The first step on the journey to becoming a surrogate is often the hardest! When researching the financial breakdowns of surrogacy online, it’s easy to become quickly daunted by the massive figures you’ll see. Rest assured that if you are considering becoming a gestational carrier, Simple Steps Fertility is here to help at no cost to you.
Intended parents do have to pay many hefty bills for third party IVF. Unfortunately, this is an unavoidable part of assisted reproduction. Thankfully, surrogacy costs nothing for gestational carriers. While being a surrogate is a sacrificial act requiring time and emotional and physical labor, there are no financial costs to you.
Our goal as a fertility agency is to be the bridge between intended parents and their gestational carriers. Anything that either party needs to be healthy, happy, and comfortable is our top priority! We value transparency with all of our clients, because you have the right to informed consent. In this post we’ll break down the financial, physical, and emotional costs of surrogacy for both intended parents and gestational carriers.
The Average Cost of Surrogacy for Intended Parents
As you surely know, starting a family through third party IVF can be shockingly expensive. For intended parents, the cost of surrogacy is often over $100,000. This price is so high because there are many factors to surrogacy intended to protect both the carrier and the intended parents. Parents aren’t just compensating you for your time and medical bills; they are also responsible for legal fees, background checks, and more.
With the help of Investopedia, we have broken down all of the individual fees and bills that intended parents are typically responsible for. These numbers are all estimates, because everyone’s fertility journey is unique. Bear in mind that these are rough averages of the cost of surrogacy. Some gestational carriers may have to undergo multiple rounds of IVF, and the price adds up fast.
- Fertility tests and treatments: $4,000-$7,000
- IVF: $20,000
- Egg donation, if necessary: $7,000-$9,000
- Surrogate compensation, illegal in some states: $50,000
- Surrogate insurance: $500-$1,000 per month
- Agency fees: $15,000-$30,000
- Legal fees: $6,000-$10,000
- Labor and delivery: $14,000, depending on insurance
- Other expenses: pregnancies of multiples and other complications can raise these costs
Conservatively, intended parents can expect to spend at least $75,000 for one successful surrogate pregnancy. These numbers may be overwhelming, so we’d like to remind you that the cost of surrogacy is not your responsibility. All of your bills will be covered by the intended parents, and you will likely be compensated for your sacrifice.
Mental and Physical Costs of Surrogacy for Gestational Carriers
Becoming a surrogate has no financial cost to you, and as we have mentioned, may even provide compensation. Some states, like Michigan, do prohibit surrogate compensation, and others, like Louisiana, make it difficult to compensate gestational carriers. Make sure that you are aware of the laws in your state!
Of course, pregnancy, labor, and delivery are not always a walk in the park. Surrogacy doesn’t make these experiences easier, but we believe that the benefits of surrogacy outweigh the costs to you.
Surrogacy is at least a 10 month commitment, and will require a lot from your body. In our Simple Steps to Surrogacy, we outline the timeline you will go through and the various tests required. You can see every step of the process there!
If your application to become a gestational carrier is accepted, you will undergo various physical and psychological tests to determine your fitness for pregnancy. We want all of our surrogates to have a safe and special experience, so your care is of the utmost importance to us. You will have an advocate every step of the way! Once testing is completed, fertility treatments will begin.
As a surrogate, you are entitled to high quality, comprehensive medical care. One of our surrogate advocates will also be there for you through every part of the journey. Aside from compensation, medical care, and emotional support, there are many other benefits to becoming a surrogate!
- Helping others
- Emotional fulfillment
- Personal growth and development
- Positive impact on society
Our surrogates are amazing women who are changing lives by providing the most precious gift of all. Surrogates are superheroes!
Become a Surrogate for Free
Although the average cost of surrogacy for intended parents is usually six figures, there are no financial costs to being a surrogate. In fact, many gestational carriers receive monetary compensation for their time and effort. Surrogacy is a beautiful gift to give to a family, and for healthy mothers, the benefits definitely outweigh the costs.