Surrogacy is increasingly becoming an option for couples in India and Delhi who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves, but want a biological connection to their child. One option is gestational Surrogacy USING OWN EGGS in delhi — meaning: the egg comes from the intended mother (or egg‐supplier in rare permitted cases), and the sperm from the intended father (or donor if required), and the embryo is implanted in a surrogate who only carries the child, without genetic relation to the surrogate. This is distinct from "traditional surrogacy" where the surrogate provides the eggs (which is not permitted under Indian law). Understanding how using your own eggs works in India (especially under recent regulations), what it involves, cost, clinics, and legal/ethical landscape is vital.
Legal & Regulatory Framework in India (including Delhi) Regarding Surrogacy & Own Eggs
- Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021: India permits only altruistic gestational surrogacy. The surrogate must not be paid beyond medical expenses, insurance, and other care costs. Commercial surrogacy is banned.
- Use of Own Eggs: Using one’s own eggs (and intending father’s sperm) is allowed under the law. Earlier rules were stricter about gamete use, but recent 2024 amendments to the Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules allow donor gametes only in cases where one of the intending parents has a certified medical condition that prevents them from producing viable gametes. In all cases, the child must have at least one gamete (egg or sperm) from the intending couple.
- For single widowed or divorced women, the law specifies use of their own eggs with donor sperm. Use of donor eggs by them is generally not allowed unless under exceptional medical conditions.
- Only registered surrogacy clinics/facilities are allowed to carry out these procedures. They must comply with infrastructure, diagnostic requirements, legal approvals, District Medical Board oversight etc.
So, in Delhi or elsewhere in India, using your own eggs is both legally permissible and is commonly preferred, provided the medical condition of the intending mother’s eggs is adequate.
Medical & Practical Process: Using Own Eggs in Surrogacy
- Fertility Assessment
- The intended mother will undergo tests to assess ovarian reserve, egg quality, cycles etc. If the eggs are healthy enough, she can go ahead using them. If not, donor eggs may be considered (under the rules).
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)
- Eggs are retrieved from the intended mother, fertilised with intended father’s sperm (or donor sperm if needed), resulting in embryo(s).
- Preparing the Surrogate (Gestational Carrier)
- The surrogate is medically screened, approved, given hormonal support to prepare the uterus, and after embryo transfer, monitored for pregnancy.
- Legal Work & Approvals
- Consent, essentiality certificate (showing medical need), eligibility certificate, agreements with the surrogate, insurance, etc., as mandated under Indian law.
- Pregnancy & Delivery
- Regular prenatal care, monitoring, then delivery. After birth, legal parentage is established with proper documentation.
So “using own eggs” adds the steps of ovarian stimulation, retrieval, and ensuring egg quality, which may increase medical risk/cost if the mother is older or has low reserve.
Cost Implications: Surrogacy Using Own Eggs
Using your own eggs is generally less expensive than using donor eggs (since you don’t need to recruit, screen, or pay a donor). But still, it is a significant cost. Some data:
- In Delhi, the cost for surrogacy with own eggs & own sperm ranges around ₹15-20 lakhs (approx.) when all costs are included (medical, surrogate care, legal, insurance, etc.).
- Clinics or packages in India (not just Delhi) similarly estimate ₹12-18 lakhs for surrogacy using own eggs and own sperm.
- Additional cost factors: if donor gametes are required in part (even if you supply eggs but sperm is donor, etc.), legal complexities, older age (lower egg quality), more IVF cycles may be needed, complicating costs. Also, cost of surrogate care, insurance, legal paperwork, specialized treatments (PGT, etc.) may add heavily.
Why Choose Surrogacy Using Own Eggs
- Biological Connection: Many couples choose this so that the child shares (at least maternally) a genetic link with them.
- Higher Success Rates (Sometimes): If egg quality is good, using one’s own eggs can lead to better matches and embryo viability (though donor eggs may sometimes be more viable in older age or poor ovarian reserve).
- Legal Simplicity: Given the legal framework requires that at least one gamete come from the intending parents, using own eggs avoids some of the legal or ethical noise around donor use (though donor use is permitted under certain conditions).
Challenges & Risks
- Age & Egg Quality: As age increases, egg quality and quantity tend to decline. For intended mothers above a certain age (often mid-30s into 40s), success rates are lower, and the risk of complications is higher.
- Insurance/Legal Complexity: The process involves many approvals, certificates, and oversight. Delays or non-compliance can lead to cancellations.
- Cost & Uncertainty: Even with own eggs, there is no guaranteed success in the first IVF cycle. Multiple cycles may be needed. Costs can escalate.
- Ethical and Psychological Issues: For both intended parents and surrogate. Ensuring informed consent of surrogates, counselling, emotional support, etc., is essential.
Best Surrogacy Clinics in India (for Using Own Eggs)
When choosing a clinic, especially in Delhi/India, look for the following criteria:
- Legal registration & compliance under ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) and Surrogacy Regulation laws.
- Experience & success rates specifically with gestational surrogacy and using own eggs.
- Transparent cost structures, including what is included and what is additional (medication, legal etc.).
- Good infrastructure: IVF labs, embryo transfer, prenatal care services, experienced doctors, counselling services.
- Support services: legal counselling, insurance, surrogate welfare, psychological counselling.
Some clinics/centres known for surrogacy & fertility work in Delhi/India (these are examples, not exhaustive):
- GenixFertility (Delhi): Known for surrogacy programmes, with full legal + medical support in Delhi.
- Fertility World (Delhi): Offers packages, supports with guidance, costs, etc.
- Other reputed fertility clinics in major metros like Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, etc., have strong ART expertise; if own eggs are usable, these are often good options.
It is important to visit multiple clinics, check credentials (including whether they are registered, what their track records are), talk to staff and patients if possible, and get clear written quotes and legal agreements.
Surrogacy Using Own Eggs in Delhi: Specifics
- In Delhi, cost tends to be in the higher range due to infrastructure, medical fees, legal costs, and the requirement of insurance for surrogates. Costs of ₹18-25 lakhs are commonly quoted for full packages in recent times.
- Clinics in Delhi are required to follow the Surrogacy Regulation Act, 2021 and subsequent amendments (2022 rules + 2024 amendments) strictly. This includes how donor gametes are handled, what documentation is required, and how surrogates are selected and cared for.
What to Ask / Checklist When Choosing a Clinic
- Are they registered under ART laws and Surrogacy Regulation Acts?
- Do they have experience and documented success of using own eggs for surrogacy? What are their success rates (per cycle)?
- How many IVF cycles are expected or included? What happens if there is a failed cycle?
- What are all the cost components: medical, legal, surrogate insurance, surrogate care (housing, food etc.), follow-up, delivery (including C-section if needed)?
- What kind of legal support will be provided: contracts, essentiality and eligibility certificates, parentage orders after birth?
- How is the surrogate mother treated: screening, medical insurance (duration), psychological care, nutrition etc.?
- Ethical support: counselling for all parties involved.
Conclusion
Surrogacy using own eggs in India, including Delhi, is a viable and legally supported path under current regulations, provided the intended mother has sufficient ovarian reserve and meets medical criteria. The law requires gestational, altruistic surrogacy; commercial surrogacy is prohibited. Costs are substantial, often in the range of INR 12-25 lakhs (varies widely), and legal, medical, and ethical dimensions are significant. Choosing the best clinic means verifying legal status, infrastructure, success rates, transparent cost, and supportive services.
