This comprehensive book covers the research, theory, policy and practice context of unusual reproduction using third parties. Olga Van den Akker details the psychological adaptation required to continuing changes in public opinion, advances in technologies and new legislations in surrogate motherhood and discusses their impact at an individual, societal and global level. She describes the competing interests and interactions between legal, organisational, personal, social, psychological and cultural issues in relation to biological and genetic surrogate and commissioning parenthood. This book is intended for professionals, practitioners, academics and students interested in the complexities of unusual reproduction using multidisciplinary perspectives.

Olga B.A. van den Akker is a professor of health psychology at Middlesex University, UK. She has previously authored two books:The Complete Guide to Infertility: Diagnosis, treatment, options (2002) andReproductive Health Psychology (2012) and co-edited theHandbook of Diet, Nutrition in the Menstrual Cycle, Preconceptions and Fertility (2014). She has also written numerous chapters, reports, scientific journal articles and presented at scientific conferences and national and international media providing expert information and advice on a range of reproductive health matters.

Dedication.- Preface.- Part I: Surrogate motherhood in historical, theoretical, research and organisational contexts.- Chapter 1: Introduction to surrogacy: historical and present day context.- Chapter 2: Theoretical perspectives and the social context.- Chapter 3: The process of surrogacy.- Part II: Research on surrogate mothers, commissioning parents, parenting and the surrogate offspring.- Chapter 4: Surrogate mothers.- Chapter 5: Commissioning parent(s).- Chapter 6: Separation and Parenting a surrogate baby.- Chapter 7: Individuals born from surrogate mothers.- Part III: Cross border surrogacy, ethical, moral, human rights contexts and legal frameworks.- Chapter 8: Cross border surrogacy.- Chapter 9: Ethical, moral and human rights considerations in surrogate motherhood.- Chapter 10: The legal framework.