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Surrogacy options for LGBTQIA+ families

Surrogacy options for LGBTQIA+ families

A family is a family. And a family with a child is extra special. Everyone who wants to bring a child into their family should be able to – regardless of gender, expression, sexual orientation, or gender identity. You are in the driver’s seat to make the decisions that are best for your new family, and these days just about anything is possible, no matter who you are.

As a same-sex couple, the journey to parenthood is a unique path, and having respectful expert guidance along the way will ensure that everything goes smoothly.

What is surrogacy?

Before we get too far into the details, let’s discuss surrogacy and how it can help gay couples. Gestational surrogacy is when a woman carries and delivers a baby, who is not genetically related to her, for someone else. That means you can have a child who is biologically related to you, if you like, carried and delivered by a trusted woman. Gay couples have relied on surrogacy for decades, and all kinds of fertility options are available to bring a new family member into your life through surrogacy.

An array of choices

As an LGBTQIA+ couple, you have many options for your pathway to parenthood with surrogacy. Although it is nice to have lots of choice, prepare yourself that many of these conversations between you and your partner will be rather serious and personal.

Once you have decided to pursue surrogacy, you and your partner will need to decide if one of you should be biologically related to the child and if so, which of you. Perhaps you have discussed this and have come to an agreement long before you are reading this, which is terrific. If you haven’t already decided or don’t know where to begin, we recommend that both of you do some basic medical tests to assess your individual reproductive health. 

For biological men, that involves a semen analysis for the condition of your sperm and an infectious disease test for things like HIV and hepatitis. 

For biological women, you should take blood tests to determine your hormone levels, especially your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and AMH (anti-mullerian hormone), to get a good idea of your ovulation regularity, egg supply and egg quality.

For more detail about these procedures, click here 

Of course, if you prefer that neither of you be biologically related to the child, that is an option, as well. Remember, you get to make the calls here.

Once you determine whose sperm or eggs will be used, we can inform you about your choices for donor eggs or donor sperm. We also can talk to you about special ways to connect both partners through the surrogacy process, including superfecundation or reciprocal in-vitro fertilization.

Regardless of who is or isn’t biologically related to the child, both of you will be the intended parents who will love and guide your child(ren).

Surrogacy requirements

Although you have a lot of choices in the surrogacy process, there are laws and logistics that must be addressed along the way. 

There are no federal surrogacy laws, which means that each state develops its own laws, guidelines and restrictions. Those laws do not affect you, as the intended parents; rather, the laws in the state where your surrogate lives, and gives birth, are ones that matter.

LGBTQIA+ couples may need to go through additional legal processes, depending on your state, to officially recognize both of you as the parents. An experienced surrogacy legal team can advise you identifying any legal issues that may apply in your state.

Medical insurance may or may not cover all costs associated with surrogacy. You will want to check with your insurance provider, and we will work with you to review your coverage and expand it, if necessary. Comprehensive medical insurance is important for surrogacy: We don’t want you or your surrogate to have to take any unnecessary financial or medical risks.

Financial transparency takes a lot of mystery and stress away. We will inform you up front about the costs and fees, and we also will prepare you for what the overall financial picture will look like through the process. We offer all-inclusive pricing to give you peace of mind.

Surrogacy makes for beautiful LGBTQIA+ families, and we can’t wait to help you build your family.

Ready to begin your journey? Click Here