Received April 21, 2000
Accepted May 15, 2000

Uterus surrogacy has fragmented the reproductive function, separating the couple's unit due to the involvement of a third person within the family's potential relationship. This is considered a menace to the family's concepts throughout the world. Although the American experienceis supposed to be one of the most impressive, published reports are scanty. The most frequent surrogacy reports are in England. Most other European countries forbid surrogacy but Finland, Spain does it with restrictions. Surrogacy is practiced in Australia according to different guidelines within its states while Latin America has a mainly restrictive position on the behalf of a still powerful catholic intluence. The Brazilian council enables surrogacy ( item VII, articles 1 and 2) in case there is a medical indication. It is necessary, at the most, a second degree relationship between the surrogate and the genetic couple and there can be no commercial transaction incIuded. The first published Brazilian report of surrogacy, including the prenatal circumstances and delivery came from our program in 1997 ( Souza et al.). Since then we have been receiving requests for surrogacy. The Brazilian experience is also scarcely found on medical publications.