Discover why Illume Fertility is the premiere choice for international intended parents pursuing surrogacy or other assisted reproductive treatments in the United States.
Schedule Free ConsultNavigating a family-building journey in another country can feel overwhelming.
If you're considering surrogacy in the United States, you need a fertility clinic partner with proven success rates and strong connections to trusted egg donor banks, surrogacy agencies, and reproductive attorneys.
Illume Fertility has been a leading destination for international intended parents for over 20 years, offering inclusive, world-class reproductive care, transparent guidance, and a dedicated team to support you every step of the way.
We’re proud to have helped patients from over 50 countries welcome more than 15,000 babies to date.
See what makes Illume a top destination for international surrogacy and reproductive care.
Illume Fertility's dedicated team streamlines your treatment experience with personalized support, handling logistics like travel, lodging, and scheduling so you can focus on what's next.
Here are a few ways we can help:
From your very first phone call to the final flight back home, we are committed to providing seamless support for every mile of your family-building journey.
An international surrogacy journey requires specific legal expertise. Illume Fertility partners with experienced reproductive attorneys to provide guidance and protect your growing family.
We’ll connect you with experienced reproductive attorneys to draft and review legal contracts between intended parents and gestational carriers, ensuring clarity, consent, and protection for all parties.
Work with trusted legal experts to secure a court-issued parentage order so your name(s) appear on your baby’s birth certificate, regardless of your country of residence or sexual orientation.
Get assistance with the legal steps required to obtain visas, passports, and other essential travel documents, ensuring you have a smooth return home with your long-awaited little one.
Fertility care abroad is often limited by restrictive laws, outdated technology, or lower success rates, especially for IVF, egg freezing, and surrogacy. That’s why many hopeful parents choose to travel to Illume Fertility for more advanced, inclusive care.
With personalized support, world-class labs, and proven treatment protocols, our team helps you preserve your fertility or grow your family with confidence.
At Illume Fertility, LGBTQ+ family-building isn’t just our specialty—it’s an integral part of our story.
Founded by Dr. Mark Leondires, a Connecticut-based reproductive endocrinologist who built his own family through egg donation and surrogacy, Illume prioritizes LGBTQ+ inclusivity and affirming care throughout your journey.
Dr. Leondires says this personal experience has shaped his professional mission: "Going through the process of choosing an egg donor, working with a gestational carrier, and having my sons dramatically changed my life and my perspective on family building. I feel strongly that if you wish to have a family, the hurdles are surmountable, and the joys boundless."
As a global pioneer in LGBTQ+ fertility and family building, we are proud to offer specialized resources like Gay Parents To Be® and be consistently designated an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign.
Consult With Dr. LeondiresWhen you choose to build your family with Illume Fertility, our experienced team will help you navigate the international surrogacy process with clarity, compassion, and personalized care.
After you submit a consult request, our Global Concierge will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your initial consultation and answer any questions about starting surrogacy from your home country.
This essential step includes a physical exam and genetic testing for the intended parent(s). We’ll coordinate with you to complete these evaluations locally or during a visit to our clinic in Connecticut.
Your Care Team will create a surrogacy plan based on your needs, location, and legal requirements. We’ll guide you through each step, ensuring you’re set up for success.
Alo & Javi | International Surrogacy
Tim & Steve | Dads to Ben & Lucy
Learn what it’s like to pursue surrogacy in the U.S. and what to expect when working with Illume Fertility by exploring these frequently asked questions for international families.
Our team partners with experienced U.S.-based reproductive attorneys who specialize in international surrogacy. They will help you navigate parentage orders, embassy documentation, and any additional legal steps required in your home country.
Absolutely. We have worked with many LGBTQ+ families and are proud to offer tailored support to meet your unique needs, including trusted agency partners and specific legal guidance for your country’s requirements.
Traditional surrogacy involves one woman who both carries the pregnancy and also supplies the egg used to conceive the baby.
On the other hand, a gestational carrier carries the pregnancy, but does not supply the egg. Through IVF, the intended parents’ own sperm and donor egg (or donor sperm and donor egg) are combined and transferred into the gestational carrier’s uterus.
You can search for an egg donor and a gestational carrier (often referred to as a surrogate) at the same time.
Usually, it takes less time to find an egg donor and create your embryos. If you match with a gestational carrier first, you may need to pay to keep her on hold while you select a donor and your embryos are created.
Gestational carriers (GCs) have their physical and mental health thoroughly reviewed. Women are tested for gynecologic health associated with the uterus, as well as infectious diseases.
Psychological counseling with Illume Fertility's mental health professionals is completed to make sure the gestational carrier fully understands the process.
Once you are near signing with your gestational carrier, a background check and home study may be required.
The cost of working with a gestational carrier varies greatly. However, you can typically expect to pay $48,000-$140,000+ for surrogacy with IVF in the United States.
To cut costs, many patients think about looking for a gestational carrier on their own. However, using an agency is recommended because they specialize in finding suitable gestational carriers and help to streamline the rigorous screening process.
Agencies are also experienced in finding a personality match with the intended parents and offering expert legal guidance.
You can choose a donor you know! Some intended parents already have an egg donor in mind, such as a sister, cousin or a good friend.
This donor’s medical profile will be presented to our medical and support team to determine her suitability as a donor. Screening will be performed as it is with unknown donors.
Yes, you can choose to use a friend or relative as your gestational carrier. If you use an unknown surrogate, there are multiple agencies available to assist you through the process.
Women who qualify to be surrogates/gestational carriers are those who have had a previous uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery. They must also be medically and emotionally healthy, and demonstrate financial stability.
It is required that all parties meet with an attorney, as well as one of our mental health professionals, to ensure awareness of this responsibility.
Access additional resources to help you navigate your surrogacy journey from start to finish.
Building your family through international surrogacy is a big decision—but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Illume Fertility, we’ve guided intended parents from all over the world through each phase of the surrogacy journey with specialized, 360-degree support.
Whether you're just beginning to explore your options or ready to move forward, our experienced team is here to answer your questions, simplify the process, and help you feel confident every step of the way.
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