position paper reviewed European legal frameworks and emphasized that gestational surrogacy offers stronger protections for child welfare, surrogate welfare, and legal clarity especially for intended parents navigating cross-border arrangements.