Becoming a gay intended parent is a memorable event that completely changes the life of a couple and extends the family by welcoming a new life into it. But surrogacy journey for same-sex IPs is full of uncertainties, doubts, and challenges. A lot of questions pop up in their heads at once and become stumbling blocks on the way to happy parenthood.

World Center of Baby carefully gathered the most common questions from gay intended parents about surrogacy and provided you with the answers, that hopefully might change your perspective and assist you while embarking on the adventurous surrogacy journey. 

Find out the answers to questions concerning:

• surrogate’s attitude toward the LGBT community and how does the agency deal with it?
• what type of surrogacy is the most suitable for gay IPs?
• the process of surrogate mothers’ selection and care;
• matching procedure between gay IPs and the surrogate;
• is there a problem with establishing legal parental rights over a baby for LGBT couples?

1) What if the chosen surrogate ends up not being LGBT-friendly?

Such a problem potentially might happen if you are self-matching or experiencing surrogacy in a country that doesn’t allow surrogacy services for LGBT individuals legally. However, the best way to avoid this upsetting situation is to refer to a proven surrogacy agency, which thoroughly selects its surrogates and ensures that same-sex couples face no discomfort and prejudice. 

For instance, World Center of Baby follows the code of equality for everyone who is pursuing the dream of receiving a child. That said, we pay extra attention while organizing a matching process between the surrogate and gay IPs to guarantee the smoothest surrogacy experience for both parties.

So please complete the short form below and see for yourself the matching process inside WCOB walls.

2) What is the difference between gestational and traditional surrogacy and what do most clinics recommend for gay IPs?

The main distinction between gestational and traditional surrogacy touches upon the genetic connection to the child from a woman who gives birth to it.

When we speak about traditional surrogacy, the female who carries a baby for intended parents also shares a genetic link to the child she carries. In gestational surrogacy, a woman doesn’t have any biological connections with the child she carries because the pregnancy is launched not through artificial insemination but through IVF (in vitro fertilization) and embryo transfer.

Most surrogacy agencies nowadays practice only gestational surrogacy, but you have a full right to choose surrogacy options that will be the most comfortable and suitable only for you. If you fill out a brief questionnaire below, our manager will get in contact with you and select the most appropriate surrogacy program based on your individual story.

3) How are surrogate mothers selected and cared for? Do they face postpartum depression?

Of course, to become an approved surrogate mother, the candidates have to undergo psychological screening, infectious disease screening, and an additional uterine cavity evaluation before embryo transfer. The series of tests and examinations are conducted with one purpose: to ensure a secure surrogacy process and achieve the best possible results for our intended parents.

Even at this very stage, it becomes clear that surrogates are well taken care of. And they are monitored by our coordinators even more when they join the surrogacy program. Our staff is in constant contact with all our surrogate mothers in order to closely supervise their lifestyles during the pregnancy to make sure everything is going well.

What concerns postpartum depression, although surrogate mothers from the very beginning understand their mission and its final step, for some females it might not be an easy emotional transition. WCOB team consists of experienced psychologists, who are always here for the surrogate mother to help her adjust to the new reality and find other meaningful activities to pursue.

Thus, do not hesitate to complete a concise form and start your surrogacy journey with World Center of Baby.

4) How are gay intended parents and surrogates matched?

If you choose World Center of Baby for your surrogacy endeavor, you will experience an efficient matching process, equally offered for both heterosexual and same-sex couples. At first, both IPs and surrogates undertake a series of psychological and physiological examinations as well as background checks. If the surrogate’s candidacy is approved, her profile is added to our comprehensive database of surrogate mothers. 

After that, WCOB experts analyze the surrogate’s and intended parents’ profiles and give their professional recommendations in regard to the most suitable fit. The next step is usually the first online meeting between IPs and the chosen surrogate. If everything is agreed upon and both parties have mutual feelings, they are considered to be successfully matched and are ready to prepare for a legal agreement. 

To get more details on the matching process for LGBT intended parents, please fill out an introductory form and get in touch with our coordinator.

5)  What legal and custody issues should same-sex couples take into account?

First of all, since gestational surrogacy has a leading position across the globe and implies no genetic link between the surrogate and baby, there is no possibility for a gestational carrier to obtain legal rights over a child. 

In terms of surrogacy law, it differs from country to country. Therefore, it’s highly advisable for gay intended parents to choose a surrogacy destination with an LGBT-friendly regulation. In that case, same-sex couples have a chance to do either pre-birth or post-birth order, which indicates that both IP names are included in the birth certificate.

Nevertheless, there are so many legal peculiarities in terms of gay surrogacy regardless of the country you choose for your surrogacy journey, that referring to a reliable surrogacy agency with a skillful attorney will ease your struggles greatly. 

Should you start your own surrogacy journey, feel free to complete a short form below and our specialists will definitely provide you with further guidelines.