The Role of Nurses in the Surrogacy Process

Abstract

Surrogacy has emerged as a pivotal assisted-reproductive technology for couples who face infertility or are medically unable to carry a pregnancy. In Thailand, the practice is strictly regulated by the 2015 Protection for Children Born by Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, which delineates the qualifications of intended parents and gestational carriers, prescribes a multistep licensing process, and forbids commercial gain. Within this complex clinical legal landscape, nurses assume a uniquely comprehensive role that spans every stage of care. Before treatment, they provide in-depth counselling on medical procedures and potential complications, coordinate laboratory and imaging evaluations, and screen the psychosocial readiness of all parties. During treatment, nurses teach correct medication techniques, monitor physiological responses, foster emotional resilience, and supervise endometrial preparation and early pregnancy surveillance for gestational carriers. In the follow-up phase, they manage post-embryo-transfer care, offer psychological support after unsuccessful cycles, reinforce antenatal and post-partum guidelines, and verify compliance with documentation required for birth registration. Across these phases, nurses also act as legal navigators explaining statutory requirements, ensuring informed consent, and liaising with the multidisciplinary team to safeguard the welfare of the child and the rights of all stakeholders. By integrating clinical expertise, empathetic communication, and statutory knowledge, nurses help transform surrogacy from a technically demanding procedure into a holistic, patient-centred pathway that maximises safety, ethical integrity, and family wellbeing.