Finding a surrogate mother in Poland is quite easy. It took reporters from the Dziennik daily only two days to contact what was passing itself off as a job agency called “Elizabeth”, which provides surrogate mothers for couples who wish to have children but can’t conceive in the normal way. 

Hiring a woman for breeding purposes is not against Polish law because Poland has not ratified European law on bioethics, which bans such a practice.

For the time being giving birth on demand is a lucrative business, not controlled by the state.

Yet there is also a downside, which potential clients are not aware of. According to Polish law, a surrogate mother can change her mind and decide not to relinquish her rights over the baby once it is born. 

At the “Elizabeth” agency newspaper reporters received a catalogue with details of prospective surrogate mothers. Their age, profession and photos were given, as well as the photos of their children. The reporters were even given a time when the baby could be born. 

An initial fee of 4,500 zlotys (1,000 euros) was asked for, up front, to begin the procedure. If they took the final decision to hire a surrogate mother, they would have to pay an additional 100,000 zlotys (23,000 euros), which is the cost of the IVF procedure and hiring of the women’s womb for nine months.

The owner of the agency, Elzbieta Szymanska, started her business after she realized how many people in Poland were interested in hiring surrogate mothers. She placed an ad on the internet in which she offered to give birth to somebody’s child and received an enormous response.

She claims that every month several couples contact her agency interested in the services of a surrogate mother.  (mg/pg)