PORTUGAL HAS APPROVED its first surrogate mother – a 50-year-old grandmother who will bear a child to allow her daughter to start a family.

The Portuguese Council for Assisted Birth unanimously approved the request of a 30-year-old woman who cannot bear children following a surgical procedure for endometriosis.

“Despite several other cases put forward, only this one was examined by the council and unanimously approved,” a statement said.

Portugal’s national medical council will now review it and has 60 days to make a ruling. It is widely expected to give it the go ahead.

Gestational surrogacy was legalised in Portugal in 2016 and confined to cases only where a woman cannot bear a child for medical reasons – especially due to a dysfunctional or absent uterus.

The law stipulates that surrogate motherhood should be altruistic – the woman who agrees to carry and give birth to a child should not be paid for her services.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More