July 2009

A special report featuring pictures and extensive quotes from Circle parents and agency's representatives was published at Israel's leading financial and business daily newspaper "The Marker", and repeated in English at the parent Haaretz newspaper and web site. The article is perhaps one of the most detailed we have seen so far about the various options and variables prospective parents need to consider before embarking upon this journey.  

See below for a summary and excerpts from the English version, and links to the original article in both publications. 

The Whole World's a Delivery Room

From Haaretz, July 5, 2009, By Naomi Darom and Roni Linder-Ganz

For David and his partner Eli, having a family was a dream that seemed to be just out of reach. After seven years and traveling to three continents they finally became the parents of a precious baby boy. They named her Rotem.

Before they were able to realize the joy of parenthood, they had to first face the heartbreak of several failed adoptions. Although, they were always interested in Surrogacy, they viewed this type of arrangement "far away, futuristic and expensive". In addition, their case was made more complicated by the laws in Israel which allows domestic surrogacy arrangements only to married heterosexual couples - who must also meet age requirements and be approved by a medical committee.

Ron Poole-Dayan, an Israeli living in the U.S., is the Israeli spokesman and representative of Circle Surrogacy, and the proud father of twins born with the U.S. agency's help. He estimates that some 80-90 Israelis have been assisted by Circle since 2007 - compared to 500 surrogacy cases in Israel in the 13 years since the Surrogacy Law regulating the process was passed.

While US based Surrogacy can be quite costly, there are many benefits for choosing to be represented by an agency that is familiar with Surrogacy and citizenship laws. Both in the US and in Israel.

Would-be parents who do not use an agency or some other mediator familiar with the legal and administrative tangle may find themselves with an uninsured birth mother or infant - no small problem in a place where one day in the hospital costs $1,000 or more. And while surrogacy options in India may seem cheaper, there are also important factors to consider. What sort of level of care will the Surrogate and unborn child receive? What are the clinics' success rates?

John Weltman of Circle Surrogacy attributes their high success rates to his organization's strict screening protocol: Egg donors, for example, must pass a battery of tests; usually only one in 10 is accepted. Only healthy women who already have children, healthy previous deliveries and a stable financial situation are ever considered as a candidate for surrogacy.

Ron Poole-Dayan of Circle Surrogacy agrees that carrying a baby for others involves more than financial payoff. Circle pays surrogates $20,000-$25,000 - not a very large sum in American terms, especially since the process lasts nine months. Therefore, the women are accepted only if their financial situation is stable. "Because it is not a lot of money, relatively speaking, we get women for whom this is an amazing project, allowing them to change someone else's life," he notes. "It also, however, may allow them to spend a year at home with their own children or add to their college funds. Many of Circle's surrogates are very active in the process, and want information about the parents. In the end, even if they did it for money, it ultimately becomes one of the greatest things they've ever done."

Read the complete article in English

Read the complete article in Hebrew: ההורים ישראלים הפונדקאית אמריקאית - ככה זה עובד