How Can Surrogacy Help You Build Your Family?
Updated: Sep 11
How Can Surrogacy Help You Build Your Family?
The desire to become a parent is deeply personal. For some people, pregnancy happens naturally. For others, infertility, medical conditions, previous pregnancy complications or family circumstances can make it difficult or impossible to carry a child.
Surrogacy may provide another path forward.
Through gestational surrogacy, a surrogate carries a pregnancy for an intended parent or intended parents. The embryo is created through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the baby unless a separate donor arrangement is involved.
Atlas Surrogacy helps international intended parents explore coordinated surrogacy programmes in Mexico and Colombia, with structured case management, multilingual communication and referrals to independent medical and legal professionals.
Surrogacy at a Glance
Surrogacy may be considered by:
Couples experiencing infertility
Women who cannot safely carry a pregnancy
Intended parents who have experienced repeated pregnancy loss
LGBTQ+ couples hoping to become parents
Single intended parents
People who require egg or sperm donation as part of IVF
Intended parents who already have embryos stored at a fertility clinic
Every intended parent’s medical, legal and personal circumstances are different. Before beginning, it is important to obtain individual advice from qualified fertility specialists and independent attorneys.
What Is Gestational Surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy is a family-building arrangement in which a surrogate carries an embryo created through IVF for the intended parent or parents.
The embryo may be created using:
The intended parents’ eggs and sperm
An intended parent’s egg or sperm combined with donor gametes
Donor eggs and an intended parent’s sperm
Donor embryos, where legally and medically appropriate
If donor eggs are needed, Atlas can also coordinate egg-donation options for surrogacy in Mexico and Colombia.
Who May Consider Surrogacy?
Intended Parents Facing Infertility
Some intended parents pursue surrogacy after years of fertility treatment, unsuccessful IVF cycles or recurrent pregnancy loss. Others may have viable embryos but cannot safely carry a pregnancy.
Surrogacy can allow these intended parents to continue pursuing a biological connection to their child when medically possible.
Intended Parents With Medical Conditions
Pregnancy may present a significant health risk for people with certain uterine, cardiac or other medical conditions. Some people may also have undergone a hysterectomy or treatment that affected their ability to carry a pregnancy.
A fertility specialist should determine whether surrogacy is medically appropriate in each individual case.
LGBTQ+ Intended Parents
Surrogacy can help male couples and other LGBTQ+ intended parents build their families using IVF and, when required, donated eggs.
Eligibility and parentage procedures can vary by destination, nationality and family structure. Intended parents should receive independent legal advice covering both the country where the baby will be born and the country where the family lives.
Single Intended Parents
Single intended parents may also explore surrogacy, depending on the programme and applicable legal requirements. Their journey may involve an egg donor, sperm donor or existing embryos.
Atlas supports intended parents in comparing available pathways based on their family structure, medical needs, citizenship and documentation requirements.
What Happens During a Surrogacy Journey?
Although every journey is different, the process commonly includes the following stages:
Initial consultation and assessment: The intended parents discuss their goals, medical history, embryo status, donor needs, preferred destination and budget.
Programme selection: The family evaluates the available programme structure, anticipated costs and destination-specific requirements.
IVF or embryo preparation: Licensed fertility professionals help create or prepare embryos. Existing embryos may require clinic review and cross-border transportation arrangements.
Surrogate matching: A suitable surrogate is identified following the programme’s screening and matching process.
Medical and legal review: Independent medical professionals assess readiness for treatment, while separately appointed attorneys advise the parties and prepare the necessary agreements.
Embryo transfer: A licensed fertility clinic performs the embryo transfer.
Pregnancy monitoring: The surrogate receives prenatal care, while intended parents receive agreed updates and milestone information.
Delivery and documentation: Independent attorneys and relevant professionals assist with parentage, birth registration, passport and travel-document procedures as applicable.
Atlas acts as a coordination and consulting organisation throughout this process. Medical procedures are performed by licensed clinics and physicians, while independent attorneys provide legal services.
How Can Intended Parents Stay Involved?
Many intended parents worry that distance will prevent them from feeling connected to the pregnancy. However, involvement can be planned from the beginning and may include:
Regular case updates
Pregnancy milestone reports
Ultrasound updates when available and authorised
Scheduled communication with the surrogate
Participation in selected medical appointments when appropriate
Planning for delivery and the hospital experience
Preparing for parentage and newborn documentation procedures
The preferred level and method of communication should be discussed during matching so that the intended parents and surrogate begin with clear, mutually respectful expectations.
Why Do Intended Parents Explore Surrogacy in Mexico?
International intended parents may consider Mexico because it offers established fertility clinics, experienced professionals, accessible travel options and programme costs that may be lower than many U.S. surrogacy journeys.
Atlas coordinates Mexico surrogacy programs in Mexico City and Cancun. Available options can vary according to embryo status, donor needs, medical requirements and individual circumstances.
Surrogacy laws and parentage procedures in Mexico can vary by location and case. Intended parents should not assume that one legal approach applies to every family. Independent legal review is essential before selecting a programme or signing an agreement.
Families who are still comparing destinations can also review Atlas’s Latin America family-building options, including Mexico and Colombia.
What Should You Ask Before Choosing a Surrogacy Program?
Before committing to a programme, intended parents should ask:
What services and expenses are included?
Which potential additional costs are not included?
How are surrogates screened?
Who provides the medical treatment?
Will each party have independent legal representation?
How are funds held and distributed?
How many embryo-transfer attempts are included?
What happens after an unsuccessful transfer?
How will pregnancy updates be communicated?
What parentage and newborn-documentation process may apply?
What citizenship, passport or travel requirements should be reviewed?
What support is provided before, during and after delivery?
Clear answers to these questions can help intended parents compare program more accurately and prepare for both expected milestones and possible changes.
Finding the Right Path to Parenthood
Surrogacy is not simply a medical procedure. It is a carefully coordinated process involving intended parents, a surrogate, fertility professionals, independent attorneys and a dedicated support team.
The right pathway will depend on your medical circumstances, existing embryos, need for a donor, family structure, country of residence, budget and legal considerations.
Atlas Surrogacy helps international intended parents understand these factors, compare available programmes and prepare for each stage with greater clarity. You can learn more about why families choose Atlas and the support available throughout an international journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can surrogacy help if I have experienced unsuccessful IVF?
Possibly. Some intended parents have viable embryos but cannot safely carry a pregnancy. Others may need further IVF treatment, donor eggs or additional medical evaluation. A fertility specialist must review your medical history and embryo status before recommending the appropriate next step.
Can same-sex couples pursue surrogacy in Mexico or Colombia?
Program may be available to same-sex couples, but eligibility, parentage and documentation requirements depend on the destination and the intended parents’ citizenship and circumstances. Independent legal advice should be obtained before beginning.
Can single intended parents use surrogacy?
Single intended parents may be eligible for certain program. The appropriate pathway will depend on factors including nationality, donor requirements, embryo status and destination-specific legal considerations.
Do I need embryos before contacting Atlas?
No. Intended parents may contact Atlas whether they already have embryos or still require IVF, egg donation or other fertility coordination. The initial consultation can help identify which options require further evaluation.
Is surrogacy legal throughout Mexico?
Surrogacy is not regulated identically across every Mexican state, and the appropriate legal process depends on the location and the intended parents’ circumstances. Intended parents should receive advice from an independent attorney with relevant experience before proceeding.
How much does surrogacy in Mexico cost?
Atlas’s Mexico program page currently lists options starting from $65,000, but the total cost depends on the program, embryo status, donor needs, medical treatment, legal requirements and additional services. Pricing is indicative and should be confirmed during a consultation.
Ready to Explore Your Surrogacy Options?
Your first conversation is an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your circumstances and understand which family-building pathways may be available to you.
You can also visit the Atlas Surrogacy website to explore programmes in Mexico and Colombia.
Atlas Surrogacy is a coordination and consulting organisation. Atlas does not provide medical, legal or psychological services. Medical procedures are performed by licensed fertility clinics and physicians, and legal services are provided by independent attorneys representing the relevant parties. Program availability, eligibility, timelines and pricing depend on individual circumstances and are subject to change.
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