Can Single Men Have A Child Through Surrogacy?

Family is no longer the traditional structure of man-woman-children. Today, many individuals choose to become single parents and same-sex couples fulfill their dream of a family through surrogacy. 

As a general rule, the surrogacy journey for single men is no different than that of couples, but there are a few things that set it apart. 

The Process

The surrogacy process for single men is the same as any other process: embryos are created and then transferred to the surrogate via IVF (in vitro fertilization).

It seems natural for single men to choose traditional surrogacy (which means the egg used is the surrogate’s and not an egg donor’s) to create the embryos. Yet, most intended parents who are single men opt for gestational surrogacy, in which the surrogate is not the biological mother of the child. 

This is the main difference between surrogacy for hetersexual couples and surrogacy for gay men and single men: many heterosexual couples can use the intended mother’s eggs and the intended father’s sperm to create the embryos, but single men and gay couples usually need to use an egg donor. 

Choosing A Surrogate

How can single men find a surrogate?

Single men who are interested in surrogacy have the same choice as any other intended parent:

1. Fertility agencies have their own surrogate pools. In most cases, the potential surrogates in the agencies’ pools are pre-screened before they are added to the database. 
2. Some fertility clinics offer surrogate databases of women who have been screened to ensure they are ready for the process. 
3. Some single men have a family or a friend who is willing to carry their future child. 

Are Surrogacy Laws Different For Single Men?

Surrogacy laws in the US are the same for single men and couples, but it is important to understand that each US state has its own surrogacy laws and regulations. 

If you are a single man considering surrogacy, we highly recommend you consult with an experienced surrogacy attorney or expert to understand the specific legislation for surrogacy and egg donation in your state.

What You Should Expect

It’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of single parent surrogacy, as this will allow you to make a more informed decision about committing to the surrogacy process. 

The benefits

• Surrogacy allows single men to fulfill their dream of becoming parents.
• In some cases, the single intended father and his surrogate maintain a long term, meaningful relationship.
• Via surrogacy, single men can become the biological fathers of their child or children.

The drawbacks

• Surrogacy costs are very high and with only one income, covering the costs may be challenging.
• The surrogacy journey is long, complex and emotional and single parents especially need to make sure they have a strong support system that will be there to help them go through the process. 

Adoption VS Surrogacy

Although surrogacy is becoming more and more popular among single men, adopting a child is also a good way to become a parent. 

Here’s what you should know before you decide which choice is right for you. 

• Naturally, through surrogacy intended single fathers can become the biological parent of the child, while in adoption the child is genetically related to its birth parents. This also affects the process itself: in adoption the birth parents' rights must be terminated before the child can be adopted, while in gestational surrogacy the single intended father is the child’s legal parent even before the birth. 
• Surrogacy can be more expensive than adoption and adoptive single parents have more grant programs and tax credits available to them than intended parents. 
• Although surrogacy is a long process, becoming a parent through surrogacy is usually a shorter process than adoption. 
• As adoptive parents don’t have parental rights until they become the legal parents of the child, they also have no control over many aspects of the pregnancy and early years of the child. On the other hand, intended parents have legal custody of their child from the start and can make sure the surrogate receives everything she needs for a physically and emotionally healthy pregnancy.