If you’re part of a same sex couple and dreaming of parenthood, gestational surrogacy might be the perfect path for you.
In this blog, we’ll gently walk you through each stage of the gestational surrogacy process, from finding a surrogate to holding your baby in your arms.
Whether you’re just starting to explore pregnancy options for gay couples or are ready to begin, this guide will help you feel informed, supported, and inspired.
Key Takeaways
- You’re not “considering” parenthood, you’re building a family. Gestational surrogacy gives LGBTQ+ couples full legal rights and a real shot at a biological connection.
- No room for bad help here. A great surrogacy agency changes everything. Creative Love handles the heavy lifting: vetting carriers, handling legal work, and guiding you through IVF and beyond.
- Your DNA, your baby. One partner’s sperm + a donor egg = an embryo transferred to your surrogate’s uterus. Clean. Safe. Planned.
- Contracts first, emotions second. Legal paperwork protects you and your carrier. Every scenario, from birth plans to complications, is already covered.
- Pregnancy is a shared journey, not just hers. You get updates, attend appointments, maybe even cut the cord. The surrogate doesn’t just carry the baby, she becomes part of your story.
- Yes, it’s expensive and worth every cent. IVF, legal, compensation, and medical costs add up. But Creative Love keeps it transparent, no hidden fees or fluff.
- 60% of Intended Parents at Creative Love are LGBTQ+. This isn’t new for us. It’s what we do with heart, honesty, and legal muscle.
- Start your path to parenthood with people who get it. We’re not just another agency. We’ve lived this. We lead with care, not contracts.
Thinking About Starting a Family Through Surrogacy?
At Creative Love, we understand that the path to parenthood is different for everyone, especially for LGBTQ+ couples.
Whether you’re two dads, two moms, or somewhere beautifully in between, your desire to become a parent is valid, powerful, and entirely possible.
One of the most meaningful pregnancy options for gay couples and other same sex couples is gestational surrogacy, a process filled with heart, science, and legal steps that can lead you to your child.
If you’re an LGBTQ+ couple curious about this option, here’s what you can expect.
Step 1: Choosing a Surrogacy Agency
The first step on your surrogacy journey is finding a trustworthy and loving surrogacy agency, like Creative Love.
A good agency helps guide you every step of the way, emotionally, medically, and legally.
We help you:
✅ Understand the surrogacy process
✅ Match with a qualified gestational surrogate
✅ Navigate medical and legal steps
✅ Coordinate with professionals like your infertility specialist, legal team, and more
Starting with a reputable agency gives you peace of mind and makes the journey feel more stress free.
Step 2: Creating Your Fertility Plan
Every couple’s path is unique.
Some may use one partner’s sperm and an egg donor, while others may use donated sperm or donor eggs from a sperm bank or egg donation clinic.
Lesbian couples may choose to have one partner provide the egg while the other partner carries the baby (though this is more common in reciprocal IVF, not gestational surrogacy).
Your fertility treatment plan depends on a few factors, including:
✅ Whose eggs or sperm are being used
✅ Whether you need a donor sperm or an egg donor
✅ Any medical history or health conditions
✅Your choice to use an infertility specialist or reproductive endocrinologist
Before moving forward, your clinic will test hormone levels, do blood work, and check the uterus and fallopian tubes of anyone providing the egg or the gestational carrier’s uterus.
Step 3: Finding Your Gestational Carrier
Finding the right gestational surrogate is one of the most important parts of the process.
At Creative Love, we carefully screen each carrier.
We look at her medical history, conduct genetic screening, blood tests, and check that she’s had a full-term delivery before.
This is because most surrogates have had healthy pregnancies of their own.
We match you with someone who shares your values, communicates well, and is emotionally ready for the journey.
Surrogates are often younger, healthy, and committed to helping you become a parent.
Step 4: Legal Agreements and Parental Rights
Before any medical steps begin, we work with experienced legal counsel to create a legal contract between you and your gestational carrier.
This agreement protects everyone involved. It covers things like:
✅ Who will be the baby’s legal parents
✅ What happens in case of medical complications
✅ How medical expenses and other miscellaneous expenses are handled
✅ The surrogate’s responsibilities and boundaries
✅ What the birth process will look like
It’s essential to have a strong legal team that understands parental rights, legal fees, and possible legal complications.
This is especially important for gay parents or international clients.
Every state and country has different laws, and Creative Love ensures your legal side is fully covered.
Step 5: Medical Procedures and IVF
With legal steps complete, it’s time for the medical procedures to begin.
This usually includes:
- Egg donation: If you’re using a donor, eggs are retrieved after hormone stimulation.
- Sperm collection: This can come from one of the intended parents, a sperm donor, or a sperm bank.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF): The egg and sperm are combined in a lab to create embryos.
- Embryo transfer: One (or sometimes two) embryos are placed into the gestational carrier’s uterus.
IVF is time-consuming, and sometimes multiple rounds are needed.
But when the embryo implants successfully, you’re officially pregnant, with a lot of happy tears to follow!
Step 6: The Pregnancy Journey
From this point, the gestational surrogacy process becomes a joyful countdown to meeting your child.
Your gestational carrier will go through regular check-ups and keep you updated with scans, blood tests, and milestones.
At Creative Love, we encourage strong communication between the intended parents and the surrogate.
You can attend doctor visits, hear the heartbeat, and even be there for the delivery, depending on what’s comfortable for everyone.
The relationship you build with your surrogate often becomes a beautiful part of your family’s story.
Step 7: Delivery Day and Beyond
The day your baby is born is a magical one.
Most surrogates give birth in a hospital where a pre-birth legal agreement makes sure the baby is handed directly to you.
Once your child arrives, you are the legal parents, and your new chapter begins.
There may still be legal paperwork to finalize, especially if you live in a different state or country.
But your surrogacy agency and legal team will handle this while you enjoy those first cuddles and cries.
Things To Consider
The cost of gestational surrogacy can vary based on your needs and location. Common expenses include:
- Medical expenses (like IVF, screenings, medications)
- Legal fees (contracts, parental rights, etc.)
- Surrogate compensation
- Miscellaneous expenses (travel, insurance, etc.)
- Fertility testing and genetic screening
It’s important to plan early and ask for a detailed breakdown.
Creative Love provides transparent guidance on costs, timelines, and support resources.
Tips for LGBTQ+ Couples Starting Their Journey
Here are a few pieces of loving advice as you begin this exciting chapter:
- Talk openly with your partner about your dreams, fears, and expectations.
- Find the right team, choose a surrogacy agency with experience supporting gay men, lesbian couples, and all forms of same sex couples.
- Ask questions, the world of reproductive medicine can be complex. No question is too small.
- Celebrate every step, from your first consult to that first photo of your baby’s tiny toes.
Summary
Becoming a parent is one of the most powerful, love-filled experiences in life. And if you’re an LGBTQ+ couple, know this: your family is just as real, just as beautiful, and just as worthy of growing.
At Creative Love, we’re honored to walk with you on this path. Approximately 60% of our Intended Parent(s) are gay individuals or couples.
From helping you find a gestational carrier to supporting you through every heartbeat and hiccup, we’re here for the moments big and small.
Curious about starting your family through gestational surrogacy? Connect with our compassionate team at Creative Love and let’s explore your next steps together.
Gestational surrogacy for LGBTQ+ couples isn’t just possible. It’s beautiful.
We’re here to help you every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do gestational surrogates share DNA with the baby?
No, the gestational carrier has no genetic link to the child.
2. Can we use one partner’s sperm and a donor egg?
Yes, many same sex couples use one partner’s sperm with a donor egg to create embryos.
3. What legal steps protect our parental rights?
A legal contract is created before pregnancy to confirm you are the baby’s legal parents.
4. How long does the surrogacy process take?
The full process can take 12 to 18 months from consultation to delivery. This is dependent on a number of variables that could change the timeframe.
Wendy Arker entered the field of infertility with a huge heart and passion to guild others on their quest to grow their own family after her personal journey with infertility and turning to egg donation and sperm donation to create her own family. Being a single-mother-by-choice, Wendy understands firsthand the unique way families are built. Whether you’re a married couple, single, or LBGTQ, Creative Love is committed to assisting you.
