Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker expecting twins through a surrogate

Sarah Jessica Parker, 44, and her husband of 12 years, Matthew Broderick, 47, have announced they are expecting twin girls through a surrogate mother.

The couple, who already have six-year-old son James, are said to be “overjoyed” to be “happily anticipating the birth of their twin daughters later this summer with the generous help of a surrogate.”

No other details about the pregnancy have been revealed and it is unknown whether the couple used ‘straight’ surrogacy – the egg of the surrogate mother and the sperm of the intended father – or ‘host’ surrogacy – the egg of the intended mother and sperm of her husband or sperm donor or a fertilised embryo from an egg and sperm donor.

Other celebrities who have resorted to surrogacy include: Robert De Niro, Kelsey Grammer, Angela Bassett and Ricky Martin.

The subject of surrogacy is often controversial but in some countries it is big business.

In the United States surrogacy laws differ from state to state but in the most liberal the cost of having a surrogate baby can range from $60,000 (around £41,000) to a staggering $120,000 (around £81,000).

Surrogate mothers in the U.S charge anything from $13,000 (around £8,800) to $25,000 (around £16,900) for having someone else’s baby and they are usually compensated for lost earnings, travel expenses and health insurance.

Stiff competition comes from India where medical costs are lower. A rural Indian surrogate mother can often end up earning the equivalent of 10 years’ wages.

In the UK surrogacy is legal but only reasonable expenses can be paid to the surrogate mother. It is illegal to advertise for or as a surrogate.

Any agreement between a surrogate and intended parents is not legally binding and so can be painful process if things go wrong.

For more information on surrogacy including: who might become a surrogate mother, how to find a surrogate mother legally, surrogacy information for gay couples or single people and the risks involved please see these helpful websites:

Surrogacy UK
A UK based voluntary organisation that provides information and support for anyone with an interest in surrogacy.

Infertility Network UK
UK’s leading infertility support network

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
The UK's independent regulator overseeing the use of gametes and embryos in fertility treatment and research.