Surrogacy allows gay men to have a biological connection to their child. The most common version of gay male surrogacy involves the intended dad or dad couple working with the egg of one woman to create an embryo, which another woman (called the "surrogate" or "gestational carrier") then carries to term.

The difference between a surrogate and a gestational carrier is that the surrogate’s eggs are used in the creation of the baby, so she is biologically connected to the baby. Most gay surrogacy journeys instead involve a gestational carrier, who carries the embryo created by fertilizing the egg donated by another woman in a lab, and then implanting it in the carrier to carry to term.

Gay surrogacy will look a little bit different for everyone, but here are the steps you can expect in most gay male surrogacy journeys. 

• Step 1: Hire Professionals: First, you will find and hire your LGBTQ competent surrogacy professionals. We recommend starting with the IVF doctor as the first step of your journey will be for you to get medically screened.
• Step 2: Decide Whose Sperm to Use: For a gay couple surrogacy process, you will need to whose sperm to use. Some couples opt for a twin journey with each partner donating the sperm for one of the embryos. This way they're both bio dads to one of their kids.
• Step 3: Choose an Egg Donor and Create Embryos: Next you will select your egg donor, and there are several options for you to consider to find and select your egg donors. Once finalized, your IVF clinic will help you create embryos.
• Step 4: Match with a Surrogate: If you haven't already finalized your surrogacy agency, you will want to do so now. They will find you a surrogate to carry your baby to term.
• Step 5: Embryo Transfer: Once your surrogate is screened and cleared, the IVF doctor will transfer your embryo to your surrogate’s uterus through IVF.
• Step 6: Pregnancy and Birth: Lastly comes your surrogate’s pregnancy — and the birth of your baby!

Perfect, those who haven’t yet started on their surrogacy journey or are just getting started get the most value from GWK Academy. As a first step, we strongly encourage you to enroll in our Surrogacy & IVF Guide and make your way through every lesson before you start your journey. This way you will be prepared before you even begin! You can also schedule an introductory coaching call with GWK Founder Brian Rosenberg, https://calendly.com/gwkacademy

Absolutely, unless you're about to bring your baby home! First, as questions arise, or you want a refresher about the next step in your journey, you'll find our Surrogacy guide makes for a handy reference guide. If you're still in the process of finalizing your various family-building partners, we'd love to help by introducing you to our proven, vetted partners. And you can also take advantage of our gay dad mentor program to talk with dads who've recently completed their own surrogacy journey. 

It’s important to work with a surrogacy agency with a long track record of success not only within the field of surrogacy, but specifically within 3rd party reproduction surrogacy, which is the name for the surrogacy journey for gay men. 

It is also equally important that your agency, and each member of their team, shares a strong passion for LGBTQ+ family-building.

It’s important to work with an IVF doctor and clinic with a long track record of success not only within the field of surrogacy, but specifically within 3rd party reproduction surrogacy, which is the name for the surrogacy journey for gay men. 

It is also equally important that your doctor, and the clinic's team members, share a strong passion for LGBTQ+ family-building.

To find a fertility clinic that will be the best fit for your surrogacy journey, be prepared to ask some questions during your intake process. Ask the doctor / clinic what their success rate is like, and how long they have been in business. You will also want to ask how many gay surrogacy journeys they have helped complete — and ask to speak to previous LGBTQ clients. You will also want to know about their cost structure and price. 

Finally, you can and should also visit the SART website, the primary organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of IVF, or assisted reproductive technology (ART).

Surrogacy for gay parents average between $135,000 to $200,000 or more. There are four main areas that cover the costs of a gay surrogacy journey::

• Agency fees: $35,000 - $55,000: The agency fees refer to the professional costs associated with the coordination of your journey, legal work, social work screening, and the surrogate matching process. This includes all the associated services of the journey itself. Reputable agencies will ensure these costs are transparent and accessible — including a timeline of when certain expenses are expected to be paid.
• IVF clinic: $25,000 - $50,000: The main fees incurred at your fertility clinic will be those associated with screening your egg donor, surrogate, and you — as well as those incurred during the embryo creation and transfer processes. There is a lot of variability in costs that can occur, however, depending on your unique set of circumstances.
• Gestational carrier and egg donor: $60,000 to $80,000: These costs include the compensation to gestational carriers and egg donors, any needed travel costs, and any contingency fees that might arise — like bedrest or a c-section. Additional costs come from legal expenses, which are charged separately from the agency fee, and range from $8,000-$10,000 if all goes well. You may also need to cover costs associated with travel and accommodations for your surrogate and egg donor.
• Insurance: $15,000 to $30,000: You will also need to make sure both your surrogate and egg donor have insurance. Sometimes, a surrogate’s own insurance policy will cover her pregnancy, but increasingly they won’t. You will also need to pay for insurance for egg donors, who aren’t allowed to use their own insurance for any part of the egg donation process. International parents may have additional insurance costs to consider, because their baby will often not be covered under their own home insurance plan. That means they will have to buy insurance for their baby or babies.