Single and LGBTQ+ hopeful parents often have multiple family-building options to explore. Here’s a quick look at the financial side of each path.
Foster care is often the most affordable route, with state subsidies and support to cover many expenses. However, the primary goal of foster care is family reunification, not adoption. If fostering interests you, refer to our detailed course on becoming a foster parent for guidance.
Medical treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI) typically cost $500–$4,000, while in vitro fertilization (IVF) averages around $20,000 per cycle.
Success rates vary based on many factors, especially age—and multiple cycles may be needed.
That said, single women and lesbian couples often experience higher success rates than heterosexual couples with fertility issues. You can learn more in our courses for single women and lesbian parents.
For gay male couples or others requiring both donor eggs and a gestational carrier, total costs can range from $60,000 to $200,000—significantly higher than adoption.
Our surrogacy course provides details on state laws, logistics, and cost management for intended parent
Most U.S. states allow unmarried adults to adopt. The two key factors influencing success are:
The home study professional’s attitude, assessing your readiness to parent.
The expectant parents’ preferences, who may favor or exclude single applicants.
Working with inclusive agencies or attorneys experienced in single-parent adoptions is crucial. Some faith-based agencies may decline single applicants, while others have a strong record of support.
While many expectant parents prefer couples, some view single-parent homes as stable and reliable, appreciating the independence and consistency they can offer.
Research is limited, but single adoptive mothers report that their experiences are largely similar to two-parent households—balancing unique freedoms with financial and emotional responsibilities.
For a deeper dive, explore our course on solo parenting through adoption or fostering.
More than 65,000 children in the U.S. live with LGBTQ+ adoptive parents, and about 5% of all adoptions are by same-sex couples. In places like Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., that number climbs to nearly 20%.
While adoption laws now generally support LGBTQ+ parents, state and agency attitudes still vary. Some states allow religiously affiliated agencies to refuse LGBTQ+ applicants, particularly in the Southeast.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recognizes 71 adoption agencies nationwide that actively practice inclusion. Awareness of supportive organizations can make a major difference in your journey.
Many LGBTQ+ couples who adopted a decade ago report significant improvements in the openness and professionalism of agencies and social workers today.
Expectant parents’ attitudes also vary—some are hesitant, while others specifically seek out LGBTQ+ families for their openness and empathy.
In foster care, where children are often older, their own opinions are considered. Studies from the University of Texas found that most foster and adopted children with LGBTQ+ parents felt loved, accepted, and supported, with their main concern being peer teasing.
Further research from the University of Kentucky showed that 74% of these children displayed strong coping skills and family satisfaction. While 57% experienced microaggressions, fewer than 10% reported bullying, suggesting overall resilience and positive adjustment.
Our job is to listen, to connect the dots between your needs, and to determine how we can best help you have your baby. If you’re asking how much does it cost for a surrogate, we’ll walk you through every step of the process to ensure there are no surprises.
To make an appointment with one of our counselors or physicians, please call (212) 661-7673 or email info@surrogacy4all.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Surrogacy4All is a unique international surrogacy service targeted at providing state of the art IVF and surrogacy services to Intended Parents irrespective of age, sex or color, at the lowest possible cost in the world.
Secret Guide to Minimizing Surrogacy Costs
All Rights Reserved to Surrogacy4all