Surrogacy Mental Health Risks: New Study Links Pregnancy to Illness
Gestational Carriers Face Higher Risk of New-Onset Mental Illness,Study Reveals
New research highlights the critical need for enhanced mental health support for women who carry pregnancies for others.
A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Network Open has revealed that gestational carriers are considerably more likely to experience new-onset mental illness compared to women who conceive through unassisted means or even in vitro fertilization (IVF). The findings underscore a critical gap in mental health support for these individuals during a uniquely demanding period.
The comprehensive study, led by Dr. Maria Velez, an associate professor at McGill University and an adjunct scientist at the institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, analyzed data from over 767,000 births in Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2021. The research focused on women without a known mental illness diagnosis prior to pregnancy.
Understanding the Risks: A Deeper Dive
The study identified that nearly 1 in 5 gestational carriers had a prior mental illness diagnosis before pregnancy. This included some with serious conditions that might have raised questions about their eligibility to carry a pregnancy for someone else.”Our findings underscore the importance of adequate screening and counselling of potential gestational carriers before pregnancy about the possibility of a new-onset mental illness, or exacerbation of a prior mental illness during or after pregnancy,” stated Dr. Velez,the study’s lead author.
The research compared three groups:
Unassisted Conception: 748,732 women (97.6%)
IVF Conception: 17,916 women (2.3%)
Gestational Carriers: 758 women (0.1%)
The analysis revealed that gestational carriers were more likely to have previously given birth, resided in lower-income areas, and had higher rates of obesity and chronic hypertension. These demographic and health factors may contribute to their increased vulnerability.
Incidence Rates of Mental illness
The incidence rate per 100 person-years of new-onset mental illness was calculated for each group:
Non-gestational carriers (unassisted conception): 5.2
Non-gestational carriers (IVF conception): 5.0
Gestational carriers: 6.9
These figures indicate a notably higher risk for gestational carriers. The disparities were even more pronounced when examining mental illness diagnoses made through emergency department encounters or hospitalizations, suggesting that more severe mental health crises were more common in this group.
The crucial Need for Mental Health Support
Dr. Velez highlighted a concerning trend: “Unfortunately, fewer than half of those who visit the emergency room for mental health concerns after childbirth receive timely follow-up care, which leaves many, especially gestational carriers, at risk during a vulnerable period.”
The authors of the study expressed their hope that these findings will inform future guidelines and practices, ensuring that gestational carriers receive comprehensive and timely mental health support throughout their pregnancy journey and the postpartum period. This proactive approach is essential to safeguard the well-being of these remarkable women who undertake such a significant role in helping others build their families.
Source: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
Journal Reference: Velez,M.P., et al. (2025). New-Onset Mental Illness Among Gestational Carriers. JAMA Network Open*. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.23428