Heartland Surrogacy, Iowa’s first surrogacy agency, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at tackling reproductive health care disparities within the Latino community. The agency, co-founded by Monica Villa, is working to bridge the gap in fertility services and education for Hispanic women, who face significantly higher rates of infertility compared to their white counterparts.
According to a study by the Baylor College of Medicine, Hispanic women are 70% more likely to experience infertility than white women. This stark disparity has prompted Heartland Surrogacy to take action. Villa, who was born in Mexico, emphasizes the cultural importance of family in Latino communities and the challenges faced by women who struggle with fertility.
“We’re realizing that not only is infertility much more common than we thought it was, but also that it does affect people of color disproportionately,” Villa stated. She explained that the agency serves as a liaison, connecting women with medical professionals, attorneys, and other necessary services throughout the surrogacy process.
The initiative focuses on educating the Latino community about surrogacy as a viable option for family building. “This is something that’s an option for people of all backgrounds,” Villa said. “We want to make sure that we’re educating people on what surrogacy is.”
Heartland Surrogacy is implementing inclusive policies to ensure their services are accessible and welcoming to all. This includes featuring families of diverse races and sexual orientations in their marketing materials. By addressing language barriers and cultural sensitivities, the agency aims to make reproductive health care more accessible to the Latino population.
As part of their commitment to reducing health disparities, Heartland Surrogacy continues to raise awareness about the disproportionate impact of infertility on Hispanic women and provide alternative avenues for family creation.
See “Latina-owned Des Moines agency fills gaps in reproductive health care” (October 2, 2024)
