(Ecns.cn)— Despite a strict ban on surrogacy imposed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) ten years ago, agencies in the illegal fertility trade continue to operate and maintain relationships with a number of hospitals. That's because the industry remains attractive to many people, including young women who move to cities in search of money and don’t mind renting out their wombs. But it is a decision that often comes with complications, and risk.
Ms. Chen is a 28-year-old surrogate mother. In an interview with Guangzhou Daily, Chen said that an agency had told her she would have to accept a lower commission if the baby she carried turned out be a girl, since the client is an official who wants a son to carry on his family name.
"This kind of breach of contract is common in the business, especially when you give birth to a girl," said Chen, who is now nine months pregnant.
Using artificial insemination, Chen has given birth to two children in three and half years. She admits that she did it for easy money.
"I am a good looking girl, and I don't want to do hard labor for little money," the former office worker said, adding that she made 120,000 yuan (US$18,552) for each surrogacy. Clients also cover her cost of living during pregnancy.
The agencies find suitable surrogate mothers, who are normally healthy and good-looking girls aged between 20-28, and serve as a broker between the girls and the clients, said Chen. They also find qualified hospitals to carry out artificial insemination and deliver the babies.
The business generally attracts three types of clients: infertile couples, officials who want boys and hope to bypass the one child policy, and rich businessmen who want more children, Chen said.
But because the industry is in the grey market, the contracts the girls sign are not protected by law. That means their commissions can easily be lowered if they give birth to infants of the wrong sex, she added.
"They may promise to give you 150,000 yuan in the beginning, for instance, but you will receive 100,000 yuan or less if it is a girl," Chen said. "Some clients may even disappear, leaving the surrogate mothers with nothing."
Chen also revealed that some surrogate mothers will raise their price if they find out the unborn baby is a boy.
"If the father doesn't pay, the mother will not give him the boy," she said.
The doctors are the biggest beneficiaries of all though, Chen added.
"A doctor usually gets 30,000 to 90,000 yuan (US$4,639 to 13,919) for one surrogacy," she said. "And they don't have to carry the baby for nine months."
But for Chen the biggest toll may be an emotional one. Three days later she gave birth to a healthy boy. When asked if she was pleased with her commission, she said, “I am not happy. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, and he was taken immediately from my hands.”
