Can a Single Woman Pursue Surrogacy in Colombia?
Quick Answer
Yes—in many circumstances, a single woman may pursue surrogacy in Colombia.
Colombian law does not contain a general prohibition preventing single women from accessing surrogacy solely because they are unmarried. Instead, eligibility is generally determined by medical necessity, clinical assessment and the legal pathway for establishing parentage.
For most international patients, the strongest legal position is when the intended mother uses her own eggs together with donor sperm, allowing the child to have a direct genetic relationship with the intended parent.
By contrast, when both donor eggs and donor sperm are used and neither intended parent has a biological connection to the child, the legal pathway may become considerably more complex and uncertain.
Does Colombia Require Intended Parents to Be Married?
No.
Unlike some countries, Colombia does not have a national surrogacy law stating that only married couples may pursue surrogacy.
Current constitutional principles emphasize equality before the law, and marital status alone is generally not considered a reason to exclude someone from fertility treatment.
However, the absence of a prohibition does not mean every applicant will automatically be accepted.
Each fertility clinic evaluates patients individually according to medical, ethical and legal considerations.
When Might a Single Woman Need Surrogacy?
Most single women do not require surrogacy because they are able to carry a pregnancy themselves.
Surrogacy is generally considered when pregnancy is medically impossible or would create an unacceptable health risk.
Examples may include:
- Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome
- Previous hysterectomy
- Serious cardiac or renal disease making pregnancy unsafe
- Certain uterine abnormalities
- Repeated pregnancy loss or repeated implantation failure after specialist evaluation
- Other conditions in which pregnancy would pose a significant medical risk
The decision is ultimately made by the treating reproductive specialists after reviewing the patient’s medical history.
Why Genetic Connection Matters
One of the most important practical considerations in international surrogacy is biological parentage.
Although Colombia does not have a single statute requiring every intended parent to have a genetic relationship with the child, in practice many international surrogacy programs place significant importance on establishing biological parentage during the legal process.
This may influence:
- parentage recognition;
- birth registration;
- citizenship applications;
- passport documentation;
- and international travel.
For this reason, many fertility specialists and legal professionals recommend maintaining a genetic connection whenever possible.
Using Your Own Eggs and Donor Sperm
For many single women, the most straightforward pathway is:
- the intended mother’s own eggs;
- donor sperm;
- IVF embryo creation;
- gestational surrogacy.
In this situation, the intended mother remains the child’s biological mother.
This genetic relationship can simplify many aspects of the post-birth legal process compared with situations where neither intended parent has a biological connection to the child.
It also reflects the treatment pathway commonly used for women who cannot safely carry a pregnancy but wish to have a genetically related child.
What About Donor Eggs and Donor Sperm?
Some intended mothers cannot use their own eggs because of:
- premature ovarian insufficiency;
- previous cancer treatment;
- age-related ovarian failure;
- or inherited genetic conditions.
In these situations, double donation (donor eggs together with donor sperm) may appear to be another possible option.
However, intended parents should understand that this creates a very different legal situation.
When neither intended parent has a biological relationship with the child, the legal pathway may become substantially more complex.
Issues that may require additional legal analysis include:
- establishment of parentage;
- birth registration;
- recognition of intended parenthood;
- citizenship applications;
- and acceptance by the intended parent’s home country.
The appropriate legal strategy depends on the facts of each individual case and should be discussed with experienced reproductive lawyers before treatment begins.
International Families Should Plan Beyond Pregnancy
Many patients focus primarily on IVF success rates.
However, international surrogacy continues long after embryo transfer.
Before beginning treatment, intended parents should understand:
- how parentage will be recognized;
- which documents will be required after birth;
- whether biological evidence may be requested;
- how citizenship will be obtained;
- and how the child will legally return home.
These legal questions are often just as important as the medical treatment itself.
Why Medical Evaluation Is Essential
Not every woman who wishes to pursue surrogacy will be medically eligible.
Experienced reproductive specialists typically evaluate:
- ovarian reserve;
- reproductive history;
- overall health;
- pregnancy risks;
- previous IVF outcomes;
- and the likelihood of achieving a successful pregnancy.
Surrogacy should be considered only after an individualized medical assessment rather than simply because it is available.
The Canbaby Surrogacy Perspective
At Canbaby Surrogacy, we believe that every international surrogacy journey should begin with careful medical and legal planning—not assumptions.
As an embryologist-led international team, we help intended parents evaluate the pathway that best fits their individual circumstances.
For single women with a medical indication for surrogacy, using their own eggs together with donor sperm often provides the clearest combination of reproductive medicine and legal planning because the intended mother maintains a biological relationship with the child.
When donor eggs and donor sperm would both be required, we encourage patients to obtain individualized legal advice before beginning treatment, as the legal pathway may become considerably more complex for international families.
Our goal is not simply to help patients achieve pregnancy.
Our goal is to help them complete the entire journey—from embryo creation to bringing their child safely home—with the strongest possible medical, legal and ethical foundation.
