SURROGACY FOR LGBT COUPLES: NAVIGATING THE PATH TO PARENTHOOD WITH GROWING GENERATIONS
For many LGBTQIA+ couples, the journey to parenthood is a deeply personal and emotional one. Surrogacy offers a wonderful opportunity to build a family. If you're an LGBT couple exploring surrogacy, you may have questions about the process, costs, and what to expect.
At Growing Generations, we are dedicated to helping all intended parents build their families through surrogacy. Established almost 30 years ago with a commitment to inclusivity, we were among the first surrogacy agencies to cater to LGBT couples. Our dedication to innovation, inclusion, and individuality guarantees that each client's unique needs and preferences are met with the highest quality, care, and safety standards. As a trusted partner, we are here to guide you every step of the way—ensuring a smooth, legally protected, and emotionally fulfilling journey to parenthood.
YOUR PATH TO PARENTHOOD WITH GROWING GENERATIONS
At Growing Generations, we are committed to helping LGBTQIA+ couples achieve their goal of building a family. Our agency provides a full suite of services designed to support LGBTQIA+ intended parents through the surrogacy process from start to finish. This includes:
Consultation and Planning: Every surrogacy journey for intended parents begins with an in-depth consultation to discuss goals, expectations, and any specific requirements. This personalized approach ensures that the process aligns with your vision of parenthood.
Egg Donation Matching: One of the key differences in the surrogacy process for LGBTQIA+ couples is the need for an egg donor. Unlike heterosexual couples, who may use their own eggs or sperm, same-sex couples require a donor. We offer access to a diverse and highly screened egg donor database. Intended parents can select an egg donor based on health history, education, physical traits, and other important factors. Once the donor is chosen, a reproductive specialist retrieves the eggs, which are then fertilized in a laboratory using sperm from one or both intended parents. Some couples choose to fertilize eggs with sperm from both partners, allowing for a genetic connection to their child.
Matching with a Surrogate: Growing Generations uses a personalized matching process, taking into consideration preferences, expectations, and personalities when pairing intended parents with surrogates. We take pride in carefully matching intended parents with a gestational surrogate who shares their values and commitment to the process. This step is similar for all intended parents, ensuring a surrogate is chosen who aligns with their vision.
Embryo Transfer and Pregnancy: After fertilization, the healthiest embryo is selected for transfer into the surrogate’s uterus. This process is the same for both heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ parents. Once pregnancy is confirmed, Growing Generations provides ongoing support to both the surrogate and intended parents. This includes regular medical updates, emotional guidance, and coordination of care to ensure a smooth pregnancy journey.
Legal Considerations: Establishing parental rights is an important step in any surrogacy journey. While all intended parents must complete legal agreements before the embryo transfer, LGBTQIA+ parents may have additional legal steps depending on their state of residence. Growing Generations makes sure all necessary legal protections are in place, including pre-birth or post-birth orders, to establish intended parents as the legal guardians of their child. You can learn more about legal considerations for LGBTQIA+ parents from GLAD Law.
Pregnancy and Birth: Throughout the pregnancy, Growing Generations provides continuous support, ensuring intended parents are involved and informed at every stage. As the due date approaches, we assist intended parents with finalizing birth plans and hospital arrangements. Support is provided throughout the delivery process, providing a seamless transition into parenthood. Regardless of the family structure, the joy of welcoming a child is a life-changing moment, and our team is honored to be part of this experience.
SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES IN THE PROCESS FOR LGBTQIA+ PARENTS
While the surrogacy process for LGBTQIA+ parents is largely the same as for heterosexual couples, there are some notable similarities and differences. In both cases, the medical procedures remain consistent. All intended parents, regardless of their sexual orientation, go through embryo transfer, pregnancy monitoring, and legal agreements with their surrogates. Intended parents also receive emotional and psychological support throughout the journey, as surrogacy can be both an exciting and challenging experience.
There are, however, key differences LGBTQIA+ parents must navigate. One of the most significant differences is the need for an egg donor or sperm donor for same-sex male couples, whereas heterosexual couples may use their own reproductive cells. Additionally, many gay couples choose to fertilize eggs with sperm from both partners while lesbian couples choose to donate their eggs, giving them the option of selecting the healthiest embryo.
Legal considerations can also vary, as LGBTQIA+ parents may face additional legal steps depending on their state’s laws and regulations. At Growing Generations, we ensure these unique aspects are carefully managed, providing expert guidance to help LGBTQIA+ parents successfully navigate their surrogacy journey.
UNDERSTANDING THE COST OF SURROGACY
The cost of surrogacy for all intended parents can vary depending on factors like surrogate compensation, medical procedures, and legal fees. Parents can expect the cost of surrogacy to range from the low end of $100,000 to over $200,000.
Growing Generations falls in the top end of that range. We offer transparent pricing and welcome families to have a conversation with us to help them understand costs and how to budget for their surrogacy. Additionally, financing options, as well as grants and financial assistance programs, are available through LGBTQ family-building organizations.
START YOUR SURROGACY JOURNEY TODAY
Surrogacy for LGBTQ couples is a life-changing experience. At Growing Generations, we are here to walk alongside you every step of the way. We’ve been proudly serving LGBTQIA+ families for more than 25 years, providing a full spectrum of services to help you on your unique journey.
If you’re ready to explore your surrogacy options, contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your path to parenthood.