As social attitudes become more inclusive, more LGBTQ+ couples in China are considering building families of their own. Many couples are in stable relationships and have the financial resources to raise a child, but due to domestic policy restrictions, they begin looking at overseas options.
Georgia has attracted attention because of its assisted reproductive services and surrogacy framework. To help readers better understand the process, Jiabao Libao provides this detailed guide to the surrogacy process in Georgia for gay male couples.
1. Choose a Provider, Determine the Plan, and Complete Medical Screening
The first step is to choose a fertility center or surrogacy service provider in Georgia.
It is advisable to begin with an online consultation to understand the provider’s scope of services, cost structure, and estimated timeline. Gay male couples will need to make two important decisions at this stage: where the eggs will come from and which partner will provide sperm—or whether both partners will provide sperm for separate embryo creation.
Medical evaluation then begins. Basic tests for the male partners generally include semen analysis, infectious disease screening, and relevant genetic testing.
2. Match With an Egg Donor and Gestational Carrier, Then Complete Legal Agreements
The next stage involves selecting an egg donor and matching with a gestational carrier.
Gestational carriers generally undergo medical, psychological, and lifestyle screening before being accepted into a program. Egg donors are also typically required to complete comprehensive medical and psychological assessments.
Based on the intended parents’ preferences and medical requirements, the clinic or service provider may present suitable donor and gestational carrier profiles for consideration.
Once matching is complete, formal legal agreements need to be prepared and signed. These agreements generally define the rights and responsibilities of all parties, payment arrangements, medical decision-making, and procedures for handling unexpected circumstances.
If donor eggs are involved, additional agreements relating to the egg donor may also be required.
3. Ovarian Stimulation, Egg Retrieval, IVF, and Embryo Transfer
After the legal preparations are completed, the medical stage begins.
The egg donor undergoes ovarian stimulation followed by egg retrieval, while sperm is collected from one or both intended fathers. Fertilization and embryo culture are then completed in the laboratory through in vitro fertilization.
Once the embryos reach the blastocyst stage, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) may be considered where medically appropriate.
Before embryo transfer, the gestational carrier undergoes endometrial preparation using medication. The embryo transfer procedure itself is generally completed in a single day.
Approximately 10 to 14 days after the transfer, a blood test is performed to determine whether pregnancy has been established.
If pregnancy is confirmed, the gestational carrier begins routine prenatal care. Intended parents can usually receive regular medical reports and pregnancy updates through the clinic or service provider.
4. Delivery, Birth Registration, and Returning Home
Intended parents generally need to arrive in Georgia before the expected delivery date so they can be present when the baby is born and begin the necessary documentation procedures.
After delivery, birth registration and legal parentage procedures are completed according to applicable Georgian law. Depending on the specific circumstances and current regulations, the intended parents may be recognized as the child’s legal parents, while the gestational carrier does not retain parental rights after the required legal procedures have been completed.
The birth certificate is then issued according to local registration requirements.
After obtaining the birth certificate, the intended parents may need to complete notarization or Apostille certification before applying through their home country’s embassy or consular authorities for the baby’s passport, travel document, nationality-related documentation, or other required papers.
Overall, gay male couples pursuing surrogacy in Georgia need to manage both the medical process and the legal requirements carefully. Working closely with qualified medical providers and legal professionals, while planning each stage in advance, can help make the overall process more structured and manageable.
If you have questions about any part of the process, you can contact us for more information. We can explain the general steps in greater detail and help you better understand the medical, legal, and practical arrangements involved.
