Important Surrogacy Considerations
On average, having a child through traditional surrogacy costs about $50,000 and having a child through gestational surrogacy costs about $70,000, according to Growing Generations, which describes itself as the only gay- and lesbian-owned surrogacy firm primarily serving the gay and lesbian community.
There are many steps involved in having a child through surrogacy. For example:
- The intended parents must find the right prospective surrogate mother on their own or through a surrogacy agency.
- If pursuing traditional surrogacy, the intended father must donate sperm and wait for six months while it is quarantined and then tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
- If using a surrogacy agency, the intended parents and surrogate mother may be asked to undergo a medical screening and psychological evaluation.
- The intended parents must hire an attorney and complete the required agreements specifying each party's rights and responsibilities.
- The intended parents, surrogate mother and medical staff must begin the process of conception through donor insemination or in vitro fertilization.