Australian intended parents’ decision-making and characteristics and outcomes of surrogacy arrangements completed in Australia and overseas

Figures & data

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the intended parents (n = 319).

Sociodemographic characteristic	% (N)
Gender
Man	55% (174)
Woman	44% (139)
Non-binary	0% (1)
Not reported	2% (5)
Household income
<$77,999	8% (25)
$78,000–$103,999	7% (23)
$104,000–$129,999	9% (28)
$130,000–$155,999	7% (23)
$156,000–$181,999	12% (39)
$182,000–$207,999	13% (40)
>$208,000	43% (137)
Not reported	1% (4)
Relationship status
Heterosexual couple	44% (140)
Same-sex male couple	41% (131)
Same-sex female couple	0% (1)
Single male	7% (22)
Single female	4% (14)
Not reported	3% (11)

Table 2. Reasons for respondents (n = 203) choosing international surrogacy.

Reasons for choosing international surrogacy	% of respondents
	(n)
Surrogacy in Australia looked like too long/or complicated a process	69% (140)
I could not find a surrogate in Australia	56% (114)
I wanted a professional surrogacy provider to screen potential surrogates and facilitate my arrangement	46% (94)
In Australia, the surrogate has the right to keep the child if she changes her mind	43% (88)
I wanted to be able to compensate a surrogate for carrying my child	35% (71)
I was not eligible to pursue surrogacy in my State or Territory	15% (30)
I wanted greater choice of egg donors	14% (29)
I did not want any/much contact with my surrogate	11% (22)

Table 3. Reasons for respondents (n = 155) choosing surrogacy in Australia.

Reasons for choosing surrogacy in Australia	% of respondents
	(n)
Wanting to be involved in the pregnancy	50% (77)
Wanting an ongoing relationship with the surrogate	49% (76)
Australian woman offered to become my/our surrogate	47% (73)
Wanting child to know the surrogate	46% (71)
Difficulties in navigating another country’s legal and medical systems	43% (66)
More affordable	35% (54)
Concerns of surrogate treatment overseas	34% (52)

Table 4. Characteristics of Australian (n = 28) and overseas (n = 108) surrogacy arrangements.

Characteristics	Australian surrogacy	Overseas surrogacy
	(n = 28)	(n = 108)
Obtained legal advice	100% (28)	65% (70)
Obtained counselling	100% (28)	56% (60)
Mode of conception*
Insemination	14% (4)	8% (8)
Embryo transfer	86% (24)	92% (98)
Multiple embryo transfer	0% (0)	41% (40)
Donor oocytes	50% (12)	79% (77)
Anonymous donors	0% (0)	47% (36)

*Only 106 respondents who completed surrogacy overseas reported the mode of conception.

Table 5. Outcomes of Australian (n = 28) and overseas (n = 108) surrogacy arrangements.

	% of respondents
	Australian surrogacy	Overseas surrogacy
Outcomes	(n = 28)	(n = 108)
Twin births	0% (0)	11% (12)
Neonatal intensive care	11% (3)	22% (24)
Gestational length*
28–36	11% (3)	20% (22)
37–42 weeks	89% (24)	79% (85)
>42 weeks	0% (0)	1% (1)

*One respondent who did surrogacy in Australia did not report the gestational length.

Table 6. Important considerations when deciding which overseas destination to engage in (n = 108).

Important considerations	% of respondents
	(n)
The ability to be the sole parent(s) on the birth certificate	86% (93)
Treatment and care of surrogates	84% (91)
Track-record of that country in managing surrogacy arrangements	76% (82)
A surrogacy provider which met all my needs	71% (77)
Affordability	63% (68)
Success rates of clinics	61% (66)
Ability to establish a relationship with my surrogate	53% (57)
Convenience e.g. I have family who live there or cultural ties to the country	12% (13)
Ability to choose the sex of my child	11% (12)
Ability to have little or no contact with the surrogate	8% (9)

Table 7. Important considerations when deciding which surrogacy provider to use (n = 105).

Important considerations	% of respondents
	(n)
Feeling like they could trust the provider	88% (92)
Recommendations from other intended parents	56% (59)
Affordability	56% (59)
Personalized programmes	29% (30)
Live birth guarantee	18% (19)

Data availability statement

The data underlying this article cannot be shared publicly due to the confidentiality of the participants. The data will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author.