Expansion of Surrogacy in Metropolises Without a Law Defending Child Rights and Ensuring Women's Health

The economic magazine 'Saraneh' in a review of the economic reasons and legal issues surrounding surrogacy writes that the surrogacy market in Iran is rapidly growing, with costs for these services significantly increasing. Surrogacy refers to a method where a woman, known as the 'surrogate mother', carries the embryo of another couple in her womb and delivers the child to them after birth. This method is typically used for couples who cannot conceive or bear children due to medical or physical reasons. According to the magazine's report, prices vary based on several factors including age, health, appearance, and the conditions of the surrogate mother. Costs start from 400 million tomans and can reach up to 900 million tomans depending on the individual's circumstances. Compared to advertisements from previous years, this amount has increased significantly. For instance, in February 2016, the cost of surrogacy was about 18 million tomans, and surrogates received around 350 thousand tomans monthly. To carry out this process, a contract is usually signed between the surrogate mother and the couple owning the embryo, outlining the conditions and rights of both parties. It is worth noting that in many countries, this type of reproductive method requires specific oversight and laws to prevent potential abuses and legal issues, but such laws and oversight do not exist in Iran, where only the fatwas of religious authorities regarding the 'illegitimacy' of the embryo are referenced. Saraneh further analyzes rates and contract methods by examining advertisements from applicants. These advertisements, published online, specify various conditions and prices for surrogate mothers. One advertisement seeks a divorced woman under 35 years old, with suitable height and weight, and without underlying health issues such as heart problems, diabetes, and thyroid issues. The applicant has also requested that the surrogate mother has no history of abortion or curettage and adheres to conditions of commitment and responsibility. The proposed amount for this advertisement is 60 million tomans per month, primarily to cover pregnancy-related expenses and other costs for the surrogate mother. In another advertisement, the applicant states that they are looking for someone under 39 years old, regardless of marital status (whether married or divorced), offering an initial surrogacy fee of 300 million tomans and 7 million tomans monthly to cover pregnancy and food expenses. This advertisement particularly refers to healthy individuals without specific illnesses and states that all pregnancy and food expenses will be the responsibility of the applicant. According to the report, these advertisements reflect a growing demand for surrogacy in Iran, attributed mainly to economic and livelihood issues, high demand for childbearing, and the high costs of fertility treatments. The report further analyzes that these prices and conditions indicate some women's willingness to undergo this process, especially in metropolises. The main reason for this willingness is the economic and livelihood challenges faced by some women. Due to financial pressures, these individuals may view surrogacy as a solution to secure income and sustain their livelihoods. On the other hand, given the high costs of fertility treatments like IVF, many couples unable to afford medical expenses turn to surrogacy to achieve their dream of having children. This review warns that due to insufficient oversight and precise laws in this area, informal activities in surrogacy have expanded, which may lead to legal issues and abuses for surrogate mothers. It also concludes that the emerging phenomenon of surrogacy underscores the necessity for new and clear laws to protect the rights of both parties in these contracts.