Understanding Gestational Surrogacy for Gay Couples and Individuals
Surrogacy provides LGBTQ couples, often same-sex male couples or single men, with the ability to have a biologically related child when they otherwise would not be able to. This family planning option, which has gained popularity over the years, can be an exciting yet overwhelming process with many questions. When it comes to individuals or LGBTQ couples, many want to know more about how the surrogacy process works. At Family Creations, we have over 15 years of experience helping to arrange gestational surrogacy for gay couples and individuals. This article provides an overview of the process, poses some additional questions that you might want to reflect upon and seek answers to, and discusses the next steps in your journey of having children.
What is Gestational Surrogacy?
While the words sound a little strange, gestational surrogacy is a fancy term for describing one form of assisted reproduction. Surrogacy uses in vitro fertilization (IVF) to fertilize an egg from the intended mother (or a donor) with sperm from the intended father (or a donor). With gestational surrogacy, the woman is not genetically related to the child she carries, as her egg is not used in the process. After giving birth, the baby is given to the intended parent(s).
At Family Creations, gestational surrogacy for gay couples and individuals is an increasingly popular option, and our surrogates undergo a rigorous screening process and partake in an interview process with the intended parent(s) to ensure compatibility. Together, both parties decide how much interaction will occur during the pregnancy. Some parents and surrogates are very involved and friendly (even staying in contact after the birth), while others maintain a more professional distance. When it comes to the relationship, the choice is yours to make.
Questions for Individuals and LGBT Couples Considering Surrogacy
Before starting down the road of surrogacy, some questions need to be answered. Here are a few of the general ones we pose to intended parents:
- What will the total financial costs be? Is this affordable for you?
- What personality traits are “must have” for your surrogate?
- Who will be the egg donor? Is there a family member or friend who will donate, or will an egg donor registry be used?
However, before you get down into the real nitty-gritty, LGBT couples considering surrogacy need to know if there are any legal implications in their state of residence. Surprisingly, many states do not address surrogacy, meaning there are no regulations for gay couples and their surrogacy partners. Unfortunately, some states still have very unfavorable laws, which could lead to legal battles. On the positive side, California is one state that has favorable surrogacy laws for all individuals, regardless of gender expression or sexual orientation.
State Surrogacy Laws and LGBT Couples
As we stressed in the last paragraph, learning about state surrogacy laws for gay couples and their surrogates is a necessary part of your family planning education. The best situation for everyone is when the gestational carrier resides in a state with favorable surrogate laws. Consulting with an attorney knowledgeable of surrogacy laws in your state can help save time and money. Getting solid legal advice early on will give you direction for starting or expanding your family.
Family Creations: Where Surrogacy for LBGT Couples and Individuals is Embraced and Supported
We believe that everyone in the LGBTQ community should have the opportunity to have a family if they so desire. Our compassionate, pro-family services help couples and individuals navigate the ins and outs of surrogacy so you can have an excellent and successful arrangement. We promise that our experienced team will assist you with every step of the surrogacy process, from the first match to post-delivery. We support and educate our intended parents, along with their gestational carrier, in a sympathetic, caring, and professional manner. There’s no such thing as a “dumb question,” and no question is ever left unanswered. Contact us today to learn more.