Question

Which of the following statements describe a surrogate mother?

• A. One who has undergone tubectomy after her first child
• B. One who is unable to conceive for a second time
• C. One who carries a child in her womb on behalf of someone else
• D. One who is unable to produce milk after the birth of her child

Answer 1

The correct option is C One who carries a child in her womb on behalf of someone else

Surrogacy refers to a situation wherein a woman (a fertile woman referred to as surrogate mother) agrees to bear a child for an infertile couple. This method is resorted to when the female partner is unable to provide suitable conditions for implantation and further development of the embryo. In this case, the embryo is implanted into the uterus of the surrogate mother who then undergoes the full term of gestation to give birth to a child. It is an in vitro technique since fertilisation is carried out in vitro. So, in other words, we can say that a surrogate mother is one who carries a child in her womb on behalf of someone else.
Tubectomy is a surgical method of contraception in females. In this technique, a small part of the fallopian tubes are removed/ tied up through a small incision in the abdomen or through the vagina. Incisions are made on both the fallopian tubes, followed by sealing the ends. A woman who has undergone tubectomy can be referred to as a sterilised female.
A female who is unable to conceive for a second time is a victim of secondary infertility. In secondary infertility, the couple conceive once, but subsequently fail to conceive.
If a woman is unable to produce milk after the birth of her first child, it might be due to abnormalities in the production of prolactin hormone from the anterior pituitary. This condition specifically does not define surrogacy.