Cost of surrogacy for gay couples

Ready to get started? Your surrogate’s compensation could be anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000. But here’s what many people don’t realize: this isn’t just payment for nine months of pregnancy.

Your surrogate commits to significant lifestyle changes, medical procedures, and emotional investment.

They layer multiple strategies:

• Personal savings cover initial consultations and matching fees
• Fertility loans handle major expenses like IVF and surrogate compensation
• Grants offset agency and legal costs when possible
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) cover qualified medical expenses
• Home equity provides lower interest rates than personal loans
• Fundraising campaigns supplement other sources

Start with one primary source, then add others as your journey progresses. Adjust your strategy based on actual costs and available resources.

This detailed guide breaks down every expense you’ll encounter, reveals why costs differ for same-sex families, and shares practical strategies for affording surrogacy for LGBTQ families while choosing an agency that offers LGBT surrogacy programs.

Gay Surrogacy Cost Breakdown: Complete Financial Guide

Gay Surrogacy Investment Range: $150K-$250K+ Total Costs

Surrogacy costs for gay men usually fall between $150,000 and $250,000, though families in high-demand areas like California often report total expenses closer to $225,000 to $250,000.

Why such a wide range?

If more than one cycle is needed, costs can rise quickly.

Unexpected Events

Even with careful planning, some situations increase costs:

• Additional embryo transfers
• Miscarriage and needing to rematch with a surrogate (adds $11,000–$21,000)
• Bed rest, lost wages, or medical complications

Financing Options for Gay Surrogacy

Surrogacy can be expensive, but there are several financing paths that help make gay surrogacy more attainable and financially predictable.

Employer Family-Building Benefits

Many employers now offer benefits that partially cover fertility treatments, surrogacy-related care, or egg donation. 

If your company offers family-building support, it could significantly reduce your overall cost.

Health Insurance Coverage

Surrogacy-related healthcare is often excluded from standard insurance plans. 

However, some policies do offer partial coverage for maternity or fertility treatments.

Sounds simple, right? Others need multiple attempts, extra genetic testing, or specialized fertility treatments. Some of these resources might help you with this step:

Working with an LGBTQ+ Friendly Surrogacy Agency

Finding an agency that will match your priorities and adjust their services to meet your needs is important for any couple.

For international parents, newborn insurance in the U.S. may also add another $10,000–$20,000.

Egg Donor and IVF Cycles

Gay couples must also factor in egg donor compensation and IVF expenses, which typically add $20,000–$40,000 per cycle. This will become more and more clear the further you read.

By the end of this, you’ll see that even these high prices aren’t enough to keep you from building the family you’ve always hoped for.

You can learn more about the specific fees involved in surrogacy through this breakdown:

Different agencies will direct your funds differently, which can affect your services and overall price.

Let’s consider some factors that can affect these costs:

• The surrogate’s cost of living: Because the cost of living varies so much from state to state, your surrogacy costs will as well. Most say yes. Find out if staff members understand the emotional nuances of gay family-building.

  Critical question: How many same-sex male families have you guided through surrogacy from start to finish?

  You could—but most families find the professional support invaluable. While not directly included in the costs of surrogacy, it may be helpful to begin thinking about IVF and its fee structures.

  Most IVF clinics require 6 healthy eggs to begin treatment.

  

  Each adds thousands to your investment.

  Curious about your specific situation? The factors that affect the cost of surrogacy most depend on where you live, what medical support you need, and which agency you choose.

  Additional Costs for Gay Couples vs. Yes, through legal orders or adoptions.

  Q: Do we need an egg donor?

  Ans.

  You’ll work together with your surrogate and your fertility clinic to complete the IVF process.

  Step 5: Two-Week Wait and Pregnancy

  After the operation, your surrogate will wait two weeks. If your surrogate lives in a particularly expensive or inexpensive state, it will affect your price accordingly.

• The surrogate’s experience: More experienced surrogates have higher rates.

  If you don’t have an IVF clinic or surrogacy agency near you, you can still grow your family through surrogacy. Ask about attorneys in their network who specialize in LGBTQ+ reproductive law. Skip the agency and handle this yourself? You can check this page for more information on local IVF clinics, and other surrogacy resources near you. Two important and fairly accessible resources are grants and loans.

  Budgetable?