The Requirements to become a Surrogate:

To find out if YOU qualify, you can take this quick 5-minute quiz.

According to standards set by American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the general qualifications for becoming a surrogate may include:

Have at least one previous successful pregnancy and no more than five vaginal births or three cesarean deliveries.
Be currently raising your child(ren).
Have no major complications from previous pregnancies.
Be between the ages of 21 and 39, but many be approved if older, if they are in excellent health.
Most doctors require that surrogates have a BMI of 33 or less (calculate your BMI).
No smoking or illegal drug use.
Have a good support system and be financially stable without reliance on government aid. (Having health insurance through the State is okay).
Have no felony convictions.
Be off all mental health medications for at least 6 months prior to starting a surrogacy journey and be feeling good without meds!
Be able to travel as needed for appointments. Depending on who you decide to match with, you may need to travel by air or car at least twice.
- Credit: https://surrogate.com/surrogates/becoming-a-surrogate/how-can-i-become-a-surrogate-mother/Credit: https://surrogate.com/surrogates/becoming-a-surrogate/how-can-i-become-a-surrogate-mother/

The Process of Surrogacy

If you meet the requirements to become a surrogate; you can then move forward with finding parents to match with. There are a few ways to find a match, you can look independently, which means you find parents yourself and navigate the journey without the assistance of an agency, or you can sign up to work with an agency to help you find a good match. An agency will also help you through each step of the surrogacy process, from finding a good match, becoming medically cleared, navigating the legal contracts, helping you book your travel for embryo transfer, making sure you have health insurance in place to cover the surrogacy, etc.

There is a lot to know about having a successful surrogacy journey, so having a great agency help you through the process can be a real benefit. The agency I love that I am working with for my second surrogacy journey is called Your Fertility Advocate, their team is very hands on and really spends the time to get to know each and every surrogate in the program. They spend a lot of time finding out what is important to you and what you are looking for in a match. I highly recommend them if you are looking to go the agency route!

An application: The initial application will likely ask you some general questions about yourself and your reasons for pursuing surrogacy; it will also include questions about your lifestyle, family, health history and even your personality.
Interview: After submitting the initial application, you will be contacted by a surrogacy agency team member who will schedule a phone or video call to meet you personally before proceeding to next steps. The team member will go over the next steps in the surrogacy process and this is also a great time to get your own questions about surrogacy answered. You can ask the agency about the potential parents you could match with, and what you can expect during the screening process.

Background check: The agency will run a background check on yourself and your partner (if applicable). They are looking for big red flags like a recent DUI or things of that nature.

Medical examination: You will be required to meet with a fertility specialist for a physical exam and blood work to ensure your suitability for surrogacy. The doctor will go over your former pregnancy and delivery records during this meeting and also describe what you can expect from the surrogacy and embryo transfer process.

Mental health evaluation: You will meet with a mental health care professional (most likely over video chat) to ensure that you fully understand the emotional impact of surrogacy and to determine that you are psychologically ready for the challenges of surrogate motherhood.

Medical Requirements for Surrogates

Because your health is so central to a successful surrogacy, it will be closely monitored throughout your journey from the time you are screened until the delivery of the baby. As a surrogate, you will be required to undergo several medical tests and procedures and take fertility medications throughout the process.

The medical requirements for surrogates can be thought of in several stages:

Medical screening: This is part of the screening process. It will likely involve a physical as well as a variety of laboratory testing. You will be screened for sexually transmitted diseases and other communicable diseases, as well as certain viruses and infections that can affect your fertility. You may need to undergo an ultrasound to determine the health of your uterus, and there is a possibility that you will be screened for drug use. Your spouse or partner will likely also need to be screened for STDs and drug use. (See my “Medical and Psych” video HERE)

Fertility treatments: After signing legal contracts with the intended parents, you will need to prepare for surrogate pregnancy with multiple fertility treatments, blood tests, injections and ultrasounds throughout the embryo transfer process (as well as through the beginning of your pregnancy). You will be prescribed several medications such as birth control pills and other hormones like Estrogen and Progesterone, which will help regulate your cycle and prepare you for in vitro fertilization (IVF). (See my “How To PIO Injection” video HERE)

Embryo transfer: The intended mother’s (or donor’s) egg will be fertilized in the laboratory using the intended father’s (or donor’s) sperm. After a brief incubation period, it will be time to transfer the fertilized embryo into your uterus for implantation. This procedure is relatively quick and painless and usually does not require medication or anesthesia. You may be required to stay at the fertility clinic for a few hours and rest for a few days after the transfer.

Prenatal care: You will be required to make routine visits to the fertility clinic to receive regular blood tests and ultrasounds. Once a heartbeat is heard and a healthy pregnancy is confirmed, you may be transferred to your own OB. You will continue to receive prenatal care as you would with any pregnancy, though checkups may be more frequent to ensure the health of the baby. (See how my First Ultrasound went HERE) The Intended Parents come to you when it’s time for the delivery and they usually stay at an AirBNB or hotel near the hospital.

Throughout these medical processes and your entire pregnancy, you will maintain regular communication with the intended parents. If you are both comfortable, they may want to be present for doctor appointments so they can experience all of the excitement of the pregnancy along with you.

Legal Requirements for Surrogates

One of the most important requirements in any surrogacy arrangement is the legal contract. Every surrogacy agreement is different depending on your circumstances and your relationship with the intended parents. Your specific legal rights and obligations will be outlined in your contract.

Prior to beginning any medical procedures, you and the intended parents must agree to and sign the contract, which will clearly outline all of the legal aspects of the surrogacy, including:

Compensation
Possible risks
Your responsibilities as the surrogate
Relinquishment of the child
And more

The intended parents’ attorney will draft the contract. You will then review the contract with your own attorney to ensure that all of your requests have been included. Once all necessary revisions have been made and both parties agree to the terms of the contract, you and the intended parents will sign the paperwork and the contract becomes legally binding. At that point, you can begin receiving payments and prepare for the embryo transfer.

Surrogacy laws vary by state and the legal process can be complex, so it is important to work with experienced legal counsel to ensure your rights are protected. It is highly recommended that you obtain your own attorney to represent your interests throughout the process.

I Want to Be a Surrogate Mother. Now What?

If you meet the qualifications to become a surrogate and are ready to commit to the required medical procedures and legal process and, you are ready to take the preliminary steps in the surrogacy process! Congratulations on this amazing first step!!

Choose a surrogacy route – Independent or Agency - You may choose to work with a surrogacy agency like mine, Your Fertility Advocate, or navigate your surrogacy journey independently. Please do your research no matter what path you choose, or what agency you choose to work with, because it’s important you feel you are listened to, and that you will have expert guidance from start to finish. If you decide to match independently, the surrogacy attorney or the fertility clinic workers can help you navigate some of the important steps of the process. I also highly recommend this E-Course for all parents or surrogates looking to navigate a surrogacy journey independently. This course provides all the knowledge you would gain if using an agency, but at a fraction of the cost.

Develop a surrogacy plan. Once you have selected a surrogacy agency and completed the screening process, your surrogacy specialist will work with you to outline your goals and desires for your surrogacy. You will make important decisions about the types of intended parents you’d like to work with, your comfort level with carrying multiples, and more. This surrogacy plan will help guide the remainder of your surrogacy experience.

Once you have created your surrogacy plan, you will be ready to be matched with prospective intended parents and begin the legal and medical processes. With the right legal, medical and screening preparation, you will be well on your way to becoming a surrogate mother.

Credit: https://surrogate.com/surrogates/becoming-a-surrogate/how-can-i-become-a-surrogate-mother/

Are you ready to become a surrogate? Click here to learn more about my agency and start an application! Want to learn more about the surrogacy process? Watch here!