Fact check: What are the common health reasons for using a surrogate?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses consistently support that there are well-established medical reasons for using surrogacy. The most commonly cited health conditions include:

• Absence of a uterus - including conditions like Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome ^{[1] [2]}
• Severe structural abnormalities of the uterus that prevent successful pregnancy ^[1]
• History of obstetric hysterectomy ^[1]
• Severe medical conditions that make pregnancy dangerous for the mother ^[1]
• Recurrent pregnancy loss ^[2]
• Medical contraindications to pregnancy ^[2]

The sources indicate that surrogacy improves pregnancy and live birth rates compared to other assisted reproductive technology cycles without surrogacy ^[2]. Additionally, the analyses emphasize the importance of psychological and medical assessments in the surrogacy process ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on health reasons, but the analyses reveal several important missing contexts:

• Non-medical uses: Surrogacy is also utilized by same-sex couples and single people who cannot carry pregnancies for non-medical reasons ^{[1] [4]}
• Significant medical risks: The analyses highlight substantial risks associated with surrogacy, including epigenetic changes, ICSI practice, embryo culture, and embryo manipulation that require careful consideration ^[5]
• Regulatory concerns: There is a lack of international regulation and risks of exploitation in surrogacy arrangements globally ^[4]
• Philosophical debate: One source argues that surrogacy is not medically necessary in any ordinary understanding of the term and that describing it as such departs from conventional concepts of medical necessity ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks for information about health reasons for surrogacy. However, the framing could potentially create bias by:

• Implying medical necessity: By focusing exclusively on "health reasons," the question may inadvertently suggest that surrogacy is primarily or only used for medical necessity, when the analyses show it serves broader reproductive needs ^{[1] [4]}
• Omitting risk discussion: The question doesn't acknowledge the significant medical and ethical risks that the analyses emphasize should be part of any comprehensive discussion about surrogacy ^{[5] [4]}
• Missing ethical complexity: The analyses reveal that surrogacy involves complex counseling and legal requirements that extend beyond simple medical indications ^[1]