Surrogacy Insights

Surrogacy in Uruguay is tightly regulated by the government through a parliamentary law enacted in 2013:

• Law 19.167, Assisted Human Reproductive Technologies (“ART”), and
• by its regulatory decree, Decree 84/2015.

Surrogacy in Uruguay is strictly regulated by the government, and overseen by the Honorary Commission of Assisted Reproduction.  This commission meticulously evaluates each case to ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.  Surrogacy is permitted only under specific conditions: when the intended mother has a uterine disease or disorder preventing her from conceiving or giving birth.

Before surrogacy can proceed, an agreement must be reached between the parties involved, and participation must be voluntary.  Interestingly, the involvement of a relative as the surrogate emphasizes the familial aspect of the process.

The regulation extends to the Uruguayan Public Health Care System and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including gestational surrogacy. The law provides a pathway to parenthood in that the names of the intended parents will appear on the child’s birth certificate without the need for a court decision.

Uruguay’s approach to surrogacy demonstrates a balance between medical necessity and ethical considerations.  By limiting surrogacy to cases of medical need and involving close relatives, the country seeks to safeguard the well-being of all parties while upholding reproductive rights within a regulated framework.