Altruistic surrogacy in Australia is a process that is equal parts rewarding and demanding, and for Newcastle couple Amelia and Ben Crispin, it represented the only path to parenthood available to them. Amelia was diagnosed with MRKH syndrome at 17, a genetic condition that meant she was born without a uterus. After years of longing and considering a uterine transplant, the couple began the complex journey of finding a surrogate.
In Australia, altruistic surrogacy is legal across all states and territories, though laws differ between jurisdictions. Unlike commercial surrogacy, which is prohibited, altruistic surrogacy means the surrogate receives no financial payment for carrying the baby, though intended parents are required to cover reasonable surrogacy costs. According to surrogacy lawyer Sarah Jefford, these costs typically range from $15,000 to $80,000, and the Crispins estimate their journey cost around $70,000 in total.
Newcastle-based fertility specialist Dr Myvanwy McIlveen notes that the most common reasons for pursuing surrogacy are same-sex male couples wanting to start a family, and women with medical conditions that make pregnancy unsafe. She acknowledges that while awareness of surrogacy is growing, the financial and bureaucratic barriers mean it remains out of reach for many.
The process itself involves psychological assessments for all parties, obstetric reports, legal agreements, and ultimately a court-issued parentage order to place the intended parents' names on the birth certificate. It is a process that requires significant commitment from everyone involved.
For the Crispins, the connection they formed with their surrogate Gemma Cosgrove, a friend who simply offered one day at work, made an enormous difference. Their surrogacy team, as they call it, became something far greater than a medical arrangement.
Baby Howie was born in May 2024, and by all accounts, every step of the journey was worth it.
Dr Myvanwy McIlveen
Dr Myvanwy McIlveen is unique in being the only female college certified infertility specialist outside the Sydney metropolitan area in NSW. As Genea Newcastle’s Medical Director, she loves helping couples work towards achieving their family in a way that they feel comfortable with. She offers honest, realistic advice on the choices available to you and helps you to decide what path you take to parenthood.
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