Surrogacy -- gestational or traditional

In gestational surrogacy, the pregnancy results from the transfer of an embryo created by IVF, in a manner so the resulting child is genetically unrelated to the surrogate. Gestational surrogates are also referred to as gestational carriers. 

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is impregnated naturally or artificially, but the resulting child is genetically related to the surrogate. In the U.S, gestational surrogacy is more common than traditional surrogacy and is considered less legally complex.^[1]

Intended parents may seek a surrogacy arrangement when medical issues make pregnancy not possible or make carrying a pregnancy risky or otherwise undesirable, or because the intended parent or parents are male. Monetary compensation may or may not be involved in surrogacy arrangements. If the surrogate receives compensation beyond the reimbursement of medical and other reasonable expenses, the arrangement is called commercial surrogacy; otherwise, it is referred to as altruistic surrogacy.^[2] The legality and costs of surrogacy vary widely between jurisdictions, sometimes resulting in interstate or international surrogacy arrangements.