Gay Couple Surrogacy in Vancouver, Canada: From Two Years of Waiting to Two Pregnancies in Colombia
How a Vancouver same-sex couple moved five frozen IVF embryos from Canada to Bogotá and found a new path to fatherhood after nearly two years of searching for a surrogate.
Real Client Story — Names Changed for Privacy
This article shares the real surrogacy journey of a Vancouver-based same-sex couple who worked with CanBaby Surrogacy. To protect their privacy, we have used the names Sam and Jim. Certain identifying details, including their occupations and personal backgrounds, have been changed. The IVF results, international embryo transportation, gestational carrier matching, and pregnancy developments described reflect the case information provided for this story.
A Dream of Becoming Fathers in Vancouver
For Sam and Jim, becoming parents was never a question of whether they wanted children. It was a question of how and when they could make their dream a reality.
The couple lived in Vancouver, British Columbia. In this account, Sam is described as a software engineer, while Jim is an elementary school teacher. These occupations have been changed to protect their identities.
Like many same-sex male couples, they understood that building a family would require more than a conventional fertility treatment plan.
They needed donor eggs, IVF treatment, and a gestational carrier who could carry their future child.
Both men also hoped to have a biological connection to their children.
After researching their options, they decided to create embryos using sperm from each partner and eggs obtained through an American donor egg bank.
Their original goal was to pursue gestational surrogacy in Canada.
They wanted to remain close to home, participate in the pregnancy journey, and eventually welcome their children in the country where they lived.
At first, everything appeared to be moving in the right direction.
They successfully created their embryos in Vancouver.
What followed, however, was almost two years of waiting.
Creating Five Euploid Embryos at Olive Fertility Centre
Approximately two years ago, Sam and Jim completed IVF treatment at Olive Fertility Centre in Vancouver.
They had obtained donor eggs through an egg bank in the United States.
To give both partners the opportunity to become biological fathers, the eggs were divided into two groups.
One group was fertilized using Sam’s sperm.
The other group was fertilized using Jim’s sperm.
The resulting embryos underwent laboratory development and preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, commonly known as PGT-A.
The results were encouraging.
Sam’s sperm sample produced two euploid embryos.
Jim’s sperm sample produced three euploid embryos.
In total, the couple had five chromosomally normal embryos available for future transfer.
For a same-sex male couple hoping to have two children, this was an important milestone.
They had completed the donor egg process, created embryos using both partners’ sperm, and established a foundation for their future family.
PGT-A results cannot guarantee implantation, a healthy pregnancy, or a live birth. However, having five euploid embryos gave the couple meaningful opportunities to proceed with gestational surrogacy.
The embryos remained cryopreserved in Vancouver while Sam and Jim began searching for a gestational carrier.
They believed the most difficult medical stage was behind them.
Unfortunately, finding a surrogate in Canada proved far more challenging than they had anticipated.
Nearly Two Years Searching for a Surrogate in Canada
After completing their IVF treatment, Sam and Jim contacted a surrogacy consulting company based in Toronto.
They hoped the company could help them find a suitable gestational carrier in Canada.
According to the couple’s account, they paid approximately CAD $15,000 in consulting-related fees.
They understood that a suitable match might be found within approximately 12 to 18 months.
Although this seemed like a long time, they were willing to wait.
They had already invested significant time, money, and emotional energy in creating their embryos.
They also preferred to complete their surrogacy journey in Canada, where they lived and planned to raise their children.
The first year passed without a successful match.
They continued waiting.
Eventually, 18 months became almost two years.
Despite their efforts, they still had not found a suitable gestational carrier.
For Sam and Jim, the situation became increasingly frustrating.
They already had five frozen embryos.
They had completed the necessary IVF procedures.
Yet they could not move forward with an embryo transfer because they had no gestational carrier.
The uncertainty was especially difficult because they had no clear indication of when the waiting would end.
After almost two years, they began asking themselves whether remaining exclusively within the Canadian surrogacy system was still the right decision.
Legal clarification: This account describes the fee reported by the couple, not a legal assessment of the Toronto company’s services. Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction Act restricts paid surrogate-arranging services. The legality of any particular consulting fee depends on what services were provided and the applicable law.
Why Can Finding a Surrogate in Canada Take So Long?
Canada permits gestational surrogacy, including arrangements involving same-sex intended parents.
However, Canadian law follows an altruistic model.
Under the federal Assisted Human Reproduction Act, paying a woman to act as a surrogate is prohibited. The law also restricts compensation for arranging surrogate services.
Eligible surrogacy-related expenses may be reimbursed when the relevant regulatory requirements are satisfied.
This means Canada’s surrogacy system operates differently from commercial models available in some international destinations.
Finding a gestational carrier depends on a woman’s voluntary decision to participate.
Potential matches must also consider medical suitability, personal expectations, informed consent, independent legal advice, and the intended parents’ preferences.
Some Canadian families find a surrogate through relatives or friends. Others spend considerable time searching for someone outside their immediate social network.
There is no official nationwide waiting period that applies to every intended parent.
However, some families experience prolonged matching difficulties.
For same-sex male couples who already have frozen embryos, this can create an especially frustrating situation.
Their embryos may be ready for transfer, but they cannot proceed until a suitable carrier becomes available.
Sam and Jim’s experience illustrates how the practical availability of surrogacy can differ from its legal availability.
Canada offered them a lawful path to family building, but after nearly two years, they still had not found a suitable match.
That experience led them to explore another option.
For more information about Canadian surrogacy and international alternatives, read our Affordable Surrogacy Abroad for Canadians in 2026: A Vancouver Guide to Colombia.
Discovering Colombia Surrogacy Through CanBaby
After nearly two years of searching, Sam and Jim contacted CanBaby Surrogacy.
They wanted to know whether their existing embryos could be transported from Vancouver to Colombia for gestational surrogacy.
Their situation was different from that of intended parents who needed to begin IVF from the beginning.
They already had five euploid embryos.
They did not need to purchase another group of donor eggs or repeat their original embryo creation process unless a treating physician identified a medical reason to do so.
Their main questions involved embryo transportation, laboratory acceptance, gestational carrier matching, and legal planning.
Could their embryos be moved safely from Canada to Bogotá?
Would the Colombian fertility laboratory accept embryos originally created using donor eggs from an American egg bank?
What medical and customs documents would be required?
Could they pursue two separate pregnancies using embryos created from each partner’s sperm?
And how would they prepare for the legal responsibilities of becoming fathers to children born in Colombia?
These were the questions CanBaby helped them address.
With an embryology-focused approach and experience coordinating fertility treatment in Colombia, CanBaby worked with the relevant parties to organize the next stages of their journey.
The first priority was getting their existing embryos safely to the receiving fertility laboratory in Bogotá.
From Vancouver to Bogotá: International Frozen Embryo Transportation
Transporting frozen embryos internationally requires specialized medical logistics.
Embryos are not ordinary biological shipments.
They must remain under appropriate cryogenic conditions, with accurate identification, documented custody, and coordination between the sending and receiving laboratories.
Before transportation, the receiving clinic must determine whether it can accept the embryos.
This may require laboratory records, embryo development information, cryopreservation details, infectious disease documentation, patient consent forms, and donor egg traceability records.
In Sam and Jim’s case, the embryos had been created in Vancouver using eggs obtained from an American egg bank.
That meant the documentation process needed to account for both the original donor egg records and the Canadian IVF laboratory information.
CanBaby coordinated the documentation process with the relevant providers.
Within approximately one month, the required embryo transportation paperwork and customs documentation had been arranged.
Once the necessary approvals and logistics were in place, the five frozen embryos were transported from Vancouver to Bogotá through a specialized cryogenic shipping process.
The embryos arrived safely at the receiving laboratory.
For Sam and Jim, this was a turning point.
After almost two years of waiting in Canada, their family-building journey was moving forward again.
They had not needed to repeat their original IVF cycle.
Instead, their existing embryos were now available for further evaluation and treatment in Colombia.
The successful shipment also demonstrated the importance of careful coordination between fertility laboratories, transport specialists, and the relevant documentation providers.
International embryo transportation is possible in appropriate circumstances, but every shipment must meet its own medical, regulatory, and logistical requirements.
A one-month preparation period should not be interpreted as a guaranteed timeline for other patients.
Finding Two Gestational Carriers in Colombia
After the embryos arrived in Bogotá, the next stage was gestational carrier matching.
Sam and Jim had a particular family-building goal.
They hoped to have two children, with one child genetically related to Sam and the other genetically related to Jim.
Their treatment plan therefore involved two separate gestational carriers and two separate embryo transfers.
Each carrier needed to undergo appropriate medical evaluation and preparation before treatment.
The matching process also required consideration of informed consent, psychological readiness, legal advice, and the rights and welfare of each gestational carrier.
Approximately two months after the embryos arrived in Colombia, suitable gestational carriers had been matched and the planned embryo transfers were completed.
One carrier received an embryo created using Sam’s sperm.
The other received an embryo created using Jim’s sperm.
Both transfers resulted in pregnancies.
For a couple who had spent almost two years waiting to find a surrogate in Canada, the progress was remarkable.
Their embryos had moved from Vancouver to Bogotá.
Their treatment plan had progressed from frozen embryo storage to two ongoing pregnancies.
Most importantly, the couple could finally begin preparing for the arrival of their children.
The matching timeline in this case reflects the circumstances of these particular patients. It should not be interpreted as a standard or guaranteed matching period for all Colombia surrogacy programs.
Two Pregnancies, Two Babies, and Due Dates Just One Week Apart
Today, Sam and Jim are preparing to become fathers.
Both gestational carriers have ongoing pregnancies, and the latest prenatal information provided for this case indicates that both babies are developing well.
The estimated due dates are only one week apart.
For Sam and Jim, this means they may welcome two children within a remarkably short period.
One baby is genetically related to Sam.
The other is genetically related to Jim.
Their original hope of building a family in which both fathers have a biological connection to a child is now much closer to becoming reality.
After the uncertainty of the Canadian matching process, the couple can finally focus on preparing for parenthood.
There are still important steps ahead.
Both pregnancies require continued prenatal monitoring.
Delivery arrangements must be coordinated separately for each gestational carrier.
The couple must also complete the appropriate legal planning for birth registration, parentage, citizenship, and travel documents.
Although both pregnancies are progressing well, pregnancy and delivery always involve medical uncertainty.
Nevertheless, the change in their circumstances is significant.
Two years earlier, Sam and Jim had five frozen embryos but no gestational carrier.
Today, they are expecting two babies.
Their journey is a meaningful example of how international fertility coordination may help intended parents explore alternatives when their original surrogacy plan has stalled.
Why Existing Frozen Embryos Can Make Colombia an Attractive Option
Many intended parents who explore international surrogacy assume they must begin IVF again in the destination country.
That is not always necessary.
Some intended parents already have embryos stored in fertility clinics in Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, Los Angeles, or other cities.
Those embryos may have been created through previous IVF cycles using their own eggs, donor eggs, or donor sperm.
If a receiving clinic accepts the embryos and the necessary medical and regulatory requirements can be met, international transportation may allow patients to continue treatment without repeating embryo creation.
For same-sex male couples, this can be particularly important.
Egg donation and IVF can involve significant costs.
Creating embryos with sperm from both partners may also require careful coordination and individual laboratory documentation.
Once embryos have been created and frozen, preserving them for future treatment becomes a priority.
In suitable cases, embryo transportation can offer a way to use that existing investment in a different treatment setting.
However, embryo transportation is not appropriate in every case.
The receiving clinic must review the relevant laboratory information, including embryo identification, cryopreservation methods, donor documentation, and any applicable infectious disease requirements.
The sending clinic must also approve release under its policies and applicable rules.
No shipping provider can eliminate every risk associated with transporting cryopreserved reproductive material.
For this reason, intended parents should obtain a case-specific review before committing to an international program.
What Makes Colombia Different From Canada for Surrogacy?
Canada and Colombia offer different environments for intended parents considering gestational surrogacy.
Canada has a federal altruistic surrogacy framework and provincial laws governing legal parentage.
Its system provides a recognized pathway for same-sex couples, but finding a willing gestational carrier may be challenging.
Colombia has developed an international fertility sector offering IVF, egg donation, and gestational surrogacy coordination through participating providers.
However, Colombia does not currently have a comprehensive national surrogacy statute.
Its legal framework involves constitutional jurisprudence, healthcare requirements, and case-specific legal procedures.
Colombia’s Constitutional Court has addressed surrogacy-related questions in decisions including T-968/2009 and T-127/2024.
The Court has emphasized the protection of children’s rights, the importance of preventing exploitation, and the need for comprehensive legislation.
This legal environment requires careful planning.
Intended parents should not assume that access to medical treatment automatically guarantees recognition of parentage or citizenship.
For Canadian same-sex couples, legal planning should begin before embryo transfer.
This is particularly important when two children are expected through separate gestational carriers.
Each birth may require its own documentation, parentage assessment, and citizenship planning.
For additional information, read our Colombia Surrogacy Risk Guide for 2026.
Why Medical Coordination Matters in Cross-Border IVF
Sam and Jim’s experience also highlights an important part of international surrogacy that is sometimes overlooked.
Successful cross-border treatment requires more than finding a fertility clinic or arranging transportation.
Multiple organizations must work together.
The original IVF laboratory holds the embryos and their associated records.
The international cryogenic shipping provider manages transportation under specialized conditions.
The receiving fertility laboratory must evaluate and accept the embryos.
The treating physicians are responsible for medical decisions, gestational carrier screening, and embryo transfer procedures.
Independent legal professionals advise on the applicable legal arrangements.
CanBaby’s role is to help intended parents coordinate these stages and understand the requirements involved.
For patients who already have frozen embryos, an embryology-focused review can help identify potential documentation issues before the shipping process begins.
This may include checking embryo records, donor egg documentation, cryopreservation information, and communication requirements between laboratories.
For Sam and Jim, the coordination of their existing embryos was an essential part of moving their journey forward.
Their experience illustrates the value of organizing medical, logistical, and legal planning before treatment begins.
CanBaby Surrogacy: Local Consultation in Burnaby, International Coordination in Colombia
CanBaby Surrogacy provides fertility consultation and international surrogacy coordination for intended parents considering treatment in Colombia.
Our approach combines embryology-focused guidance with communication and coordination involving participating medical and legal providers.
For intended parents living in Vancouver and the surrounding communities, consultations are available at our Burnaby office.
CanBaby Surrogacy — Burnaby Office
9618 Cameron Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
We also offer online video consultations for intended parents throughout Canada, the United States, and internationally.
Families who already have frozen embryos can discuss their existing IVF records, possible international transportation requirements, and the next steps involved in evaluating a Colombia surrogacy pathway.
For those who have experienced a prolonged surrogate search in Canada, an initial consultation can help determine whether international treatment is worth exploring.
The receiving Colombian clinic remains responsible for final medical eligibility decisions.
Licensed healthcare professionals manage treatment and pregnancy care, while qualified legal advisers address parentage and citizenship questions.
CanBaby does not guarantee embryo acceptance, transportation approval, matching timelines, pregnancy, or live birth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a gay couple in Vancouver pursue surrogacy in Colombia?
Potentially, yes. Participating Colombian fertility programs may consider same-sex male couples for IVF and gestational surrogacy. However, medical eligibility and legal planning must be reviewed individually.
Can frozen embryos from Olive Fertility Centre be shipped to Colombia?
International transportation may be possible when the sending clinic approves the release, the receiving laboratory accepts the embryos, and all required documentation and shipping arrangements are completed. Approval depends on the individual case.
Do we need to repeat IVF if our embryos are already frozen in Canada?
Not necessarily. Existing embryos may be suitable for transportation and subsequent frozen embryo transfer, provided the receiving clinic confirms that the laboratory and medical requirements are satisfied.
Why do some Canadian intended parents wait a long time to find a surrogate?
Canada’s altruistic model relies on willing gestational carriers. Matching also depends on medical suitability, personal compatibility, legal arrangements, and individual circumstances. Waiting periods vary significantly.
How long does it take to find a surrogate in Colombia?
There is no universal matching timeline. In Sam and Jim’s case, suitable gestational carriers were matched and embryo transfers were completed approximately two months after their embryos arrived in Bogotá. Other patients may experience different timelines.
Can both partners in a gay couple become biological fathers?
Yes. A couple can create separate embryos using donor eggs and sperm from each partner, subject to the fertility clinic’s medical assessment. Separate embryo transfers may then be considered as part of the treatment plan.
Can two gestational carriers carry pregnancies for the same couple?
This may be possible, depending on the program, clinical assessment, legal arrangements, and informed consent of each carrier. Each pregnancy requires separate medical care and appropriate legal planning.
How much does Colombia surrogacy cost if we already have embryos?
Costs depend on the services included, the number of transfers, the gestational carrier arrangements, and the legal and medical requirements. CanBaby’s existing-embryo Colombia surrogacy program has been quoted at approximately USD $59,000, subject to current pricing, eligibility, and the final written contract. International embryo shipping may be a separate expense.
For a more detailed comparison, see our Colombia Surrogacy Cost Guide 2026.
Can babies born through surrogacy in Colombia obtain Canadian citizenship?
Eligibility depends on the applicable Canadian citizenship rules, the intended parents’ citizenship circumstances, and the legal and biological relationships involved. Each child’s situation must be reviewed individually. Intended parents should seek qualified Canadian and Colombian legal advice before treatment.
From Waiting to Expecting: Sam and Jim’s Journey Toward Fatherhood
Sam and Jim began their family-building journey in Vancouver.
They purchased donor eggs from an American egg bank and completed IVF treatment using sperm from both partners.
Their treatment resulted in five euploid embryos.
They hoped to find a gestational carrier in Canada and welcome their children close to home.
But after nearly two years of searching, they still had no suitable match.
Rather than abandoning their dream, they explored another option.
With CanBaby’s coordination, their embryos were transported from Vancouver to Bogotá after the necessary documentation and shipping arrangements had been completed.
Approximately two months after arrival, two gestational carriers had been matched and the embryo transfers completed.
Today, both pregnancies are progressing well, and the babies’ estimated due dates are just one week apart.
For Sam and Jim, the dream of becoming fathers is now closer than ever.
Their experience does not mean that international surrogacy is the right solution for every family.
Nor does it mean that embryo transportation, gestational carrier matching, or pregnancy outcomes can be guaranteed.
But their story offers an important message to intended parents who already have frozen embryos and have struggled to find a surrogate in Canada.
A long wait does not necessarily mean the end of the journey. Sometimes, exploring another carefully planned pathway can create a new opportunity to build a family.
Already Have Frozen Embryos in Canada? Talk to CanBaby
If you are a same-sex couple or intended parent living in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, or elsewhere in British Columbia, and you already have embryos stored at a Canadian fertility clinic, CanBaby can help you explore possible next steps.
Whether you have been waiting for a Canadian gestational carrier or are comparing international treatment options, our team can help you understand the medical and logistical questions involved in transferring embryos to Colombia.
Burnaby Office: 9618 Cameron Street, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Book a Consultation With CanBaby Surrogacy
Explore CanBaby’s Colombia Surrogacy Services
Official Legal Sources and References
Government of Canada — Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Canada’s federal law addresses prohibited payments relating to surrogacy, compensation for surrogate-arranging services, and eligible reimbursements.
Read the Assisted Human Reproduction Act
Health Canada — Reimbursing Surrogacy and Donor Expenditures
Health Canada explains the rules governing eligible expense reimbursements for surrogates and donors.
Read Health Canada’s Official Guidance
Government of Canada — Reimbursement Related to Assisted Human Reproduction Regulations
These regulations set out eligible expenses and documentation requirements, including provisions relevant to embryo maintenance and transportation.
Colombian Constitutional Court — Decision T-127/2024
This decision discusses surrogacy, children’s rights, legal uncertainty, and the need for comprehensive regulation in Colombia.
Read the Constitutional Court Decision
Privacy, medical, and legal notice: This article describes a real client journey using pseudonyms and modified identifying details. It is published for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of comparable treatment timelines or outcomes. The pregnancies described were ongoing at the time of writing. Medical care, embryo transportation, gestational carrier arrangements, parentage, and citizenship matters require individualized professional assessment.
