Single men have only recently been culturally accepted as candidates for surrogacy. The latest research shows that single fathers usually have higher incomes and better education. They have more stability and social support in their lives. In the recent decade, we’ve observed the increasing popularity and acceptance of single men opting for surrogacy. However, the process is complex, and understanding the steps and costs is vital for prospective single fathers to succeed.
Surrogacy for Single Fathers
The surrogacy process for a single man involves matching with a surrogate who will become the “birth mother” or gestational surrogate. When a couple goes through the surrogacy process, an embryo created from the sperm and egg of the intended parents or donors is implanted, so the surrogate has no genetic connection to the future child. In this case, a single person can provide sperm to fertilize a donor egg, which is then transferred to the gestational carrier via embryo transfer.
Surrogacy legislation is a big part of this process. It is vital to know the country's surrogacy law and to have all the necessary documentation on hand.
Single men who became parents through surrogacy express joy and gratitude but also have some challenges in bringing up a child on their own. It can be helpful to speak to single parents who went through similar experiences and learn their stories. There are people who can come alongside you on this journey.
Surrogacy for Single Men: Breakdown of Costs
One of the main aspects of the surrogacy journey is to plan and consider the costs involved. Knowing the essential expenses in advance will help you start the process well-prepared.
First, decide whether you will use the services of a surrogacy agency. There are significant advantages to inviting an experienced team into the process. Well-established surrogacy agencies have a high-quality surrogate database and assist in matching and legal coordination. If you work with an expert agency, you can rely on their support throughout the process and even after birth. On average, the agency fees are between $15,000 and $30,000.
The second sizable expense is surrogate compensation if you choose a compensated surrogacy path. By paying a surrogate, you reward her time, effort, and physical toll on her health. Surrogate fees usually range from $35,000 to $50,000.
Medical expenses include IVF treatments, medications, and prenatal care, ranging between $20,000 and $40,000. Additional medical insurance for the surrogate and the baby can take up to $5,000 to $10,000.
The legal process to secure parental rights typically costs from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the country's law.
Additionally, you might cover travel, maternity clothing, and additional expenses for the surrogate, which is about $5,000 to $10,000.
International Surrogacy for Single Dads
In many cases, the country of residence of a prospective single father does not allow compensated surrogacy or surrogacy in any form. Thankfully, other countries do. Below are two of the most supportive countries that offer friendly legislation for prospective single dads.
Albania
The country is conveniently located in Europe and allows easy travel from various parts of the world. Although surrogacy law is currently unregulated with potential supportive legislation under review, Albania is popular for same-sex couples, singles, and heterosexual couples due to medical and fertility tourism.
Albania 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: prospective parents usually spend from $30,000 to $50,000 in total.
Mexico
Surrogacy legislation in Mexico grants all individuals equal opportunities to build families. The government affirmed the legal parenthood of intended parents, emphasizing that a child's parentage should be determined by the desire to form a family rather than genetic factors or marital status. This makes the legal process for prospective fathers in Mexico much smoother.
Another advantage to Mexico is the affordability of medical care. All expenses can sum up to $80,000 - $125,000, much less expensive than surrogacy in other countries. For this amount, you will receive surrogate matching, high-quality prenatal care, complex pregnancy screening, and risk protection in case of emergency.
You can find more detailed information about surrogacy in Mexico here.
Parents Share Their Surrogacy Experience
Liam and David's Experience in Albania / Spent $69,000
“We never thought of Albania as an option for surrogacy. We live in the US, and Albania feels like a world away from us. But after considering the costs and donor database, we decided to give it a try. Working with an agency made a big difference for us, especially in a foreign country. I think the donor selection and matching process would take ages if we were doing that on our own. We were also quite intimidated by the legal process, but WCOB took care of all the details. We now have a daughter, and she’s the biggest miracle of our lives. We are so thankful we decided to take the risk.”
Mark's Story as a Single Dad in Mexico / Spent $84,000
“I had so many questions at the beginning of the process, from the cost to what country and what donor to choose. I did not know where to start. I started googling about surrogacy for single men, and the results were not overwhelmingly positive. Many countries prohibit surrogacy for singles or surrogacy in general. I stumbled on this gay couple sharing their surrogacy journey in Mexico with World Center of Baby (WCOB). I decided to explore this more. I ended up talking to them, and this conversation gave me encouragement and hope. Previously, many people gave me a look when they heard about my desire to parent alone.
After a few months, I started working with WCOB to find a donor in Mexico. To be honest, the entire process was not easy, with some anxiety and setbacks. But I am so grateful for the support from the WCOB team. It felt like they knew what they were doing. I am now a dad to a fantastic boy. I am so grateful that I can be his dad. It was totally worth it.”
Final Thoughts
The stigma behind single parenthood has been lifting as more and more singles seek surrogacy opportunities and become parents. Surrogacy is indeed a complex journey, but we believe that with the right approach and expert support, single men and women are absolutely capable and deserve to enjoy parenthood. We at World Center of Baby are passionate and have the expertise to help them do so.
If you have questions, please contact our team for guidance.
