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Greece, Ukraine, Canada… Best destination for surrogacy?
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Greece, Ukraine, Canada… Best destination for surrogacy?

  1. <span  class="bbp-author-name">Watermelon2</span>
    Watermelon2

    Heyyyy, with my husband I’ve been reading this forum for a while… and today we’ve decided to get involved as we’ve been having a series of unanswered questions for quite a while.

    We’re a straight couple, already have a biological child. During delivery, my wife had a uterine atony and now we want a second child but have no alternative but to turn to surrogacy.

    We’re interested in various countries, but have become a little stressed out of this because doubts keep on filling our minds… On the one hand Greece is in the middle of a recession as many other European countries. There is no record of Spanish kids having been born there via surrogacy ever since the law was amended and foreigners were allowed to pursue surrogacy there. And the cost there is too expensive.

    Similarly, Ukraine is surrounded by riots and I could say it’s at war, but as we can see hundreds of families choose this country in spite of that -don’t understand why but it’s ok. And Canada… well, we’ve a preference for Europe, but it’s an alternative, although we haven’t been able to find a surro there.

    Please, can you help us? This is a hard decision for us to make, and besides surrogacy is a costly process. This is our big dream, but carries lots of investments and efforts. Your stories and experiences would be highly appreciated no doubt as we REALLY need some guidance.

    THANKS A LOT!!!

    05/05/2016 at 3:58 pm
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  2. Dear Watermelon2,

    Since you are an heterosexual couple and your wife is able to prove she is unable to carry a pregnancy to term due to a uterine atony, any of the above mentioned destinations would fit your needs. However, there exist other countries where surrogacy is allowed, and perhaps their requirements might fit your needs as well: the USA, Russia, Australia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, etc.

    On the other hand, choosing a destination for undergoing surrogacy is a hard decision to make and it’s normal that you are a little bit confused right now, but it’s very positive that you’re trying to itemize both the pros and cons of each country. Many aspects should be weighted up when making up your minds, such as the requirements established by each country’s legal framework, any special peculiarity when it comes to determining who the legal parents of the unborn child will be in order to avoid further problems, costs, surrogacy agencies, etc.

    I hope you have a wonderful journey. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

    Best wishes

    05/06/2016 at 9:43 am
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    • Hi Watermelon2, fyi Kiew is a calm city, no war or riots can be found there, but yes, it is Ukraine’s capital city and as any other capital city usually problems start there. Don’t know if this is an issue for you. The main advantage of Kiev is that problems take place in a park or a concrete open space in town, but not in the whole city you know? It’s clear that California is the best country, but in my case I’d choose Ukraine no doubt instead of traveling to the USA…

      05/09/2016 at 9:17 am
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    • Definitely! I’d choose Ukraine instead of surrogacy in the US. Traditional surrogacy programs in the US cost more than $140,000 USD. Though changes in the international landscape for surrogacy have introduced new programs modeled after lower-cost services overseas. These programs usually include all components of the surrogacy process. A single fee includes all medical procedures (Including the IVF, embryo transfer prenatal care and the delivery), legal contracts and filings, the surrogate compensation and expenses as well as the logistical support from the IP’ agent. These negotiated programs range from $85,000 to $120,000 USD. Not including an egg donor!!

      06/24/2018 at 2:40 pm
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    • The US law may be quite complicated regarding surrogacy. Every state has its own law. Some are surrogacy friendy. Others prohibit it. Yet others allow surrogacy for same sex couples, others not. One should be aware of all those complications. And with cases when a baby born through surrogacy in one state cannot be considered yours in another state. This seems weird. It all depends what country IP live in and how far are they ready to travel for surrogacy. Self educating is just good. But one should search for best agencies in this field to cooperate with.

      07/24/2018 at 2:14 pm
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    • I’m with you. If (in USA) things go wrong, such as a surrogate backing out, or unfortunate situations like a miscarriage, you automatically have to pay at least $5k to match with another surrogate and do their health workup through the agency. It just seemed that there were so many costs that could be added at any time. and it seemed so unreasonable that most of that cost was going to the agency or lawyer, rather than the surrogate, who receives on average of $20 – 30k for the pregnancy. What bothers is that in some states, surrogate mothers retain a parental right to the child. and can even pursue custody. Even though the embryos placed in the surrogate have both of our DNA, the surrogate mother’s name is on the birth certificate. then you have to go through the process of adopting the baby in court. The biggest factor of all, though, is time. All of the legal paperwork, signing a contract, matching a surrogate, having the surrogate go through the work-up, and so on, and next thing you know, it’s been a year or two since you started the process!! In ukraine the process is going to be time wise. The baby’s yours from the moment of conception. You’ll have all rights, the surrogate – none. This brings much more confidence, surely.

      12/19/2018 at 11:18 am
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  3. Hello, have you thought about Tbilisi, Georgia ? i would be happy to provide all info to you.

    11/10/2017 at 2:10 pm
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  4. Hello there. I hope that you are doing fine. I am sorry for going from being fertile to infertile but you are lucky to be born in this modern age where everything is possible. I myself am looking for clinics to get my surrogacy done from but surrogacy is not legal in the state where I live. I do not get what is the problem with getting a baby, it does not cause anyone any kind of harm. Surrogacy seems like the only way to get a baby and that’s why I started my research regarding it. I researched about many countries surrogacy laws and found Ukraine’s laws to my advantage. I choose Ukraine because of its suitable surrogacy laws and also because it is easy on my pocket, you should choose the clinic that has everything that you need in a perfect clinic. Do a little bit of research and I am very sure that you will find the perfect clinic.

    02/05/2018 at 4:56 pm
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    • I always keep on saying a surrogate will never keep the baby after delivery in Ukraine. She has zero parental rights there. Which is a huge factor always. The baby is considered to be yours from the moment of conception. His birth certificate is issued with YOUR names. And YOU both are considered to be his legal parents. The process is well regulated in Ukraine. Also costs. They vary from 30k to 50k EUR which is increadibly cheap comparing to those of the US (85k-140k USD). Worth considering by all means.

      06/24/2018 at 2:47 pm
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  5. We had the same situation like Watermelon2
    I’ve been reading this forum for a such a long time too my husband and I are a straight couple, already have a biological children. after one incident i had a diagnosis -agenesia
    We’re searching for various countries, but it’s very difficult to choose one of them with the best measures Spanish,US,Australia,Georgia the cost there is too expensive.
    Ukraine is one of the variants that we stopped on, but there is not stable political situation.

    02/19/2018 at 7:11 pm
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    • Hello Alla. I just want to make things regarding the political situation in Ukraine clear. The unstable situation is on the East of the country and it doesn’t touch any other region. Everything is quite and peaceful in Central and Western parts of Ukraine. So if the political situation is the only reason why you avoid this country for your surrogate program don’t be afraid. You probably read a lot about Ukrainian law which considered intended parents as legal parents since the moment of embryo transfer to the uterine of the surrogate mother. But just in case I want to remind you that to start the surrogate program in Ukraine you should be LEGALLY MARRIED HETEROSEXUAL COUPLE with one of the following indications:
      – The absence of the uterus;
      – Deformation of the cavity or cervix;
      – Diseases in which pregnancy and childbirth may endanger a woman’s life;
      – 5 IVF attempts;
      – Structural and morphological, or anatomical changes in the endometrium of the uterus;
      – Complex somatic diseases.
      One of these diagnosis should be proved by your doctor.
      Of course you should check with your local lawyer all the details of legalization of the baby in your country/state. It will help you or your agency to prepare all the documents for the Embassy here, in Ukraine. Usually clinics and agencies provide you with the birth certificate after the baby birth but you still need to get the permission from the Embasssy of your country in Kiev to transport your future baby back home.

      03/25/2018 at 4:09 pm
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    • I know for sure our Ukrainian clinic will want its IP to give dr’s certificate saying they cannot carry pregnancy themselves. Not sure as for 5 failed ivf attempts. I’ve always considered surrogacy to be the last option to count on. So were tempted from time to time to get to know more. Ukraine is definitely the destination! firstly, its surrogacy friendly law. Secondly, affordable prices. Clinics offer their help with preparing documents for the embassy. All things done for IP to safely fly back home with their surrogacy baby.

      07/24/2018 at 2:08 pm
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  6. Ukraine. Other European countries either prohibit surrogacy or allow surrogacy agreements only the surrogate is unpaid. For those countries that allow surrogacy the laws typically give all parental rights to the surrogate. This is so until a court process can transfer the rights from her to the IP. In these countries the surrogate has the right to keep the baby if she chooses. But this will never happen in Ukraine. Surrogacy there is well regulated. Surrogacy contracts are considered enforceable under legislation. Under Ukrainian law, the child belongs to IP from the moment of conception. Once the baby is born, the birth certificate is issued with the names of the IP. SM is not awarded any parental rights. She has no standing to keep the baby or claim any rights. This is true even if there were no biological relation between the child and IP. In this and other cases their names remain on the birth certificate. As far as I know, Ukrainian surrogates are between 25-35 years old. A SM is a natural mother of at least one child. She’s mentally and physically capable of becoming a SM. The marital status of the surrogate is irrelevant. All you need to do is to chose the best SM for you and sign a legal agreement with your SM. Hope this helps. All the best with your journeys!

    06/24/2018 at 2:32 pm
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    • Thanks for the great posts Angelie. I agree that Ukraine is a great option for international surrogacy.

      Just to clarify one point. In Ukraine, at least one intended parent must be genetically related to the child. It can be the intended father with an egg donor, or the intended mother with a sperm donor. It is illegal in Ukraine for the child to have 2 donors.

      This would also be a problem for parents from the US. For US citizenship to be automatically passed to their child through surrogacy, one parent must have a genetic link to the child. The surrogacy will in all cases have no genetic connection to the child.

      Hope this helps!

      06/25/2018 at 7:26 pm
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  7. As far as I know surrogacy process in Ukraine goes on like this.
    Initial consultation. It usually contains the following activities: A set of tests depending on the program (fasting is mandatory). Consultation with a fertility specialist who will be in charge of your program (in case of stimulation you will need to have the transvaginal ultrasound check done). Consultation with a manager who will guide you through the program step by step. Signing of contracts. Before any initial consultation you will receive the Guidelines for the Initial Consultation – failure to follow these recommendations may affect the initial consultation in a negative way. Search & confirmation of a surrogate mother, matching process. Waiting time depends on the type of contact. Stimulation & synchronisation stage (about 2 weeks). The cycle of egg donor or the biological mother is synchronised with the cycle of a surrogate mother. According to your contract you have to follow all doctors instruction. In case of self-treatment or violation of the treatment protocol, the clinic may cancel the cycle and terminate the contract. Fertilization day, embryo transfer – the 2nd visit. In case the biological mother undergoes hormonal stimulation and is being prepared for egg retrieval, the second visit may take up to 10 days. If we are talking about surrogacy using own eggs it is not recommended to leave the same day. Flying the following day is fine.The rules for sperm donation are similar as for the initial consultation – a man needs to abstain from ejaculation from 3 to 5 days before. After fertilisation the embryo development is monitored by embryology unit. The embryo transfer takes place on the 5th day. You will receive the protocol of embryo cultivation and transfer within 3 working days after the embryo transfer. HCG test, pregnancy confirmation. The first ultrasound scan is carried out in 2 weeks after the positive HCG test by the doctor in charge of the program. The report will be send the same or the next day after the check.
    Pregnancy monitoring. Delivery. Obtaining of the birth certificate for the baby (up to 1 week).
    Hope this helps.

    06/24/2018 at 2:34 pm
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  8. Definitely Ukraine! Today it is impossible to have surrogacy in the US because of the price! The surrogacy procedure here might cost more than 100,000$. I suppose that there a few families which can afford to pay such a big sum of money!
    That`s why my husband and I decided to deal with the surrogacy in Ukraine! The approximate value for the surrogacy there is around 30,000 €. Moreover, the Ukrainian law according to surrogacy is clear in comparison to Russia!
    Hope, we have made a good decision! And soon we will have a son or daughter in our family!

    01/14/2019 at 5:03 pm
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    • BTC, we were treated at, looks very modern, both in exterior and interior. All equipment is new. Everyone who comes into the clinic puts boot covers on. Everything is absolutely clean. All medical stuff wears very neat uniform with badges indicating their names. Nurses and doctors wear one shot sterile gloves. To sum up, the level of medical service is high. Finally, the clinic deals exclusively with foreigners, mainly westerns. So they try to keep up with high requirements of their clients. I was surprised that they have managers speaking so many foreign languages…All this made our stay as comfortable as it could be.

      11/06/2020 at 10:30 am
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  9. I agree with everyone who commented here.
    We also doubted for a long time when choosing a clinic. Decided to visit Ukraine. Here is very loyal legislation regarding surrogacy and foreigners.
    Although before that we were considering a trip to Greece. But then we changed our decision. We stopped on a clinic in Kiev. We have already had several consultations with the doctor. I hope that everything will go OK.
    This is such a long-awaited child for us!
    Good luck to you!

    01/24/2019 at 12:16 pm
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  10. As far as I know there haven’t been a single couple which returned home childless after the treatments at the clinic we’ve been with. This must be a superb sign for any repro center. As it says their success rates are high so this attracts more and more IP to the place. Also BTC’s patients are very international. During our stay there we met couples from China, Italy, Germany and the US. All guys were struggling different issues but felt confident with the choice made. This was so inspiring…I thought you could have a look at them. Time on research is never wasted. Hoping for your best x

    09/02/2020 at 9:19 am
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    • Hello Candycane!

      Does this center also accept a gay couple? We contacted some agencies in California and Florida but the costs are too high for us. Therefore, we’re looking into safe destination for gay surrogacy in Europe. What do you recommend?

      09/02/2020 at 1:39 pm
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  11. Ukraine has surrogacy friendly law. It regulates the process very well. For all sides involved into the process. The hugest factor though is that the surrogate has no right to keep the baby after delivery. And that the IP are considered to be the only legal parents of the baby from the moment of conception. The clinic I’ve been with, offers just amazing set of services. Including all meds, legal support. Donor eggs (if needed) for no extra fee.
    Still I’m not sure gay couples meet the law requirement there. I have to check this out.
    Anyway wishing you the best of luck ahead.

    10/26/2020 at 5:38 pm
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  12. On the whole, surrogacy legislation in both countries we were opting (Georgia and Ukraine) is quite favourable for IP. They have specific set of laws to protect IPs’ rights and the rights of SM. Intended mother provides medical certificate proving her disability to carry pregnancy on her own. Restrictions for SMs are also set by law: Age 18-39. Being absolutely healthy and having at least one healthy child.
    What we liked is that SM has no right to change her mind and keep the baby after delivery. IPs are considered to be biological parents of the child. Birth certificate is issued with the names of IPs as parents, no name of SM mentioned. It was very important for us.
    Then considering the contract conditions and fees. I found reproductive clinics’ directory on the web with their contact info and websites. Some websites provided service and price info, some didn’t, so I had to email them. The prices were different. The same were the conditions. When considering surrogacy fees, one should ask consultant if the price is final and what extra fees are, if any. Also the number of attempts they provide. Also if medications are covered by your contract. Some clinics assign lower price. But then it is actually doubled with costs of all medications needed. We decided to proceed with Ukrainian clinics, based on positive reviews and surrogacy experience in this country. Besides it was cheaper and quicker for us to travel to Ukraine.

    11/06/2020 at 10:28 am
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