“There is no love that is more deep and true than the love for your child.”
– Anonymous
The world needs great parents. They are not only caregivers; they’re teachers. Parents nurture the next generation and help define what the future will look like. This is why it’s so important that folks who want children have the opportunity to become parents—even if their specific circumstances make conception less straightforward.
For most of history, it has been difficult for LGBTQ+ families to procreate. However, science and medicine have progressed a staggering amount in the last several decades. Today, thanks to ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) services like egg donation and surrogacy, LGBTQ+ family planning is safe, accessible and straightforward.
Understanding LGBTQ+ Family Planning
The term “LGBTQ+” encompasses an enormous community, and family planning is not “one size fits all.” Your path will depend greatly on your own circumstances. Depending on your individual needs, you may require one or multiple ART services in order to build your family. For example, two cisgender men will require both a surrogate and an egg donor to conceive. When both parents are transgender, these services and a sperm donor may be required.
We understand that this can be overwhelming to navigate! This is why it’s so important to work with an agency like Extraordinary Conceptions—we remove the stress by guiding you through every decision and step in this process.
Navigating Legal and Social Landscapes
In the US, surrogacy and egg donation are regulated on a state-by-state basis. This can heavily impact LGBTQ+ family planning. Some states only recognize parentage between married, heterosexual couples. We can help you plan around this.
Our team stays current on LGBTQ+ parenting laws so you can feel safe knowing we will guide you through every step of your journey to parenthood. We are happy to connect you with experienced attorneys specializing in family and reproductive law so you can make the safest decisions for your family.
Assisted Reproductive Technologies for Your LGBTQ+ Family
Queer couples typically require one or more ART services to conceive: a surrogate, an egg donor, and/or a sperm donor. Extraordinary Conceptions facilitates surrogacy and egg donor agreements and can provide trusted contacts for sperm bank services.
Surrogacy and Egg Donation: Who Will It Be?
Our secure database currently has over 3,500 available egg donors and surrogates for you to review and choose from. All of our candidates have completed our rigorous admissions process to better ensure their health and safety. This includes their online profiles, personal interviews, background checks and more. We strive to make the process easy and straightforward so that you can focus on becoming a parent.
Financial Planning for LGBTQ+ Family Building
ART services are very involved and are, therefore, a significant financial investment. For queer families, this can be even more costly due to the potential need for multiple third-party agreements. This can be challenging for many families, but don’t lose hope. Depending on what surrogacy program you choose and its location, the costs can differ greatly.
There are also financing options for LGBTQ+ families on a budget, including charitable grants like Men Having Babies. You also may be able to claim benefits from taking out a medical loan.
LGBTQ+ Challenges: Recognizing and Overcoming Barriers
We’ve always been proud to support and facilitate LGBTQ+ family planning. However, since we opened our doors in 2005, we have seen enormous societal changes that have been huge wins for the queer community, including the 2015 Supreme Court decision to honor same-sex marriages across the US. More and more children are being raised by “nontraditional” families.
Despite this progress, many members of the queer community still face prejudice and oppression, both here in the US and worldwide. We still have miles to go.
We recognize this and will continue to advocate for and support the LGBTQ+ community.
The Future of LGBTQ+ Family Planning
We are honored you are considering Extraordinary Conceptions for your family building needs! We can help you navigate this exciting (but complex) process with ease so you can channel your energy into preparing to become the wonderful parent you were meant to be.
Ready to get started? Our intended parent application is available online and can be submitted at any time. As soon as you’ve clicked “submit,” you can access and browse our exclusive egg donor and surrogate database. Within 24-48 hours, one of our experts will get in touch with you to answer your questions and help you take the next step in building your beautiful family. If you would prefer immediate assistance, feel free to call us directly at (760) 438-2265—we would love to chat about any specifics or questions you have.
Thank you for making us a part of your story!
