Surrogates have been crucial in the making of families from the beginnings of human history – from the ancient Middle East to the Spanish Royalty in the 12th siècle, to today. Even though it is not a new concept, surrogacy’s landscape has been evolving in line with the evolution of reproductive technologies.
Biblical Times
The chronicle of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis in the Bible is the first story we know about surrogacy. They were married, but they couldn’t conceive a child, so Sarah turned to Hagar, a servant, to bear a child for Abraham.
12th Century
The roles played by surrogates in the Spanish royal family were well-known. At that time, surrogates were accepted to bear a son for the king. When a boy was born, he would then be raised by the queen and king as their child.
19th Century
The earliest recorded artificial insemination in a medical institution took place in the year 1884; however, there were lots of ethical questions about it because the woman wasn’t told that the sperm was from a donor and not her husband. This was the beginning of the use of artificial insemination in surrogacy. However, it’s not until the 20th century that there are reports of successful In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) embryo transfers, ethically conducted.
Mid 1970s
Noel Keane was the lawyer who brokered the first surrogacy agreement in the year 1976. This agreement was for a traditional surrogacy process, and the surrogate received no compensation for the pregnancy.
Late 1970s
On July 25, 1978, the first child conceived via IVF was delivered in England at Royal Oldham Hospital.
Early 1980s
The first surrogacy agreement based on compensation was arranged in 1980 between a couple and a traditional surrogate, Elizabeth Kane (a fictitious name). It was agreed that the couple would compensate Elizabeth with $10,000 to deliver them a child. Later on, Elizabeth wrote a book entitled Birth Mother: The Story of America’s First Legal Surrogate Mother, in which she narrated her experience, including how she lamented her choice to become a surrogate.
Please include attribution to fertilityroad.com with this graphic.
