Surrogate
motherhood, which is so popular around the world, does not come by Great Britain. Law
and legality are the main components of this issue. Because born child,
regardless of the method, is to be registered. In 1985 British law stated that
legal mother of the child is considered to be a woman who carried and gave
birth to him. But in those days practice of surrogate motherhood was not as
popular and developed as it can be seen today and laws of the last century did
not consider method of reproductive medicine development. In this regard in
1990 this issue was resolved and now child born by a surrogate mother can be
recognized as the legitimate child of genetic parents without a court order. In
fact, only non-commercial surrogacy is permitted in Great
Britain (unlike, for example, in Russia and Ukraine, where such programs are
legalized and can be conducted both free of charge and for money). In Great Britain
biological parents and surrogate mother can enter into an agreement that is
made on a legal basis but nevertheless has no legal force. Because of this it
is impossible to form a real statistics of surrogate pregnancies in Britain since a
lot of such agreements are made without any legal documentation.
Despite
the fact that surrogacy can be freely carried out on the territory of the
United Kingdom the majority of our residents travel to Ukraine to visit clinic of
Reproductive Medicine BioTexCom. Third world country that falls behind European
states entices thousands of foreign infertile couples who travel to Ukraine
from all over the world. Since the topic of infertility is close to me in fact
rather than in word (I've had three miscarriages and reaching the age of 47
years I can not get pregnant) I decided to carry out a journalistic
investigation to find out what is this a
mysterious clinic that so fiercely attracts foreign residents.
In
one's sleep I found all the necessary information about the BioTexCom center
(http://mother-surrogate.info/) and started a chat with the clinic
manager (employee who answers all the questions of English-speaking clients and
helps to pass the selected program). I retold her story of my own infertility. Lady
asked me a few questions concerning medical part, and told me that in my case,
clinic can offer me a program of surrogacy with donor eggs. After that she
informed me in details about this program. When I expressed a desire to come
directly to the clinic the manager asked me to send her results of medical tests
that I have and conclusion of doctor that I really can not conceive and bear a
child in a natural way and for what reason. BioTexCom worker explained me that she
will translate all these documents, center’s doctor will examine them and only
than I will be said the date of the first consultation.
I
did everything that was required and soon I received an invitation to visit a
doctor. My husband and I bought a plane tickets, on the appointed date, and
with a genuine interest flew in the little-known to us Ukraine. In the
capital's airport we were met by the driver of the clinic, he kindly helped us
to carry our luggage to the bus and said that we can sit down and wait for an
hour because he needs to meet some more patients. In the car we saw another
couple who also waited. It was a comfortable car interior with TV set and chairs.
Having gathered all patients together the driver carried us. We had to be brought
in one of clinic’s accommodation (special hostels for center’s clients). On the
way there we curiously looked at the views from the window: somewhere it was beautiful,
somewhere seedy but it was extremely green everywhere (Kiev is really a city of parks, as it is
wrote everywhere) and very "turbulent "! Roads are probably the worst
problem of the state of Ukraine.
Only after driving from the airport a terrible things began: all the way we were
thrown up inside the car, it seemed that we were not on the metropolitan
highway but over a plowed field. And despite the fact that both car and driver
were very good we came out of it with a "green" faces and rocking a
little after such a trip.
Having
come to the hotel (Petropavlavskaya Borshchagovka district) we saw not really fresh
room in which other clients of clinic lived. Some of them already had newborn children.
My husband and I were said that we can settle down and have a rest and the next
day we will be taken by the driver to the clinic. In our accommodation we talked
to couples who have already become happy parents. They told me that of course conditions
and service are not at the appropriate level here nevertheless BioTexCom works
wonders in reproductive medicine. From the first, second attempt doctor achieves
a positive result and parents get so long-awaited children. And the cost of
similar services in Ukraine
is lower than in Europe where such programs as
surrogacy and egg donation are legalized. Therefore, people from all over the
world travel to BioTexCom and turn a blind eye to the underdeveloped
infrastructure of the country and certain disadvantages in the level of clinic’s
service.
So,
let's return to our investigation. We were not able to have a normal night's
sleep in the hotel. Because there were couples with newborn children, they
cried all night and parents went from room to room talking emotionally. Early
in the morning we went to the clinic.
In
the clinic we were met by the manager with whom I charted online. A pleasant,
well - dressed lady, about 27 years old, invited us to sit down and wait.
Turning around we did not find free place where we could sit down as clinic is
relatively small building and there were a great number of patients! Someone sat
on a small couch in the lobby, someone on the stairs near the entrance. People
spoke different languages: English, German, French, Italian etc. Among them managers
could be seen who fluently spoke these languages. We waited for about 1.5 hours
until we were invited to see a doctor. During the waiting time we had an
opportunity to communicate with some patients and found that specialists of BioTexCom
work wonders in the field of reproductive medicine and that’s why foreigners
are willing to turn a blind eye to the imperfect service in order to get the
status of happy parents of healthy baby (genetically native).
In
1.5 hours our manager finally invited us to the doctor’s cabinet. Communication
with him was not so long. The doctor asked questions regarding my and husband’s
health. Then doctor reaffirmed a decision that we are recommended surrogacy
with donor eggs and wrote out the form on the standard medical tests for my
husband (since my genetic material will not be used).
Next
our English speaking manager took us to the manipulation room for passing all
necessary analyzes. In addition my husband’s sperm was also tested. To get to
the manipulation room we also had to wait about 20 minutes because there was a
waiting list and nurse all the time was running here and there.
It
took us about 3 hours to complete all these elementary procedures whereas in
European hospitals all these take about 20 minutes. Oh well. As it is said it
gets worse and worse as it goes on. Our consultant explained to us that since
this surrogacy program with donor eggs we can immediately sign the contract.
Because only after the contract signing and first disbursement (6 thousand Euros),
our program will be activated: doctors will start selection of appropriate
donor, surrogate mother and their stimulation (using special medicines). Our
participation in this process is not required. My husband just has to come to
the clinic on the day of puncture (taking eggs from a donor). Since my
husband's sperm fertilizes an embryologist donor eggs and within five days of
mature embryo transfers performed a surrogate mother.
The
fact that BioTexCom produces embryo transfer on the fifth day also speaks
volumes. In many clinics such practice are not used and as a result we have many
failed IVF attempts. A lot of people are not aware of the fact that the fifth
day is the perfect period of embryo and thus more chances for a successful
pregnancy.
But,
let’s back to our story. Result of my husband’s spermogram was ready in a
moment. And we were surprised because he is 54 years old nevertheless his sperm
is in a very good condition and fertilize can be made very easily and
efficiently.
After
our question concerning how fast our program will start manager replied that
due to the great number of patients, women who are willing to bear a child is off.
So we must wait for about half a year. My husband and I referring to the long-
term period of expectation refused and said that maybe we we'll back a little
later. The driver took us to the airport at the appointed time and we
successfully flew home.
Communicating
with people who have already gone through such a serious and complex program as
a surrogate motherhood and basing on our own experience it's safe to say that Ukraine really
wins in the field of reproductive medicine. And numerous articles in the
internet that BioTexCom is a leader using assisted methods of reproductive
medicine are justified. In addition Ukrainian prices for such procedures surprise.
For example, the surrogacy program will cost you nearly 30,000 Euros. And this
price includes everything you might need as a foreigner in a foreign country:
driver, translator, accommodation, meal and so on. And the most important
aspect is that BioTexCom clinic can provide patient with an unlimited number of
attempts until successful pregnancy. And let us suppose Ukraine is considered to
be a third world country that lags behind other European countries in
development by all indicators and has roads as ploughed land but it does not
prevent Ukrainian doctors give happiness to people all over the world and help
them in such an important issue of a global importance as continuation of human
genus.
Freelance journalist
Kerry Chak
