Surrogacy Fraud Heightens Couples’ Worries About Assisted Conception

Hyderabad: With two cases related to surrogacy fraud coming to light recently, couples are increasingly concerned about choosing the right centre and doctor. Many fear the safety of the process, low success rates, high costs, emotional stress, and — most importantly— that their sperm or eggs might get mixed up. There is also hesitation due to stigma or lack of awareness.

Doctors say these concerns are addressed through counselling, emotional support and transparency. Couples who have approached IVF centres across the city often admit that they rely mostly on recommendations and experiences shared by friends who have used the same services.

"That is the case with most medical treatments, but with fertility and IVF procedures, couples often feel hesitant to share their journey with family members. They should conduct thorough background research and question everything at every step," said Dr Preethi Reddy, Senior Consultant, Infertility.

"It is very difficult to discuss these things with family members, as not everyone is well-read or well-informed. We spoke with our friends and colleagues and approached multiple clinics before settling on one," said a software engineer who availed IVF services at a private hospital in Hyderabad.

"The IVF procedure is expensive and can cost up to Rs 2 lakh. Couples are counselled about the legal formalities involved and the success rate, which is generally 55-60 per cent. However, many come in expecting 100 per cent success, which is not realistic," said Dr Preethi.

"To address safety and identity concerns, we use RI Witness, an electronic witnessing system that securely links each patient’s identity to every sample through RFID tracking. This ensures that the correct gametes are used at every stage, eliminating the risk of mix-ups," said Dr Jyothi C. Budi, medical director of a private facility.

Despite these measures, fertility fraud remains a growing concern, with issues ranging from unlicensed clinics to misleading claims of success.

Dr Jyothi emphasised the importance of choosing centres registered under the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021. "It’s essential to verify doctor credentials, lab certifications and actual success rates. We advise couples to avoid shortcuts, unrealistic guarantees, or unproven treatments. Fertility care is a regulated medical field, and couples deserve ethical, legally compliant care. We empower patients to ask the right questions and make informed decisions," she added.

Despite these guidelines, couples still fall victim to fraud due to a lack of awareness. "Couples must ask for documentation at every step. There’s no chance of sample mix-ups because each container is barcoded with the patient’s details and only one couple’s specimens are handled at a time," explained Dr Preethi.

“Patients need to be informed of their rights. Nothing can happen without their consent and they have the right to withdraw at any stage of the procedure," she added.