Surrogacy has been an effective solution to having a biologically related child for many people facing fertility issues. This practice helped many to experience parenthood. If you’re looking at surrogacy as an option for you and your family, you might have questions about the costs. How much does surrogacy cost, and what expenses should intended parents plan for? Let’s take a closer look in this article.
How Much Does Surrogacy Cost?
How much you should expect to spend on surrogacy depends on many factors, including location, the type of surrogacy, legal fees, etc. For example, surrogacy becomes less expensive if a woman's own eggs are used or if the prospective parents have frozen embryos from previous fertility treatments available.
Medical expenses, surrogate compensation, and legal fees are all significant factors that affect the total cost of surrogacy. Many surrogacy processes involve in vitro fertilization (IVF), and some people require multiple attempts before they conceive. All these factors combined affect the overall price.
There are many other minor factors to consider in the process. Having twins or triplets will significantly increase costs, as will a cesarean birth.
What is the Average Cost of Surrogacy?
Some surrogacy-friendly countries are more expensive than others. For example, the average cost of surrogacy in the United States ranges from $130,000 to $250,000, depending on the needs of the individual or couple. For this reason, Americans often choose Mexico.
Surrogacy legislation in Mexico went through a lot of changes, finally declaring compensated surrogacy a protected medical procedure in 2021. The country offers affordable medical care with total surrogacy expenses of $75,000 - $150,000. For this amount, you will receive surrogate matching, high-quality prenatal care, complex pregnancy screening, and risk protection in an emergency.
More about surrogacy in Mexico here.
Several European countries offer significantly lower prices for surrogacy. Let’s look at the top three surrogacy-friendly countries: Albania, Greece, and Georgia.
Although surrogacy law in Albania is currently unregulated, and potential supportive legislation is under review, Albania is an effective solution for prospective parents due to medical and fertility tourism. It has modern technology surrogacy clinics offering a broad selection of local donors and traveling donors from other countries. This often means shorter wait times for intended parents.
At the same time, the surrogacy process is less expensive in comparison to other countries: total fees sum up to $60,000 - $100,000 in total.
Greece
Greece has effective legislation in place for commercial surrogacy that supports international prospective parents. The costs are relatively higher, from $63,000 to $154,000, including quality medical care.
Georgia
Georgia offers a balance of cost and quality and a favorable legal environment. Total expenses range between $55,000 and $90,000.
Surrogacy Cost Breakdown
The good news is that you won’t spend it all at once. The surrogacy process involves several steps that you can pay for gradually.
First, intended parents decide whether they will use help from a surrogacy agency. There are advantages to inviting an experienced team into the process. Well-established agencies have a quality surrogate database and provide matching and legal coordination. World Center of Baby fees range between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on the services and procedures needed.
The second sizable expense is surrogate compensation. By paying a surrogate, you reward her time, effort, and physical toll on her health. Surrogate fees usually total from $35,000 to $50,000. If the surrogate works, they may require compensation for lost wages and ask the intended parents to pay for life insurance.
You should also cover travel, maternity clothing, and additional expenses for the surrogate, which are about $5,000 to $10,000.
Medical expenses between $20,000 and $40,000 include IVF treatments, medications, surrogate screening, and prenatal care. Fertility tests and treatments for a surrogate ensure that the surrogate is physically capable of carrying a pregnancy, and reduce the risk of complications. These tests typically involve assessing the surrogate's reproductive health, including hormone levels, ovarian function, and uterus condition.
The legal process to secure parental rights typically costs $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the country's law.
How to Lower Surrogacy Cost
There are a few ways you can lower surrogacy costs.
One of the most effective ways to reduce costs is to choose a cost-effective country with legalized compensated surrogacy. Simplified legislation allows for a smoother process and lower fees.
Sometimes, intended parents go on the surrogacy journey alone, wanting to avoid paying agency fees. This is understandable. However, reputable surrogacy agencies have the team, established surrogacy process, and means to provide practical solutions in the shortest terms, usually resulting in a lower overall price.
To Sum Up
Surrogacy requires commitment and financial resources. However, there are various options and paths that you can choose to reduce the overall price and achieve your goal of parenthood. We believe that everyone’s situation is unique and requires a personalized approach. Contact us to receive recommendations for your unique situation.
