Gestational Surrogacy for Nontraditional Intended Parents

All across the country, different couples and individuals long to become parents: young and old, gay and straight, black and white, etc. Many have the desire to become parents, yet parenthood for those hopeful intended families may not be possible due to infertility, medical or health conditions or other factors. Fortunately, science and medicine has come a long way in helping prospective intended parents make their dreams come true. There are other ways to create a family they couldn’t otherwise have. This is why so many different types of intended parents – both traditional and nontraditional – seek out gestational surrogacy.

Not only does gestational surrogacy let intended parents create a family, but it also gives them a genetic link to their child. With the help of the right surrogacy agency – like Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma – and a surrogate, transracial or nontraditional intended parents can have the family they’ve always dreamed of.

The IVF Process Explained for Nontraditional Intended Parents

If you are unfamiliar with gestational surrogacy, you may wonder how this family planning option works. You may question how you can use a surrogate without your child having a biological connection to her. These are all natural concerns to have, and important things to know before officially starting your surrogacy journey. Allow us to put your mind at ease.

For gestational surrogacy, intended parents typically use their own egg and sperm. This is what allows you to have a genetic link to your child, and keeps you as your child’s legal parents – not the surrogate. Once your egg and sperm, respectively, are collected, they are fertilized in a laboratory to create an embryo. The embryos are then transferred into the surrogate through a process known as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Using an Egg or Sperm Donor as Nontraditional Intended Parents in Gestational Surrogacy

If one or both intended parents are unable to use their egg or sperm, there is another option within gestational surrogacy. This is through using an egg or sperm donor. Donor agencies provide information on all their donors: age, height, weight, health, etc. They also provide photographs so the intended parents know what the donors look like. So, while you may not share a complete genetic connection to your child, you can still have a child who looks like you.

For instance, nontraditional intended parents may use a donor who is the same race as them. Other intended parents may not don’t care about that and focus more on finding someone who can provide viable eggs or sperm. If you desire, you can use eggs or sperm from a donor who is of a different race. If you do this, your child will be biracial.

Who Nontraditional Intended Parents are in Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy appeals to a wide variety of intended parents. This includes, but is not limited to: married couples, single individuals, transracial couples, and LGBT couples. If you are a member of the LGBT community, a single man, a single woman or transracial, you may be considered nontraditional intended parents as you may need a donor or an egg or sperm bank to help you build your family.

For example, two men can’t provide an egg, and two women can’t provide sperm. Along the same lines, a single man or single woman would need to use an egg or sperm donor, respectively, to have the family that they want. With transracial intended parents, if you want a biracial child, you may need to use an egg or sperm of a different race if neither of you are the race or ethnicity that you are looking for.

Gestational Surrogacy for Nontraditional Intended Parents

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma doesn’t discriminate. We believe that everyone deserves to make their dreams of parenthood a reality. We provide services to all intended parents regardless of age, race, and sexual orientation. Through the matching process, we can find a surrogate mother who’d be happy to work with you.

If you have any questions about our services or about gestational surrogacy in general, don’t be afraid to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the community. We assist both intended parents and gestational carriers (surrogates). Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized experience to all involved in the surrogacy process.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-310-8790 | Email

Meet the Author: Heather Valenzano is an up-and-coming content creator with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in English. After graduating from Iona College in 2019, she got an internship – and then a part-time job – writing blogs and managing social media accounts for Hip New Jersey, a lifestyle website owned by Long Shot Productions. She has also produced website and social media content for CommonPage, an external collaboration platform.

When she isn’t working, Heather enjoys watching crime shows like Forensic Files or posting book reviews to OnlineBookClub.org under the username “LavenderLiterature2.”