For single gay men and male couples who want to be parents, surrogacy is one of the most popular choices. But understanding everything about surrogacy, IVF, and egg donation can feel confusing and foreign. Fortunately, there are fertility clinics that are committed to making sure gay men can start or grow their families. These clinics understand the desire for some couples to have a biological tie to their children, and can explain the ways egg donation and surrogacy options help to make this possible. Keep reading to learn how to find an egg donor and surrogate for gay men.
The first step in the process is finding an egg donor. Agencies have options for selecting an anonymous donor or a known donor, and the agencies screen and interview the donors to make sure they’re medically and emotionally able to share their eggs. Appearance, medical history, interests, and education are all areas that an egg donor can share with agencies, and also with the gay male couples or single gay men who may choose to use the donor’s eggs for the creation or growth of their family.
Then, finding a surrogate to carry the child to term is the next step. It’s vital that egg donors and surrogates are carefully vetted, so there is the highest chance of a safe pregnancy that results in a healthy, full-term infant. Some gay men choose to use a family member or friend for egg donation or surrogacy, but the vetting process is still important. Additionally, any gay man who plans to use egg donation and a surrogate for their family should understand the legal implications.
Having a solid contract, either through an agency or with a family member or friend, is extremely important. That can reduce any legal problems, establish parental rights, and ensure that any gay men who work with egg donors and surrogates to create a family have proper rights to their child. Anyone using these methods to have children need to legally protect both the children and themselves.
Dr. Minoos Hosseinzadeh, founder and director at Fertility Institute of San Diego, has been a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community by helping build families for over 25+ years. For more information on Egg Donation, Surrogacy and IVF for gay couples, book a free consultation by clicking here.