Not every couple can start a family by having a pregnancy and celebrating the birth of a baby nine months later. Medical factors and other circumstances can sometimes make it inadvisable, or even impossible, to have a baby traditionally.
Fortunately, surrogacy, where another woman agrees to become pregnant on behalf of a couple, and that newborn is then introduced to the new parents to start life as a family. Surrogacy is an increasingly popular alternative, and one of the trends in this area is for couples to travel to another country, such as the Eastern European nation of Georgia. But why would you want to go here, and what would it cost? Here’s some of the information about the advantages of this country and essential information cost of surrogacy in Georgia.
What factors influence the cost of surrogacy in Georgia?
The cost of surrogacy in Georgia is not a single price point and depends on several factors, including the type of surrogacy, whether it's compensated, and additional services. Most surrogacies in Georgia are compensated, meaning the surrogate mother receives financial recognition. This establishes a baseline, but other factors will influence the final cost, which couples should be prepared to consider.
This creates a “ground floor” for certain minimum costs, but there are additional factors to add on that will affect what couples can expect to pay. However, as a baseline, couples should be prepared to consider these specific factors:
What is the cost of a surrogacy agency in Georgia?
The fees for a surrogacy agency or clinic in Georgia typically range between $5000-$20000, depending on the additional services provided. This cost is often incurred early, especially for couples who require assistance with language barriers and the complex process of finding, screening, and liaising with surrogate candidates, as well as finalizing legal agreements.
For couples, this means that not only is the language barrier taken care of, but the search for candidates, liaising with them, arranging meetings, and finalizing the legal agreement are all taken care of under a single cost. If working with a reputable agency, the fees to the agency or clinic will range between $5000-$20000, depending on how many additional services are provided.
How much is surrogate compensation in Georgia?
Surrogacy compensation in Georgia typically ranges between $10000 and $30000. Unlike some countries, surrogate mothers in Georgia are generally paid for their efforts, and while still in the tens of thousands, these costs are often lower than in developed nations like the United States. The final compensation can also be influenced by bundled factors such as agency fees, living expenses, and medical expenses.
As a result, surrogacy compensation in Georgia, while still in the tens of thousands, is lower than in many other countries. Couples can expect to pay between $10000 and $30000 in surrogacy compensation. However, some of these costs are also determined by whether other factors are “bundled in,” such as surrogacy agency fees, living expenses, medical expenses, and others.
What are the costs of surrogacy medical procedures in Georgia?
Medical-related costs are a significant part of surrogacy expenses. For example, a single IVF procedure may cost between $12000 and $15000. Additional expenses can arise depending on the type of surrogacy, such as costs for transporting cryogenically stored samples or for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to screen for congenital diseases, ensuring the baby has the best possible start.
For example, if a couple wants to have a child that is a “true” genetic ancestor of the hopeful parents, that is, 50% of the mother’s and 50% of the father’s DNA, as would be the case in traditional childbirth, this is still possible through the IVF technique. In vitro fertilization, as it is more formally known, takes donated egg and sperm samples and fertilizes them in a lab. Upon confirmation of fertilization, the egg is then implanted in the surrogate mother, at which point a conventional pregnancy runs its course.
The IVF procedure, on its own, may cost between $12000 and $15000 for a single attempt. In addition, there may be additional charges for specific services in tandem with the IVF procedure. For example, if couples, due to medical circumstances, can’t donate “fresh” sperm or eggs but have them stored cryogenically, specific logistics are required to safely transport those samples to the lab and still be viable for use, which is an added cost.
Additionally, if one or both partners in the relationship have any family medical history with a congenital disease, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia, it is possible to avoid passing this onto the baby through the use of a procedure known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. PGD requires multiple fertilized eggs, and each of them is then screened for disorders. Any that are detected are not used for IVF, ensuring the baby is born with the best possible start, but of course, this comes at an additional cost.
What is the cost of legal services for surrogacy in Georgia?
Legal services for surrogacy in Georgia may cost between $5000 and $10000. This assistance is often necessary for couples traveling from other countries to ensure the newborn's eligibility for citizenship upon return, as legal requirements vary significantly by country. These costs can also be bundled into services provided by some agencies.
Legal services may cost between $5000 and $10000. However as has been said before, a lot of this can vary, and individual costs may be bundled into services provided by some agencies.
