Most surrogacy agencies today are happy to work with single parents, and American Surrogacy is one of those agencies. We work with single men and women, as well as married couples — both heterosexual and same-sex. If your dream is to become a parent, we can help get there, regardless of your marital status.

Here’s a basic overview of how single parent surrogacy works, and what you can expect during the process:

Completing the Screening Process

When working with a surrogacy agency that accepts single mothers and fathers, like American Surrogacy, the screening process for individuals is the same as it is for couples. Here’s a glimpse of what that process is like:

• You’ll be required to undergo a series of background checks.
• You’ll complete a home assessment with a social worker to ensure that your house is safe for a baby.
• You’ll submit financial documentation, health records and more to verify that you’re financially, physically and emotionally prepared to meet the demands of a baby.
• And more

All intended parents, including single parents, are carefully screened so that we know you’ll be able to provide a safe, stable and loving environment for a child. Likewise, surrogates are thoroughly screened to make sure that they’re physically and emotionally ready for the surrogacy process, as well.

Matching with a Surrogate

After you’ve been approved to work with a surrogacy agency that accepts single mothers and fathers by completing the screening process, you’ll begin the process of finding the right surrogate. With American Surrogacy, that process looks like this:

• You’ll complete a Surrogacy Planning Questionnaire (SPQ) that helps us understand what you’re looking for in a gestational carrier.
• We’ll help you create an intended parent profile, which our surrogates can view.
• You’ll also view profiles of our surrogates who we think best match what you’re looking for.
• Once you’ve been matched with your surrogate, we’ll guide you both throughout the entire process and help you get to know one another.

We’ll help you connect with a surrogate who is excited to help you complete your family as a single parent.

Creating an Embryo

As a single intended parent, you will find this step is a little different than it is for many heterosexual couples or same-sex couples.

While most heterosexual couples pursuing surrogacy will create an embryo in a lab using in vitro fertilization (IVF) with their own egg and sperm, donated eggs or sperm are usually required to create an embryo when you’re completing the single parent surrogacy process.

Single men will typically use a donated egg, which will be fertilized with their own sperm. Single women will usually use their own egg, which will be fertilized with donor sperm.

Using an egg or sperm donor is one of the few extra steps that single parents and same-sex couples will usually need to complete when pursuing surrogacy.  In almost every other way, the process remains the same for all intended parents.

What You Should Know About Single Parent Surrogacy

There are a few key differences in completing the surrogacy process as a single parent, and we always want to talk through the challenges and benefits of being a single parent before you undertake the surrogacy process.

Children who are raised by single parents are just as loved as those in two-parent homes. However, having a child via surrogacy as a single intended parent includes some challenges and benefits that you should consider, such as:

• You will have the ability to have a biological child, regardless of whether or not you’re in a relationship.
• Single parent surrogacy may be easier than adoption, as many birth mothers prefer a two-parent home for their baby.
• Raising a child as a single parent is increasingly common, and the stigmas surrounding single parenthood are decreasing.
• The financial costs of surrogacy and raising your child on one salary are often difficult to manage.
• The time and physical, mental and emotional energy you’ll need to nurture a child on your own is intense, and you’ll need a highly committed support system of friends or family.

Solo parenthood is not for the faint of heart, but many people are successful parents on their own. While the surrogacy process for single men and women is the same as it is for married couples, raising a child will be a different experience for individuals than for people with a partner. Ultimately, you’re the only one who can decide if single parent surrogacy is right for you.

We can help you become a parent as a single man or woman if you do decide that pursuing surrogacy as a single parent is how you want to have a family. Contact us online or call us at 1-800-875-2229 to learn more about how to become a parent on your own through surrogacy, or to begin your surrogacy process now.