Is an Egg Donor the Biological Mother
An egg donor provides the egg that is fertilized in a lab, so she is the genetic mother of the resulting embryo. However, biological motherhood can be understood in different ways, including genetic, gestational, and social motherhood.
Genetic vs Gestational and Legal Motherhood
Genetic motherhood comes from the egg, while gestational motherhood comes from carrying the pregnancy. Legal parentage is determined by local laws and contracts, not just biology. In many programs, the intended parents are the legal parents from the start.
How Parentage Is Established
Clinics and courts usually follow the intended parent agreement and local regulations. Pre-birth orders or parentage orders can confirm legal parentage before delivery. For more details on legal parentage in fertility treatment, see this overview from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine at https://www.asrm.org/topics/topics-index/legal-aspects-of-reproduction/
