Surrogacy For Gay Couples Made Easy And Affordable

Surrogacy for Gay Couples Worldwide| Gay Surrogacy Costs | Gay Surrogacy Countries

The desire to grow families is natural and the same for all human beings, irrespective of their gender or sexual inclination. One of the most practiced means of parenthood for a single father or gay couple is surrogacy with egg donation. 

The road to parenthood for a gay couple’s journey might not be easy but still, it is a double.  With breaking the barrier, there is a growing acceptance of gay parentage.  In this article, we will learn about surrogacy for gay couples.

Although the USA is one of the most legally secure and organized countries for same-sex surrogacy, the higher cost makes it out of reach for many commissioning parents.

Nevertheless, the good news is that there are a few international surrogacy countries for LGBTQ+ that are affordable and secure legally.

You may like to consider seeking the help of an experienced international surrogacy consultant, who can provide information about safe international countries for gay men.

In this article, we will cover: 

1. LGBT surrogacy process- surrogacy for gay men
2. Is surrogacy legal for gay couples?
3. Gay surrogacy cost
4. Surrogacy option for gay men, country by country
5. Conclusion

LGBT surrogacy process- Surrogacy for gay men

Gestational surrogacy for LGBTQ families is not straightforward, still, many single males are growing their families through third-party reproductive services. However, the route of gestational surrogacy is not so easy, especially for same-sex couples. A lot of research and planning is required before entering this enormous emotional and financial enterprise.

What is surrogacy for lgbt family?

For same-sex couples parenthood is accomplished by using donor egg and surrogate mother with the help of a medical procedure like IVF. Gestational surrogacy gives them the opportunity to have a genetic link with the baby.

Who will be the biological parents?

Unlike hetero parents, where both parents’ genetic materials are utilized to create embryos, the gay parent needs to decide whose sperm will be used to create the embryos. 

Some intended dads choose to fertilize eggs for implantation using both partners’ semen ( if there is no known male infertility), permitting either one or both to be the biological father of a child. This is known as 2 parents program, where sperm from both fathers is used to create embryos with the same egg donor (same genetic mother) with 2 different surrogate mothers for each dad.

Are you choosing a known or unknown egg donor?

Most gay parents use an anonymous egg donor.  However, it is possible to use a known donor within the family or friend circle, if you have a lady available in the right age group.

Pros and cons of gay surrogacy

Same-sex parenthood is possible due to advanced medical technology in the field of Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART), and more acceptable to all family types in most countries.

Still, this is not an option for everyone, and before starting a long, complicated, financially, and legally draining process, each parent needs to think of the pros and cons of surrogacy for LGBT families.

PROS

• Gestational surrogacy is the only way to grow families for gay couples, with a relatively higher success rate of IVF makes it a bit easy to do it.
• It is possible that both same-sex couples have a biological link with their babies.
• There are many support groups and communities which encourage and facilitate resources.
• There are some countries like the US that allow safe yet costly surrogacy for the LGBT community.
• There are many gestational carriers willing to help them to grow their families.
• Many gay-friendly surrogacy agencies are available that understand the specific needs of the LGBT community and are compassionate to help.

CONS

• Gestational surrogacy is an emotionally, medically, and legally complicated long process. For same-sex couples, there is additional work in terms of documentation and parentage of the baby.
• The cost of surrogacy is higher for hetero couples as compared to the adoption process.
• Sometimes LGBT couples do face discrimination by society. There are many countries, especially developing where people are judgemental of gay parenting.

Outlines the surrogacy process timeline for gay intended parents:

 A related topic:

Gestational surrogacy for gay couples in the UK

Best countries for gay surrogacy

Grants for gay surrogacy family building

How much does gay surrogacy cost?

What Gay Dads Must Know Before Becoming a Dad?

Is surrogacy legal for gay couples?

Well, the simple answer is yes and no.  It depends on which country you wish to do the surrogacy journey and from which country you are.  The United States of America is the only country that allows commercial surrogacy for same-sex couples.

The would-be parents need to work closely with a surrogacy agency and a lawyer familiar with state laws to navigate the legal procedure. You can contact an agency locally or internationally to discuss your specific case and available options.

Over the net, there are many options available but which one is legally viable and most suited to your needs is good to know.

What is legal surrogacy for gay men?

The United States allows commercial surrogacy and Canada (only supports altruistic arrangements).  Besides this nearby Mexico is gaining momentum for after the 2021 Supreme Court order.  In Latin America, Colombia and Argentina are relatively safe and cheapest countries. In Europe, some countries like the UK, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands do support altruistic surrogacy for their nationals.

What is Unregulated Gay Surrogacy?

Most international countries do not have a legal framework for surrogacy. Thus, making it somewhat risky and open to malpractice by local agencies. A few such countries are – Kenya, Laos, Ghana, and Cyprus. As there are no surrogacy laws, either allowing or banning it, this makes it riskier and more vulnerable for prospective couples.

To be frank, such unregulated option in third-world countries looks attractive, but it comes with their own medical challenges and legal complication.

Risks that come with unregulated surrogacy:

1. The unregulated countries are generally developing countries with weak economies, so it seems to be somewhat cheaper. But overall gay surrogacy costs much more than what is initially presented to you.
2. Substandard medical services mean, the overall success rate of IVF is low, meaning you might need to make many IVF and embryo transfer attempts to be successful.
3. Worse case scenarios can be a situation where surrogate mothers conceive but get poor antenatal care during the pregnancy. She might not get the kind of medical attention and attentiveness that a precious pregnancy needs. The low live birth rate is another issue.
4. The absence of a surrogacy legal framework means that LGBTQ parents need to do a court process, somewhat like adoption. As the surrogate mother is the legal mother of the baby, a court order is required to replace her name from the baby’s birth certificate with the name of the intended parents
5. Finally, the intimidating challenges of bringing the baby back safely. By far, this is the most challenging aspect of unregulated same-sex surrogacy as you do not have legal backing with an enforceable surrogacy contract. 

What is Illegal Gay Surrogacy?

These are the countries where it is illegal to do gay surrogacy like Eastern European countries.

Some examples may be where an intended father can represent himself on paper in a relationship with a gestational carrier. So, they are having a family with the intention to raise the baby together, but it is not.

The risk of illegal surrogacy:

1. The surrogacy agencies cannot publicly advertise such services, as it is not legal in the first place.
2. The surrogate mother might change her mind or create problems with a court order. So, it is imperative that surrogacy agencies hire a lady who is cooperative and understands the risk.
3. The intended father needs additional documentation and expenditure to bring the baby back safely to his country.
4. The overall cost of surrogacy may be higher than what was given in the first place.

Although the couple struggling with finance may find it tempting to choose unregulated countries, they should be aware of the risks.

We can understand high surrogacy costs can be a limiting factor, but there are other affordable and legally secure options like- Colombia,  Mexico, and Argentina.  Lots of kind and loving ladies are available to help them to realize the dream of parenthood.

Gay surrogacy cost

The cost of gay surrogacy depends on the country you choose along with the services you need.  Typically, the gay surrogacy cost in the USA is $150,000 to $170,000.

Here is the table of the cheapest countries for surrogacy: 

 Surrogacy cost due to below factors: 

1. They need an egg donation along with surrogacy to achieve parenthood.  The cost of traveling with egg donors is much higher. Thus, it is wise to choose a country depending on the type of egg donor you wish to have. 
2. Less option for surrogacy destination. Most Asian countries have banned surrogacy. The more affordable Eastern European countries do not accept single parents. I
3. Increased IVF and fertilization cost– If both parents want genetically linked with babies, they need to do the IVF with an egg donor twice. That means the medical procedures fee is higher. In this case, eggs retrieved from an egg donor are equally divided in half, and then fertilized for both partners. Thus, the cost of fertilization is double as embryos are created via IVF-ICSI for both parents.  Once embryos are created, they need to hire two surrogates, to be implanted with an embryo from a bio dad.
4. Legal surrogacy fee is higher due to second-parent adoptions.

Surrogacy option for gay men, country by country

Sure, here’s the information on international surrogacy laws organized in a table format:

The challenges of gay surrogacy country-wise: 

USA

The United States always has been a global destination for same-sex couples who can afford ridiculously high costs.

In the USA, gay-friendly States (like California and Nevada) do provide legal protection to commissioning parents who wish to grow families in the USA. Among all States, surrogacy in California remains the most lucrative option for parenthood.

How to make surrogacy in the US affordable?

1. Opt for “Independent Surrogacy”. Indy surrogacy means the intended parents take care of surrogate recruitment and coordination themselves without the help of an agency.
2. Opt for international surrogacy countries like Mexico and Colombia that offer the cheapest surrogacy countries for gay parents.

Learn more:

Surrogacy in Mexico

Surrogacy in Colombia

Cost of Starting a Family: A Look at Gay Surrogacy Expenses

 Gay Surrogacy in Colombia-

Altruistic surrogacy is legal in Colombia.

Colombia has all the qualities that can make it an ideal option for same-sex surrogacy. 

The advantages of Colombia are:

1. As per the constitution of Colombia, there should be no discrimination against the LGBT community. Thus, same-sex couples, or gay couples, are as eligible as hetero couples to start their family via third-party reproduction agreements.
2. The Constitutional Court of Colombia legalized LGBT marriage in 2016. That means same-sex couples have the same family-building rights as heterosexual couples or singles.
3. In 2015, LGBT couples were legalized for gay adoption. Thus babies born via surrogacy can be quickly adopted.
4. Instead of a straight ban on surrogacy like many other countries, the Colombian Constitutional Court acknowledged it as constitutional and issued guidelines for its correct implementation. This ruling has now become the de facto law in Colombia.
5. Thus, we can say that Colombia is a safe and affordable option for LGBT couples. The surrogacy cost in Colombia is around $64,000 for guaranteed surrogacy babies, which is more than 70% less than the standard fee in the USA.

Gay Surrogacy in Mexico

With a new Supreme Court decision in 2021, surrogacy in Mexico is now one of the best options globally for singles and couples of all sexual orientations seeking to have a family through an affordable and legal surrogacy arrangement and altruistic surrogacy is legal in Mexico.

In June 2021, the Supreme Court of Mexico ruled just that, that discrimination against foreigners and different family types was indeed unconstitutional.  

Our legal team will assist in the drafting of the surrogacy agreement with your surrogate and with the acquisition of the birth certificate at the end of the process.  Additionally, they will assist you in acquiring any documents necessary to apply to your embassy for citizenship.  It is important to remember that they are experts in Mexican law, they cannot advise on specific laws related to your country of citizenship, and you may need legal representation as well in your home country.

Secure or Guaranteed baby plan (for single males) is available for 68,900 USD.

Fixed-price programs with unlimited clinic & admin services until you are home with your baby. We are proud to offer the most affordable, secure, and reliable surrogacy programs in Mexico City.

The advantages of Mexico are:

1. Low cost as compared to the USA.  You can save up to 70% of typical surrogacy costs in the USA with our assured or guaranteed baby plan.
2. Assured plan program for $67,000 which is affordable yet legally secure.
3. Good Medical facility and success rates.
4. Legally viable for same-sex couples.   ALL intended parents, singles, married hetero couples, gay couples, or live-in partners are allowed, the only thing is that at least one IP should have a genetic link with the baby.
5. Huge egg donor database of the most beautiful girls and no waiting list for dedicated surrogate mothers.

Why surrogacy in Mexico with our team? 

• Experience and expertise under one roof:  We do have 13 years of experience in the surrogacy domain with more than 350 cases per year.
• Lowest surrogacy cost: Our pricing in Mexico is much more affordable and almost 70% less than in the US.
• LGBT Friendly: The Mexican constitution does not allow for discrimination which was reinforced by a recent Supreme Court decision.
• HIV Intended Parents are accepted: All of us have the same desire to be parents and our local clinic does accept HIV cases.
• PGD and gender selection allowed: Advanced state-of-the-art facility for doing genetic screening- PGS/PGD/NGS with gender selection is allowed.
• Top-class legal team: Legality is one of the important parts of the international surrogacy journey for both single parents and heterosexual couples.  We boast of the well-renowned and experienced legal team on our side to make your baby’s exit process easy and smooth.

Ukraine

Surrogacy services are available in Ukraine and are regulated by the Family and Civil Codes and by the Law on Health Fundamentals of Ukraine. These rules are equally implemented for Ukrainians and foreign nationals visiting the country for medical tourism.

However, surrogacy in Ukraine is only available to marry hetero couples with a medical letter mentioning the reason for a surrogate mother.

LGBT Surrogacy in Georgia

The Republic of Georgia has been a favorite destination for Egg donors and surrogacy services since 1997 when commercial surrogacy was legalized. Single-parent surrogacy in Georgia is not allowed legally.

Surrogacy for gay couples in the UK

Only altruistic surrogacy in the UK for gay couples or matter of fact for any family type.

Gestational surrogacy agreements are not legally enforceable in the UK. It means despite the written consent given by a surrogate mother; she cannot be forced to hand over the baby to the gay intended parents. That means, if she likes, she can keep the baby and can be a legal mother of the baby, even if she is not genetically linked.

A parental order is needed for all UK surrogacy seekers. A parental order is an adapted legal solution for surrogacy parents in the UK. It is done before the baby’s birth to make sure to transfer of the full baby is right from the surrogate mother and her husband (if applicable) to the intended parents.

It is advised to use a single gestational carrier for UK citizens seeking surrogacy to reduce the complication and documentation in parental order.

Recently, UK Laws have accepted and recognized single parents and gay parents to apply for a parental order for a surrogacy baby. Earlier, only hetero couples were allowed to do so, and single parents used to adopt the surrogacy baby.

Surrogacy in Canada for the gay intended parent

Canada was the first nation to permit marriage between LGBT couples from abroad and the fourth country overall to legalize same-sex unions on a national level.

With non-discrimination legislation for same-sex marriage and adoption, Canada is regarded as one of the most gay-friendly nations in the world.

Surrogacy is legal in Canada, with the exception of Quebec.  However, surrogacy in Canada or any other family type is only possible with altruistic arrangements and intended parents can only pay out-of-pocket expenses to the surrogates with no commercial angles involved.

Although it is usual for “consultants” to provide these services in support of surrogacy clinics, agencies are not lawfully allowed to formally connect surrogates with prospective parents for payment.

One of the most common disadvantages of Canada is the waiting time to find a  prospective gestational surrogate and it takes months to years to have a surrogate mother in Canada due to the altruistic nature of surrogacy.

A typical surrogate program in Canada costs about $85,000, which is also a comparatively higher price when compared to other countries like Mexico and Colombia. National health insurance will pay for the surrogate’s medical costs, but not those of the child delivered to overseas intended parents. For their infant, parents who live abroad must pay out of pocket or buy private health insurance.

Greece

Altruistic surrogacy has been permitted for married Greek citizens since 2002. However, the law was extended in 2014 to permit it for single women with diagnosed infertility conditions. This opens the possibility for Lesbians to pursue surrogacy in Greece. The birth certificate will be named with the Intended Mother as the legal parent, but women must apply for the baby’s citizenship and passport through their local consulate (which means it is only possible if the mother donates her own eggs).

Greece still forbids same-sex surrogacy in Greece, but this might alter if the nation legalizes gay marriage. As of 2018, Greece recognizes “cohabitation agreements” between people of the same sex, but legislative and highest court efforts to legalize same-sex marriage have repeatedly failed.

LGBT Surrogacy in Cyprus

In Cyprus, there is no law regulating surrogacy, so clinics and agencies offer programs to all couples. The surrogate’s contract with the intended parents is not legally binding, and the surrogate retains the right to request parental rights over the baby.

Within 3 months after the baby is born, the surrogate can choose to give up her parental rights. The intended parents then have to complete an adoption process in order to claim parental rights.

Cyprus is traditionally conservative, but it has adopted some laws supporting LGBT people. For example, gay marriage and adoption are not possible in Cyprus, but civil unions have been available since 2015.

Kenya

Surrogacy in Kenya is not regulated, but it is generally tolerated as a fertility treatment option for African-intended parents. The Kenyan Constitution is in favor of creating families and it is the basis of surrogacy in Kenya, which is inexpensive as compared to other countries.

However, in the culture of Kenya anti-LGBT and same-sex relationships are forbidden and punishable by imprisonment. Thus, LGBT-intended parents should think carefully before choosing Kenya.

Previous Popular Destinations in Asia

Surrogacy ethics and exploitation of the surrogates are controversial topics. Leading which many countries, which were popular destinations for LGBT parents in the past, have banned surrogacy.  That is why we advise intended parents to be careful about unregulated surrogacy countries, as these are much more at risk of having unfavorable laws.

LGBT Surrogacy in Laos

After banning surrogacy in Thailand and Cambodia, most of Thailand’s agencies have started their operation in Laos. Currently, there is no surrogacy law in Laos. The lack of legislative framework makes it available for desperate couples, who are looking for low-cost surrogacy in Asia.

Cambodia

There is no surrogacy law in Cambodia. That is why after the ban on Thailand and then Nepal, most agencies/operators moved to Cambodia due to physical proximity. There is a few IVF Clinics with Thai and internationally trained/experienced staff, but the concept of surrogacy is very much new to locals.

The lack of any laws does not mean surrogacy is allowed- but the absence of rules makes it exportable with unseen risk.

Birth certificate- The surrogate baby gets a Cambodian birth certificate, and the name of the biological father and surrogate mother is mentioned. Before taking the surrogate baby home, the Intended Parents need the consent of the surrogate mother in a court proceeding.

As of the beginning of 2018, Cambodia has restricted any surrogacy arrangement and cracked down on most of the clinics and agencies.

India

A long time back in early 2010, India was the popular hub for international. Low surrogacy costs, excellent medical facilities, and an abundance of available surrogate mothers made it possible.

But in late 2012, there was a sudden mandate that banned single or same-sex surrogacy in India, and only married couples were allowed.

But in recent years, India has been more conservative about surrogacy and now has banned almost all forms of commercial surrogacy. By the end of 2015, India banned even foreign married couples. In the December 2021 New Surrogacy Regulation bill, surrogacy is only allowed under certain conditions. Consult us to know more.

LGBT Surrogacy in Thailand

After the ban on single parents in 2012, Thailand emerged as one of the most promising new surrogacy destinations. Within a couple of months, it had become a popular international surrogacy hub.

Unfortunately, soon after in 2014, surrogacy in Thailand was banned after reports of a few infamous cases in the media.  Read about – surrogacy in Thailand’s cost

Nepal

After the ban on surrogacy in India, Nepal was explored as a natural alternative for surrogacy seekers, but not for a long time. Most of the Indian IVF clinics and agencies that were unable to give surrogacy services in India moved their base to Nepal.

As expected, due to the availability of laws and poor medical conditions, surrogacy services are banned for all foreigners too soon. The Supreme Court of Nepal has put a hold on surrogacy services due to a lack of guidelines. Till now, there is no progress, and the matter stays as it is now.

Conclusion

Surrogacy provides opportunities for gay men to have their own biological babies. For LGBT parents surrogacy is more challenging than it seems. Besides spending a considerable fortune to become a parent, great emotional and family support is needed before you embark parenthood journey.

Not all courtiers, that legalize surrogacy, accept same-sex couples. Thus, as compared to heterosexual couples, LGBTQ+ options are limited.

If you are considering surrogacy to grow your family, you are in the right place. Since 2010, we have helped with surrogacy for gay parents using surrogate and egg donor services.  We do assist and recommend gay surrogacy options and help in finding a surrogacy agency.

Our surrogacy agency will manage your full journey from the start till you go home with the baby. Complete your gay surrogacy with us.

FAQ for a gay-friendly surrogacy agency

Is gay surrogacy legal?

Surrogacy for gay men is possible.  However, legal surrogacy options are limited.  East European countries – Ukraine, Georgia, and Russia prohibit single same-sex surrogacy. However, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina offer secure surrogacy to single parents.

How much does gay surrogacy cost?

The typical cost of gay surrogacy in the USA is $130,000 to $150,000. However, more affordable low-cost surrogacy is possible in Colombia with an all-inclusive guaranteed baby for $65,000.  Similarly, the surrogacy cost in Mexico is $67,000 for a guaranteed baby plan, which is much more affordable than in the neighboring USA.

Surrogacy for single gay men is possible?

Yes, there are a few countries like USA, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina that allow single-male. Most countries only allow altruistic parenthood options like the UK, Canada, and Australia.

Which are gay surrogacy-friendly countries?

Friendly gay surrogacy countries are the USA. Canada, the UK, Mexico, and Colombia.  Read more about gay surrogacy-friendly countries.

If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at  IVF Conceptions.  Become parents through surrogacy with us!

Neelam Chhagani