Surrogacy is a viable and accessible solution for same-sex couples looking to take that next step into parenthood. One of the most important parts of this process is choosing a surrogacy agency, or a professional service who will be tasked with guiding you through the entire process and ensuring all of your questions are answered. It’s the surrogacy agency that will really spearhead the entire surrogacy process, which is why it’s crucial for gay couples interested in surrogacy to choose carefully before settling on the agency that’s right for them.
Why Surrogacy For Gays?
Surrogacy for gays is a pathway couples can take to biologically build their families. Unlike adoption, surrogacy can provide a child that is biologically linked to the couple, allowing them a more “traditional” family when one may not have been possible before. Gay couples have two options when it comes to the type of experience they wish to have to produce a child, and these are gestational or traditional surrogacy.
Gestational surrogacy is the most common and legally accepted method around the world, and one that can be used by same-sex couples of any gender. In this type of surrogacy, a surrogate carries a conceived child through IVF, or in-vitro fertilization. For gay couples, sperm from one parent will be joined with a donated egg, and after fertilization, the egg will be implanted into a chosen surrogate mother. The fetus will have no genetic link to the surrogate, only to the parent whose sperm was used and the egg donor. For lesbian couples, one half of the couple will donate her eggs, they will select a sperm donor, and the fertilized egg will be implanted into the surrogate in the same way.
Traditional surrogacy is carried out by fewer surrogacy agencies despite its name suggesting otherwise. In a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother’s own egg is used, making them the biological mother of the child. This can create complex legal situations, particularly in international surrogacies, and for this reason it’s not offered nor sought after as often as gestational surrogacy processes.
What You Need To Know
Before choosing the surrogacy agency that’s right for you, there are a few things you should know or consider as you start your search. The agency you choose will greatly impact your experience, and this should be an informed and prepared decision.
First and foremost, gay couples should have an idea of the type of surrogacy they’re interested in. Gestational surrogacy is the most common of the two processes, however it will require finding an egg donor for conception. Gay couples may believe that traditional surrogacy is a simpler and more straightforward strategy, especially if they don’t have an egg donor at the ready, however it does come with legal complexities that gestational surrogacy does not. Before seeking out a surrogacy agency to oversee your experience, decide carefully which pathway is best for you.
Next, you’ll want to make sure the surrogacy agency you choose is comfortable and experienced in working with same-sex couples. In some countries, surrogacy for a same-sex couple may not meet the host country’s legal requirements, so these legalities should always be researched before deciding on a particular agency. For instance, countries like Ukraine and Armenia welcome same-sex couples to pursue surrogacy, while pursuing surrogacy in Georgia or Mexico may be met with some complications. If you’re unsure of the laws or regulations observed by a potential destination country, you may ask the surrogacy agencies you’re looking into for what any observed rules for gay or lesbian couples may be.
Also, before choosing a surrogacy agency, familiarize yourself with the cost of surrogacy and how these costs can differ depending on the destination you choose. A surrogacy in a country like Armenia is going to be far more affordable, on average, than choosing a country like the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia. There is reason why surrogacy destinations like Armenia for gay couples have become considerably more popular in recent years, and that’s because they offer a more affordable experience when compared to other countries for couples willing to travel.
What Happens Next
After a gay couple finds their perfect surrogacy match, the surrogacy process will begin. If they’ve selected the best surrogacy agency, they’ll be guided along in this process confidently with their questions answered. They will begin the search for a surrogate mother to carry their child, and they won’t be rushed into making the perfect decision. This can be a process that sometimes takes weeks to months. After this, they will provide a sperm donation to be used to fertilize the egg, or in the case of lesbian couples, an egg donation will be made. Once gestation is underway, the couple will be updated frequently with the health and status of their child-to-be all the way until the child’s birth.
