Surrogacy is increasingly recognised as a key pathway to parenthood, transforming countless lives by enabling those who cannot conceive or carry a pregnancy themselves to build families of their own. However, surrogacy arrangements in the UK continue to be governed by outdated legislation, despite promising reform proposals introduced by the Law Commissions of England, Wales, and Scotland nearly two years ago.

Surrogacy Legislation: Current Status

In March 2023, the Law Commission released draft reforms proposing significant changes aimed at safeguarding all parties involved: surrogates, intended parents, and, crucially, children. These changes included a new "pathway to parenthood," allowing intended parents to be recognised as legal parents from birth, so long as necessary screenings and counselling occur before conception.

Despite initial interest and enthusiasm, these reforms have stalled in the corridors of power. Political complexities and competing priorities have left the draft bill in legislative limbo. The proposed Surrogacy Register, intended to support surrogate-born children's rights to trace their genetic origins, and new regulations for surrogacy organisations remain on hold.

Yet, hope is not lost. The bill isn't dead, merely paused. Advocacy from the fertility community, surrogacy experts, and intended parents continues to place gentle pressure on policymakers, maintaining momentum for eventual reform.

Rapid Growth and Inclusive Care at LWC

Despite the legislative challenges, we are delighted to be able to share exciting milestones reflecting our ongoing commitment and success in surrogacy care:

1. We are rapidly approaching 150 births through surrogacy—marking a significant achievement in helping families grow.
2. Nearly half of our surrogacy cycles now support same-sex male couples, underlining our commitment to inclusivity and diverse family structures.
3. Remarkably, in the past three years alone, we have supported twice as many surrogate cycles as we did in the previous seven years combined, demonstrating surrogacy’s growing prominence and the trust families place in LWC.

Continuing Commitment to Ethical Surrogacy

At London Women's Clinic, we remain deeply committed to ethical, safe, and supportive surrogacy practices. Our surrogacy programme continues to thrive, and we have recently celebrated our 100th baby born through surrogacy. We're proud of our diverse families, including a growing number of same-sex male couples who seek our expert guidance on their journeys to parenthood.¹

Navigating International Surrogacy Challenges

While international surrogacy offers options for intended parents, it presents significant legal and logistical challenges. Recent cases have highlighted issues such as delays in passport issuance, complications with citizenship, and the need for parental orders to transfer legal parentage to UK intended parents. These complexities underscore the importance of carefully navigating international arrangements with expert legal advice and careful planning.

Surrogacy Services Available in the UK: LWC Collaboration with Nappy Endings

Given these international complexities, many intended parents find reassurance and support by choosing UK-based surrogacy services. We're delighted to announce our collaboration with Nappy Endings, a UK-based surrogacy agency renowned for its compassionate and deeply personalised approach to surrogacy. Founded by Rachel Westbury—a remarkable four-time surrogate herself—Nappy Endings offers dedicated emotional, practical, and fertility support to intended parents and surrogates.

This collaboration signifies a unified effort to expand our mutual support networks, combining London Women’s Clinic’s clinical expertise with Nappy Endings' empathetic, personal care. Together, we are dedicated to making the UK surrogacy journey smoother, clearer, and more accessible, providing an ethical and reassuring alternative to international surrogacy.

Rachel Westbury shared, “We're excited about this collaboration, which brings together compassionate care with outstanding medical support. Together, we’ll provide an even more reassuring, secure journey for families navigating surrogacy."

While we eagerly await legislative movement, our new partnership with Nappy Endings allows us to strengthen our commitment to supporting intended parents and surrogates today. We'll continue advocating for reform, sharing stories of resilience and hope, and enhancing the surrogacy experience for everyone involved.²

Meet Us at The Familymakers Show

You can meet experts from both London Women’s Clinic and Nappy Endings at the Familymakers Show in Brighton on 10th May. Our dedicated surrogacy team will be there, to help you learn about how we can support your journey. For more details, visit familymakers.co.uk.

Stay connected through our events, webinars, and stories from our wonderful surrogacy families here. Together, we look forward to celebrating many more joyful arrivals.

Want to know more?

To learn more about our surrogacy programmes or our partnership with Nappy Endings, visit our website or contact our dedicated surrogacy team for support.

You can read LWC-published research on surrogacy at the key references below:

1. Ahuja, K. K., Mostyn, B., Simons, E. G., Bowen-Simpkins, P., Madani, T., Homa, S., & Watts, E. (2023). First clinical report of 179 surrogacy cases in the UK: Implications for policy and practice. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 46(4), 777–784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.05.027
2. Ahuja, K. K. (2022). Shared intent in third-party donation will underpin the success of new surrogacy laws. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 45(4), 639–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.09.003