If you’re a balanced translocation carrier, your doctor in China probably told you to do PGT (preimplantation genetic testing) to screen embryos. But after screening, you’re left with very few usable embryos, and carrying yourself means risking another miscarriage. That’s when a lot of people start looking at overseas surrogacy. Russia and Colombia are currently the two most accessible countries, especially for LGBT couples and single parents. But choosing between them isn’t just about total cost—it depends on your specific situation.
Russia Has Solid Legal Framework, But Policies Are Tightening
Surrogacy in Russia is explicitly legal. When the baby is born, the birth certificate lists the intended parents’ names directly—no mention of the surrogate. This makes the paperwork for bringing your child home much smoother. I know a couple from Beijing, both balanced translocation carriers, who did PGT in Russia. They got 3 healthy blastocysts, went through surrogacy, and had their baby after a 14-month cycle. Total cost was around 110,000 USD.
But starting in 2026, Russia tightened requirements for foreign intended parents. Now you must be a married heterosexual couple. Single people and same-sex couples can no longer go through legal channels. If you’re LGBT or single, Russia is basically off the table. Also, while Russia has high surrogate screening standards, the pool of available surrogates is shrinking. Matching can take 2-4 months.
Colombia Is More Inclusive for LGBT, But Watch Out for This
Colombia legalized surrogacy in 2016, and its biggest advantage is no strict restrictions on intended parents. Single people, same-sex couples, married couples—all can go through official channels. Honestly, that’s why so many LGBT individuals choose Colombia.
Cost-wise, Colombia is slightly cheaper than Russia. All-in pricing runs 75,000-95,000 USD, covering surrogate compensation, medical care, legal fees, and PGT screening. Surrogate screening is pretty thorough—three rounds covering infectious diseases, genetic conditions, and psychological evaluation. But here’s the catch: birth certificate processing in Colombia is more complicated than Russia. After birth, you need a paternity test first, then court confirmation of parental rights. The whole process takes about 6-8 weeks. If you can’t stay in-country that long, you’ll need a lawyer to handle it remotely, which adds 3,000-5,000 USD in legal fees.
With Chromosomal Issues and PGT, Embryo Numbers Are Critical
For balanced translocation carriers doing PGT, the biggest worry is not having enough embryos to screen. Theoretically, only 1/4 to 1/6 of embryos from each retrieval will be chromosomally normal. I worked with a Shanghai client—35-year-old woman with AMH 2.1, male partner with balanced translocation. First stimulation retrieved 13 eggs, ended up with 8 blastocysts. After testing, only 1 was normal.
So if you’re a balanced translocation carrier, focus on two numbers before stimulation: antral follicle count and AMH level. If AMH is below 1.5 and antral follicles fewer than 8, you might need 2-3 retrievals to bank enough usable embryos. Clinics in both Russia and Colombia have solid experience here and will adjust protocols based on your situation. For example, mini-stim protocols retrieve fewer eggs but produce more stable egg quality, which works better for older patients or those with declining ovarian reserve.
These 3 Contract Clauses Must Be Crystal Clear
Whether you choose Russia or Colombia, confirm a few things before signing the surrogacy contract. First, surrogate compensation payment schedule. Typically it’s split into four installments: at signing, 12 weeks pregnant, 24 weeks pregnant, and after delivery. The percentage for each must be specified. Second, division of responsibility for medical complications. If the surrogate needs bed rest or a C-section, who covers the extra medical costs and what’s the cap? Third, decision-making authority for termination. If the fetus has severe abnormalities, does the intended parent decide or does the