Examination of the Motivations, Supports, and Stigma Experienced by Gestational Surrogates in Gujarat, India

India is emerging as a top destination for transnational gestational surrogacy. Intended parents from all across the world seek services from infertility experts in India and opt for Indian surrogates for more affordable services. This study explored the motivations and experiences of Indian women who become surrogate mothers for transnational couples. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 surrogate mothers from a fertility clinic in India. Two  themes emerged from the data: 1) Motivations for becoming surrogates and 2) Experiences of surrogate mothers pertaining to stigma during and after pregnancy. The majority of the participants were illiterate women between the ages of 21 and 30 who had been a surrogate an average of three times. The primary motivation was financial. Participants mentioned discrepancies in receiving payments from the intended parent(s) and were unclear about contracts that were signed between the doctors and the intended parent(s). Women also reported being dissatisfied by the payments made to them, forcing them to become surrogates multiple times. The majority of the participants compared surrogacy to prostitution, describing surrogacy as clean and pure in comparison. Experiences of surrogate mothers revolved around hiding surrogate status from community by living in surrogate hostels. Additionally surrogates reported stigma from extended family members and community forcing them to relocate after surrogacy. This study recommends need for counseling and psycho-social support services to women interested in surrogacy, as well as a stringent law to protect the rights of surrogates. Finally, provisions for long-term health care benefits to surrogates should be made.