Why the world wants American surrogates

The United States is one of the few wealthy countries where commercial surrogacy remains legal.

Bans elsewhere in the world, combined with a largely free-market approach at home, have made the US an international destination for would-be parents from around the globe – fuelling the industry’s rapid expansion. But could it all come to an end?

Today on The Global Story, we speak to fertility technology reporter Emi Nietfeld about how the US became a global hub for surrogacy – and why a series of high-profile cases is raising difficult questions about the industry.

Producer: Valerio Esposito

Executive producer: Martine Powers

Digital producer: Charlie Firth

Sound Engineer: Travis Evans

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: A pregnant woman holding her stomach. Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire