Jules Von Hep and his partner Mark Beverlo have been trying to become parents since 2020, facing an "incredibly painful, incredibly expensive" process in the UK. Now, they are pinning their hopes on commercial surrogacy in Mexico, where the practice was legalized for same-sex parents in 2021.
UK Surrogacy Challenges
Von Hep, a celebrity tanning expert, has always wanted a biological child. As a gay man, he knew surrogacy was his only option, leading him to save money specifically for fertility treatments. The couple signed up with an IVF clinic, purchased donor eggs, and underwent sperm testing. Costs quickly escalated: £1,000 for single advisory meetings, £13,000 for a round of embryo creation, and £5,000 per embryo transfer. After failed attempts, including home insemination, they gave up on UK surrogacy.
Turning to Mexico
War in Ukraine closed off that popular destination, and the US was too expensive at about £250,000. Mexico, costing £60-90,000, became viable. Unlike the UK's altruistic model, some Mexican states allow commercial surrogacy, where surrogates are paid a fee. The couple's agency, My Surrogacy Journey Mexico City (MSJMX), says the surrogate's fee is typically around MXN$388,000 (£16,914). Von Hep found the transparency refreshing: "The difference doing it commercially is unbelievable. The knowledge that the egg donors are being paid, that everyone is – there's nothing woolly about the situation."
Ethical Concerns
Mexico has a patchwork of surrogacy regulations: two states ban it, three have laws. Researchers worry poor women could "rent their wombs as a survival strategy," and there are reports of coercion. MSJMX says it operates only in "surrogacy-friendly states" like Mexico City and works with human rights specialists and lawyers to ensure ethical protection.
Next Steps
The couple has shipped sperm to Mexico, selected a new egg donor, and fertilized embryos. They await transfer. If successful, they will move to Mexico for three to six months to arrange the baby's passport, then return to the UK to apply for a parental order. Von Hep says this is their last attempt at biological parenthood but feels tentatively excited. He has recommended Mexican surrogacy to other couples struggling with fertility, noting, "The professionalism from the Mexican clinics – I can't fault it."
Breaking the Taboo
Von Hep wants to challenge the taboo around gay men having children. "The more same-sex relationships are accepted, the more gay men will want to have a family," he said. He praised surrogates as "angels on earth" for their selfless act of kindness.
