Single-parent surrogacy is where an individual (male, female, or member of the LGBTQ+ community) pursues surrogacy to become a parent.
In non-traditional families, regardless of marital status, it is now more common, many people in the United States, as well as in the world, are choosing to be single parents. Every year, thousands of children are born to single men and women – mostly through surrogacy.
Not to mention that many celebrities have chosen surrogacy to become single parents such as Lucy Liu, Andy Cohen.
Some agencies even offer exclusive surrogacy programs for single men and women.
Single parents who pursue surrogacy go through the same process, experience the same difficulties, and enjoy the same benefits as married couples, although there are some exceptions. In this article, we will look at what surrogacy is for single parents.
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Single Parent Surrogacy Process
In general, single parents go through the same surrogacy process as other intended Parents. IVF (in vitro fertilization) is done to produce an embryo that is transferred to a Surrogate Mom, who carries it to full term.
In traditional surrogacy, a single man will find a Surrogate whose eggs will be used to create the baby. But most Intended Parents prefer gestational surrogacy, where the Surrogate Mother (also known as Gestational Carrier) has no genetic connection to the child born.
Unlike couples who can use their own genetic materials, Single Intended Parents will need the services of donor eggs (for boys) and donor sperm (for girls) in gestational surrogacy. And that’s a big difference between single-parent surrogacy and surrogacy for couples.
Usually, surrogacy agencies will help you find one Egg Donor and Join together or refer you to donors and sperm banks they work with. Single fathers and mothers may also decide to use a known donor, for example, a friend or close relative. Once you have identified the donor, you will go through the same surrogacy process as any other Intended Parent.
Surrogacy Laws for Single Parents
Surrogacy laws are the same for everyone in the US, whether you are undergoing surrogacy as a couple or as a single parent. However, the legal process of surrogacy is quite complicated. Also, regulations vary from state to state, and since surrogacy is a relatively new family-building option, many of these laws are unclear and may vary in application.
Therefore, if you are a single parent considering pursuing surrogacy, it is important to consult with a reputable surrogacy agency and attorney to gain a better understanding of the surrogacy laws applicable in your state. and your situation.
Pros and Cons of Single-Parent Surrogacy
Intended Parents have many options for starting a family. If you’re pursuing surrogacy as a single parent, it’s important to consider the benefits and challenges before beginning the process. Below are some of the pros and cons of single parent surrogacy:
PROS
- Surrogacy allows individuals to fulfill their dream of parenthood, even if they are single.
- Expectant parents can have a genetic connection to their babies.
- Surrogacy can help build beautiful, lifelong relationships between intended families and Surrogate Mothers.
- Single-parent surrogacy is sometimes an easier option than adoption because most birth mothers prefer to give their babies to two-parent households.
CONS
- Surrogacy can be expensive, and single parents may encounter more budgeting difficulties with only one income.
- Due to the high cost of surrogacy in the US, many expectant parents prefer to work with Surrogates abroad. However, surrogacy laws in some countries may prohibit single parents from hiring a Surrogate to help build their families.
- Single parents can be stigmatized during the surrogacy process and even after the birth of their baby. Additionally, it can be difficult to manage resources and time when pursuing surrogacy as a single parent.
Each potential Intended Parent needs to weigh the pros and cons of undergoing surrogacy in their current situation. If you are having trouble deciding whether surrogacy is right for you, consult an experienced surrogacy professional or family counselor for advice and guidance.
Single-Parent Surrogacy versus Single-Parent Adoption
There are two great options for people looking to grow their families: adoption and surrogacy. While both are rewarding ways to be a parent, there are some differences that you need to consider when choosing which way is perfect for you.
Surrogacy and adoption are both complex processes, each with its own laws, procedures, and types. In general, Intended Parents can expect surrogacy and adoption in the following ways:
1. Genetics
Surrogacy allows prospective parents to be biologically related to their baby, while adoption is simply the transfer of all legal parental rights from the baby’s natural parents to the adoptive parents. Therefore, both options have significantly different legal 8 processes.
For example, in gestational surrogacy, the law recognizes the expectant parents as the child’s parents before he is born, and the Surrogate Mother has no parental rights to the baby. But in adoption, the biological parent’s rights must be terminated before the new family can adopt the baby.
2. Cost
Both surrogacy and domestic infant adoption involve various costs, such as legal costs, agency fees, advertising and matching services, etc. Additionally, Surrogates are paid significantly more for their time and sacrifice during pregnancy, making surrogacy more expensive than adoption. Plus, there are fewer loans, grants, and tax credits for parents seeking surrogacy compared to adoptive parents.
3. Wait
Intended Parents who want to adopt a baby may have to wait months (if not years) to find a pregnant woman willing to give her child up for adoption. On the other hand, there are many Surrogates willing and ready to help Intended Parents, which can make the matching process much shorter.
4. Control
In general, Intended Parents have more control over their surrogacy process than they do over the adoption process. In gestational surrogacy, prospective parents choose their donor and Surrogate Mother, while in adoption, the birth mother decides which family will adopt her baby.
Since expectant parents have legal rights to the baby before birth and surrogacy agreements are signed before pregnancy, Intended Parents do not have to worry about any disruption and can ensure that their Surrogate gets of proper prenatal care during her pregnancy.
Bottom line
Although a commercial surrogacy program can be expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally demanding for expectant parents, it can also be a wonderful way to add a new member to your family. Surrogacy allows single Intended Parents to have genetically related babies, even if they don’t have a partner. With a strong support system in place, the joys of being a single parent are worth the costs and possible challenges.
Physician’s Surrogacy specializes in catering services to single parents and LGBTQ+ couples. To learn more about what your path to single parenthood through surrogacy looks like, simply contact us through the complimentary consultation or chat option.
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