Episode 218: Mark Semple – Is Colombia the Best Non-US Surrogacy Destination?

Mark Semple is a Canadian citizen who has been involved in international medical and fertility tourism since 2008. Mark founded his first fertility company in 2008 after engaging in IVF with his wife in 4 different countries and seeing a need for cross-border access to fertility care. In that time, Mark has helped create IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy programs with clinics in many countries, founded a US cryobank, assisted Canadian, US, and international fertility clinics with regulatory compliance, and has worked with clients from over 60 countries. He also owns ReproVida, a medical group in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Currently, his interests mainly lie with surrogacy and egg donation programs in Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. Mark was the pioneer of international surrogacy in Colombia in 2018 after seeing a need and a positive legal framework to assist all family types. He has helped create 2 clinic surrogacy programs in Colombia, is the owner of a foundation that supports surrogate mothers in the country, and has helped create a stable framework for all other agencies to follow. Colombia is now a leading global surrogacy destination, especially for single men and same-sex couples.In addition, he was one of the pioneers of surrogacy in Mexico in 2012. With a recent Supreme Court decision affirming the validity of surrogacy (after a previous 2016 negative decision), Mexico is once again a global destination for surrogacy.Mark has been an invited keynote speaker for 3 national conferences in medical tourism (on how to create programs to draw international patients) by the governments of Costa Rica, Taiwan, and China. He has been an article contributor to the Medical Tourism Magazine, and he was part of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada’s creation of Ethical Guidelines in Medical Tourism.Listen as Mark shares with Ellen and Jenn:Being Canadian and dealing with Canada’s system for infertility treatment.Looking internationally for other options, including Costa Rica and Panama. Ultimately conceiving their child with the help of doctors in Cape Town, South Africa.After his experiencing, learning more about medical tourism. Joining with a partner to start a vascular surgery program in Costa Rica. Moving to just working in fertility care in a number of countries.Finding so many countries – Canada, much of Europe – limited access to care through regulation.Doctors being able to do thing in the US (such as sex selection in IVF) that is not permitted in many countries. In 2018, starting a surrogacy program in Colombia supported by a supreme court ruling and friendly environment toward same-sex male couples. Genetic connection required between dad and child, with surrogate on the birth certificate until removed after some period of time. Colombia not an option for single intended mothers or same-sex female couples. Talking costs (significantly less than the US)!History of surrogacy in Mexico, including the 2021 supreme court decision.Complications in Mexico, but a better fit for certain intended parents.History working in Argentina, but recent problems causing him to discontinue work there.Other options in Europe; issues with surrogates traveling between countries. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.Learn more about Surrogacy Colombia: www.surrogacycolombia.com Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch  Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/