Surrogacy in the United States: analysis of sociodemographic profiles and motivations of surrogates

Abstract

Research question

What is the profile of women in the USA who become surrogates, and what is their power of decision and motivations?

Design

This quantitative study was performed with 231 participants in the USA, given the country's long history of surrogacy, to help clarify the profile of women who become surrogates, their power of decision and motivations.

Results

Descriptive and multivariate cluster analyses showed that women who become surrogates earn above the average income for their state of residency, have a high level of education, have health insurance, are employed, and decide to become a surrogate for prosocial/altruistic reasons.

Conclusions

In contrast to the premise of both radical feminism and ultra-conservative Catholicism, this study found that altruism and empathy are the primary motivations for participating in surrogacy processes, and that a woman's decision to become a surrogate is not motivated by social conditioning relating to poverty or social status.