Starting a family is a dream for many people, and surrogacy has opened up exciting possibilities. Navigating your options and deciding which country your gestational carrier lives in can be confusing.
Adonis Fertility International offers surrogacy programs in the United States and Ukraine for people worldwide. Each option has unique benefits and considerations. This article compares the main differences between surrogacy in the USA and Ukraine, focusing on eligibility requirements and who qualifies as intended parents.
Surrogacy in the United States vs. Ukraine: A Comparison
Surrogacy in the USA
The United States is a popular choice for surrogacy due to it being more lenient regarding the requirements intended parents need to meet.
- Eligibility: The USA is inclusive regarding who can enter into a surrogacy journey. Heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, and single individuals are welcome. Also, there are no requirements regarding a biological connection to the baby (sperm and egg donors are fully acceptable).
There are no strict marital status requirements, which broadens accessibility. This is not the case in Ukraine, where the intended parents must be married and heterosexual. - Parental Rights: In the US, the gestational carrier (surrogate) can make medical decisions regarding the baby, including the decision to terminate the pregnancy. This differs from Ukraine, where the surrogate has no legal decision-making power during the process. As the intended parent, you hold the key decision power from start to finish.
- Costs: Surrogacy in the USA is more expensive. It starts at $130,000+ and can be much higher (especially in cases where embryos are not created and egg retrieval or donor material is required). $130,000+ includes agency fees, legal services, medical expenses, and surrogate compensation.
Surrogacy in Ukraine
Ukraine is preferred for surrogacy due to its supportive laws and significantly lower costs. Adonis Fertility International has been helping intended parents in Ukraine for over a decade.
- Eligibility: One of the main differences between surrogacy in Ukraine and the USA is the eligibility criteria. In Ukraine, the intended parents must be a heterosexual, married couple who have a medical indication for surrogacy. Additionally, at least one of the intended parents must have a biological connection to the embryo, meaning they must provide either the sperm or the egg used in the surrogacy process. This is not the case in the United States, which accepts surrogacy programs for homosexual couples and single people and requires no genetic link to the embryo.
- Parental Rights: Ukrainian law automatically recognizes the intended parents as the child’s legal parents. The surrogate has no legal rights to the child, simplifying the legal process and providing certainty for the intended parents.
Additionally, any medical decisions related to the baby are up to the parents, including the decision to terminate the pregnancy. This is different from the United States, where the surrogate also has decision rights regarding termination.
<answer from Oksana – use this language: Ukrainian law recognizes intended parents as the child’s legal parents. The surrogate has no legal rights to the child, simplifying the legal process and providing certainty for the intended parents.>
- Costs: Surrogacy in Ukraine is more affordable, typically starting at $44,000. This includes medical procedures, legal fees, and surrogate compensation.
- Easy Exit Process: Only your names are listed on the birth certificate as the child’s parents. Your baby comes back with your citizenship (passport).* The exit process is very streamlined. For example, for parents with US citizenship, the whole process takes a week from birth!
*Rules depend on the country of citizenship; please check with Adonis’ attorney for the process based on your citizenship.
When considering surrogacy, intended parents should carefully weigh the differences between countries to determine the best option for their unique circumstances. The USA offers a more inclusive and flexible approach, accommodating a diverse range of intended parents (same-sex couples, single people, etc.) but at a higher cost. On the other hand, Ukraine provides a more affordable option with a clear legal framework but imposes stricter eligibility requirements (heterosexual, married couples with a genetic connection to the embryo).
For more information and personalized guidance, contact Adonis today. We’re here to help you understand your options and determine the best solution to make your dream of growing your family a reality!