Jules Von Hep and his partner Mark Beverlo began pursuing surrogacy in 2020 through a UK IVF clinic and agency, incurring substantial costs including £1,000 for advisory meetings and £13,000 for embryo creation rounds. After facing a two to three year waiting list for UK-based surrogates and experiencing multiple failed embryo transfers and home insemination attempts, the couple decided to seek surrogacy abroad.
With Ukraine closed due to war and the United States deemed too expensive at approximately £250,000, the couple opted for Mexico, where surrogacy was legalized for same-sex parents in 2021. Mexico’s cost of around £60,000 to £90,000 is comparable to UK expenses, but Von Hep noted significant differences in the approach. Mexican commercial surrogacy models explicitly compensate surrogates and egg donors, which Von Hep described as more transparent than the UK’s non-commercial altruistic framework. The couple engaged with a UK-based, queer-founded agency called My Surrogacy Journey Mexico City, which connected them with an experienced surrogate who clearly articulated financial motivations for the arrangement.
Regulation of surrogacy in Mexico remains fragmented, with two states imposing bans while three others have governing laws. Researchers have raised concerns about potential exploitation of economically vulnerable women and reports of coercion by abusive partners. The agency stated it prioritizes “ethical and legal protection” and operates exclusively in surrogacy-friendly jurisdictions like Mexico City, working with human rights specialists and surrogacy lawyers.
Von Hep and Beverlo are currently awaiting embryo transfer after having sperm shipped to Mexico and selecting an egg donor. Upon birth, they plan to reside in Mexico for three to six months to obtain a passport before returning to the UK to apply for a parental order through family courts. Von Hep has become an advocate for discussing surrogacy challenges, particularly for gay men, and has recommended the Mexican option to acquaintances struggling with fertility.
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