Online Course: Two dads and a dream - Surrogacy guide for gay couples
To listen to this course, check Family By Choice membership, or download the Family By Choice Learning Platform app.
What to expect in this online surrogacy course?
Knowledge level needed
Beginner
Duration
43min I 45sec
Lessons
8
Languages
English, French, German, Spanish, Serbian and Croatian.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for gay couples who are exploring surrogacy as a path to parenthood and want a clear, supportive understanding of how the process typically works before making decisions.
It is especially helpful if:
- You are a gay male couple at the research or early planning stage of your surrogacy journey
- You want to understand how surrogacy differs from adoption, both legally and emotionally
- You are exploring egg donation and surrogate selection and want to know what is commonly involved
- You want clarity on legal frameworks, timelines, and expectations for gay couples
- You prefer to learn in a calm, non-judgmental, non-sales environment
- You want to feel more confident and informed before speaking to clinics, agencies, or lawyers
- You value education that addresses emotional, social, and relational aspects, not just logistics
What's Included in Every Course
Video Lessons
Clear, compassionate instruction broken into digestible modules you can complete at your own pace.
Private Community Access
Connect with thousands of intended parents in our safe, moderated online community. Share experiences, ask questions, and find your support village.
Practical Worksheets & Checklists
Downloadable tools like budget planners, clinic comparison sheets, general legal considerations, and meal-planning ideas that help make complex decisions simpler.
Resource Library
Access educational templates, sample documents, informational provider directories, and continuously updated resources as laws and best practices evolve.
Expert Q&A Sessions
Monthly live sessions with fertility doctors, lawyers, and consultants where you can ask general questions and learn from expert perspectives.
Lifetime Updates
When courses are updated with new information, you get access automatically. Your membership grows as we grow.
Two Dads and a Dream Course Lessons
1. Why Surrogacy?
This lesson explores why surrogacy is often considered by gay men who wish to have a biological connection to their child. You’ll learn how surrogacy differs from adoption in legal and emotional terms, and what becoming a parent through surrogacy may involve socially and emotionally. The lesson offers context and reflection without promoting any single path or outcome.
2. How Surrogacy Works?
This lesson breaks down the surrogacy journey into clear, manageable stages, from early planning and surrogate matching to legal coordination, medical procedures, and birth. You’ll learn what typically happens at each phase of a surrogacy process, how timelines may vary, and which key decisions intended parents often face along the way. The lesson is designed to provide structure and clarity.
3. Egg Donation
This lesson explains how egg donation typically works for gay male intended parents. You’ll learn what factors are commonly considered when choosing an egg donor, the differences between using a known donor, a clinic or agency-matched donor, and how split embryo cycles may be used to allow both partners a biological connection.
4. Choosing a surrogate
This lesson explores how gay couples often approach selecting a surrogate, with a focus on trust, communication, and shared expectations. You’ll learn what factors are commonly considered in a good match, how relationships may develop during pregnancy, and what levels of involvement are typical for intended parents.
5. Legal & Ethical Frameworks
This lesson introduces the legal and ethical framework surrounding surrogacy for gay couples. You’ll learn which legal agreements are typically involved and at what stages they are signed, how legal parenthood is commonly established at birth, and how surrogacy laws can differ by country for same-sex couples.
6. Emotional Journey
This lesson explores the emotional aspects of surrogacy and how intended fathers can build respectful, trusting relationships with their surrogate. You’ll learn what healthy communication and boundaries may look like during pregnancy, how expectations are commonly managed, and what considerations arise if all parties wish to remain in contact after birth. The lesson offers perspective and reflection without setting expectations or guidance for personal relationships.
7. Preparing for the Baby
This lesson explains what gay couples, as the intended parents, typically prepare for in the final months of a surrogacy pregnancy. You’ll learn about common logistical considerations before birth, including travel planning and legal documentation, as well as what usually happens around delivery and in the period immediately afterward. The lesson provides an overview of these stages to help you understand the process without offering medical or legal advice.
8. Creating an Empowering Story
This lesson explores how intended parents often approach conversations about surrogacy and egg donation with their child. You’ll learn when these discussions may begin, what types of age-appropriate language and resources are commonly used, and how families think about sharing their story in a positive, respectful way. The lesson offers educational context to support thoughtful communication over time, without prescribing a single approach.
Speakers in this course
Olga Pysana
Co-founder Family By Choice, Independent International Surrogacy Consultant
Shaun Thomas
MPharm – Independent Surrogacy Consultant & Founder of The Surrogacy Father
Independent surrogacy consultant and proud father sharing medical knowledge, lived experience, and trusted global connections to support intended parents.
Choose Your Membership Level
We offer flexible membership plans to fit every stage of your journey:
Monthly
15% DISCOUNT
79 EUR / monthly
- Perfect for those just beginning to explore options!
6 Months
15% DISCOUNT
399 EUR / 6 months
- Ideal for families who already started their journey!
12 Months
20% DISCOUNT
759 EUR / yearly
- Great for those preparing for long-term learning and exploring multiple family-building pathways.
Who is Family By Choice?
Family By Choice is an international education platform offering expert-led courses for people exploring fertility and family-building options, including IVF, donor conception, and surrogacy.
The platform is designed to help intended parents understand complex medical, legal, and emotional topics through structured, educational content.
Related Blog Posts
Hybrid Surrogacy: Understanding the Reality Beyond the Myths
European Surrogacy Laws: A 9+ Country Legal Guide for LGBTQ+ Couples and Single Parents
Building a Family Through Surrogacy: What Gay Couples Should Know
