Safe, legal surrogacy has changed so much for LGBTQ+ parents. Before surrogacy agreements and the dawn of surrogacy agencies, many LGBTQ+ couples were unable to have a family of their own. Adoption was their only option, and even that had hurdles.
The journey of LGBTQ+ parenting and surrogacy is unique from other families. These couples face different hurdles. Learn what you need to know about growing your family.
What You Need to Know About LGBTQ+ Parenting and Surrogacy
LGBTQ+ community is resilient. But just the same, they face unique hurdles to parenthood. Learn more about growing your family in this way.
Surrogacy Is an Important Service for LGBTQ+ Families
The idea of the traditional family is changing. Now it can include a variety of structures and appearances. Surrogacy is an important element in making that possible.
Historically, gay men could only adopt. But now they can grow their family with their genetics and the gift of egg donation to welcome a biological child.
Lesbian couples may face infertility challenges or the emotional struggle of choosing which of the two partners will carry the child is too much. Surrogacy allows both parents to be involved in similar ways throughout pregnancy.
Transgender couples find that surrogacy helps them achieve parenthood when medical or physical barriers would otherwise prevent parenthood.
Regardless of what your family looks like, you can grow that family through surrogacy thanks to modern science and the selfless act of a surrogate mother.
LGBTQ+ Families Face Unique Challenges
Couples looking to grow their families can face challenges of all types. While surrogacy has made it possible for LGBTQ+ couples to welcome a child, their path to parenthood is still complex.
These couples might face legal hurdles. Some states still have laws that prohibit or limit surrogacy. Even in states where surrogacy is legal, same-sex couples might face greater challenges in securing their parental rights. That’s why you must work with an experienced legal team or surrogacy agency to protect your parental rights once your baby is born.
Additionally, surrogacy is not inexpensive. Securing funding for surrogacy can be challenging. But parents of all types have options. You can save up for your surrogacy journey, work at an employer with surrogacy benefits, take out a personal loan, explore a home equity line of credit, or run a crowdfunding campaign.
LGBTQ+ couples might also face stigmas or discrimination from adoption agencies or healthcare providers. This makes it challenging for these couples to become parents via other means.
Surrogacy Agencies Offer Clear Parenthood Pathways
Despite the many challenges LGBTQ+ couples can face, surrogacy agencies can provide a clear parenthood pathway. Any legal considerations for your state both for surrogacy and for LGBTQ+ couples can be added to your contract and surrogacy agreement.
The agency will pair you with a surrogate who respects your family structure so you don’t face any of the classic stigmas along the way.
LGBTQ+ Parenting and Surrogacy Process
Surrogacy might feel overwhelming at first. But in reality, there are only a few major milestones along the way.
- Surrogacy agency selection: You might want to meet with a few surrogacy agencies to find the right one to help you grow your family. Some agencies are more helpful than others. Accel Conceptions understands the unique challenges LGBTQ+ couples face and is ready to walk you through the legalities therein.
- Surrogate selection: Next, the agency will work with you to pair you with a surrogate. This includes an in-depth pre-screening process that helps pair you with an individual who matches your goals for parenthood.
- Egg/sperm donation: You’ll need to decide how you want to grow your family. If you want the baby to share your genetics, you can go through the process necessary to prepare for that or you can select donors accordingly.
- Transfer day/IVF day: Once you’ve gone through the selection process for your agency, surrogate and egg/sperm, you’ll get to the day all families look forward to. You’ll be ready to transfer your fertilized egg or complete IVF for the surrogate. Then comes the waiting process to find out if the procedure was successful. Once a heartbeat is detected, you move from the initial contract phase into the joys of watching the pregnancy progress.
A Caring, Supportive Surrogacy Agency for LGBTQ+ Couples
Accel Conceptions has made it possible for many LGBTQ+ couples to welcome a child. You will be welcomed to the agency with respect and understanding. Contact us to begin your parenthood journey.