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LGBTQ+ and single parents

How does gay surrogacy work for LGBTQ+ intended parents?

The short answer

Gay surrogacy is gestational surrogacy in which an embryo created from an egg donor's egg and one intended father's sperm is transferred to a surrogate who has no genetic link to the child. For two dads, the journey has four parts: choose an egg donor, create embryos at a fertility clinic, match with a screened surrogate, and secure legal parentage for both fathers before or at birth. Through Private Label Surrogacy the full journey typically runs 18 to 24 months and $150,000 to $200,000 all-in, including the egg donor. PLS has matched same-sex couples, single parents by choice and LGBTQ+ parents from the US and abroad since 2017, under Illinois law that enforces compensated gestational surrogacy agreements and grants pre-birth parentage.

Written by Nancy Block, RN

Founder and Director. Fertility nurse, 17 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Former President, SEEDS.

Medically reviewed by Mark Silverberg, MD

Last updated

What is gay surrogacy and how is it different from other surrogacy?

This section is being written.

What are the steps for two dads, from egg donor to birth?

This section is being written.

Whose sperm is used, and how do both fathers become legal parents?

This section is being written.

What does gay surrogacy cost and how long does it take?

This section is being written.

Which states and clinics are safe for LGBTQ+ parents?

This section is being written.

What about single men, single women, lesbian couples and transgender parents?

This section is being written.

What about gay couples living outside the United States?

This section is being written.

How does PLS run an LGBTQ+ journey?

This section is being written.

Table in preparation

Cost and timeline summary for two dads: egg donor match, IVF and embryo creation, PLS program fee, surrogate compensation package, third-party costs, with typical ranges and months per phase

Editor notes (D-001): Replace the current 'Everyone deserves the right to have a family' page. Insert [PLS_JOURNEYS] for LGBTQ+ families if Nancy can supply a count. Mention Men Having Babies (MHB) and its Gay Parenting Assistance Program as an external resource only; confirm PLS has no formal MHB affiliation before claiming one. Illinois statute language reviewed by counsel.

Frequently asked questions

Do gay couples need both an egg donor and a surrogate?

Yes. Two men need an egg donor to provide eggs and a gestational surrogate to carry the pregnancy. The surrogate is never the egg source in a PLS journey.

Can both dads be biologically related to the children?

Each embryo has one genetic father. Couples can fertilize half the donor eggs with each partner's sperm and transfer embryos from each, in separate pregnancies or, where the clinic agrees, in one transfer.

Is surrogacy legal for gay couples in Illinois?

Yes. The Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act (2005) enforces compensated gestational surrogacy agreements and allows pre-birth parentage orders. Statute details reviewed by counsel.

How much does surrogacy cost for a gay couple?

Typically $150,000 to $200,000 all-in, including an egg donor match, IVF, the PLS program fee, surrogate compensation and third-party costs. See the itemized breakdown.

Does PLS work with LGBTQ+ parents from outside the US?

Yes. Global Surrogacy Coordinator Jan Telman Berman manages international cycles, and PLS refers parents to counsel in the home country for recognition of parentage.