You’ve probably seen their stories reported in popular magazines and websites. When celebrities choose to publicize their surrogacy journeys, people listen. This spreads awareness and gives the public a greater understanding of the challenges of family building for both same sex and heterosexual celebrities who want to have babies–just like the rest of us!
Turning to Surrogacy
Regardless of their fame, prospective parents may need to use the services of a surrogate mother, also known as a gestational carrier, for a variety of medical and social reasons.
Intended mothers may have been born without a uterus, have a uterine structural abnormality, or needed a hysterectomy due to cancer, all of which make it impossible for them to carry a pregnancy. Some may have medical problems that would make pregnancy dangerous. Surrogacy also may be needed for women who have experienced numerous failed IVF cycles. They can produce healthy, normal-looking embryos, but implantation does not occur, even with IVF.
Of course, same sex individuals and single men who want to have biological children need two, “third parties,” an egg donor and a surrogate mother.
Here are four examples of celebrities who have shone a special light on surrogacy:
GloZell Green
GloZell is a viral social media superstar known for her signature green lipstick, vivacious personality and hilarious YouTube videos. When she wanted to have a baby in her late 30s, her doctor discovered she had endometriosis and a thin uterine lining. He suggested she use a surrogate mother to carry her baby, and with the help of HRC Fertility’s Dr. Bradford Kolb, GloZell and her husband Kevin Simon are now the proud parents of little O’Zell born last August.
In her unique style, GloZell chronicled her surrogacy journey and, in the process, has educated millions of people about infertility and surrogacy.
Elton John and David Furnish
This megastar and his producer/director husband are one of the most famous examples of a gay couple who used surrogacy to build their family. Elton and David are British citizens and commercial surrogacy is not legally recognized in the United Kingdom. They used the services of the same surrogate mother for their sons’ births.
When fashion designers Dolce and Gabbana created a firestorm by calling IVF and surrogacy “unnatural,” Elton John came to the defense of the millions of parents and babies who have used these miraculous technologies.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban needed the help of a surrogate mother for their second daughter. After Ms. Kidman’s struggle to conceive baby number two, she was very open about her secondary infertility and the struggle of undergoing treatment and miscarriage, as well as showing her admiration for her surrogate mother.
Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin is not only a gay dad via surrogacy, but was a single man who wanted to become a father when his twins Matteo and Valentino were conceived via surrogacy. He is well-known as a “choice dad,” who made a conscious choice to embark on becoming a father.
Ricky’s surrogacy experience is an example of how the desire for parenthood is a universal goal for both men and women, with or without a partner
Thank you to these celebrities and others who have brought awareness to this unique, but increasingly popular, family building option.
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HRC Fertility has one of the largest and most successful third party parenting programs in the world. Click here to read more: http://www.havingbabies.com/infertility-treatment/third-party-reproduction/
