Gestational Surrogates: Medical Screening

Bringing a child into the world through surrogacy is one of the most meaningful decisions a family can make. At the heart of that journey is a person who will carry, nurture, and protect that life. Choosing the right gestational surrogate is not something we take lightly.

Simple Surrogacy has built our screening process around making certain the women who join our roster are medically healthy and fully vetted before they ever meet an intended parent.

How We Evaluate Gestational Surrogates From the Start

Before a surrogate is matched with anyone, she goes through our internal agency screening. This covers a review of her medical records from previous deliveries, a thorough background check, and a psychological evaluation. Only after passing all three does she move forward in the process.

Once a match is made, she undergoes a second, in-person screening at a clinic of your choice. This stage follows the strict guidelines set by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the gold standard in reproductive health. You can learn more about becoming a surrogate and what the process looks like from the very beginning.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine Guidelines

The ASRM guidelines exist to protect everyone involved, and our medical screening follows them precisely. At the clinic level, the evaluation includes:

• A detailed medical history review
• A full physical examination
• Comprehensive laboratory testing
• A gynecological exam
• Multidisciplinary consultations with internists, specialists, and psychologists (including an MMPI assessment)
• Consultations with geneticists when applicable

This level of rigor is not procedural paperwork. It is how we protect the health of the surrogate, the baby, and the intended parents throughout the entire journey.

Gestational Surrogate Screening Checklist

The clinical screening covers a wide range of medical evaluations to assess a surrogate’s physical health, reproductive fitness, and genetic profile. These include:

• Consultation with a Reproductive Endocrinologist
• Physical and gynecological examination
• Blood count, chemistry, blood type, and RH factor
• Drug toxicology screening
• Screening for rubella, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasmosis
• HIV antibody testing
• Hepatitis A, B, and C surface antigen testing
• RPR for syphilis
• Cervical cultures for gonorrhea, chlamydia, ureaplasma, and mycoplasma
• Genetic testing for cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell disease, and thalassemia
• FSH on cycle day 2 or 3
• Group B strep testing
• Hysterosalpingogram or sono-hysterosalpingogram
• IVF nurse coordinator consultation covering treatment protocol, medication, and injection training

Intended parents can also review what to expect from the intended parents’ journey to understand how this screening fits into the broader matching and family-building process.

Your Family Deserves a Process You Can Trust

At Simple Surrogacy, we know that trust is earned through transparency and action, not promises. Our medical screening process is designed to give intended parents confidence in the person carrying their child, and to give surrogates a process that respects and values their role.

When you work with Simple Surrogacy, you are never facing this alone. Our team walks alongside you, from the first screening to the final step of your journey. Let us show you what thoughtful, people-first surrogacy looks like. Connect with our team today.

FAQs

What is the difference between the agency screening and the clinic screening?

The agency screening is an internal review covering prior delivery records, background checks, and psychological evaluations. The clinic screening is a separate, in-person medical evaluation conducted at a facility of the intended parents’ choosing, in accordance with ASRM guidelines.

Do intended parents get to choose which clinic performs the medical screening?

Yes. Once a match is made and the surrogate passes our internal screening, the clinical evaluation takes place at a clinic selected by the intended parents, giving families a degree of involvement in that process.

What happens if a surrogate does not pass the medical screening?

If a potential surrogate does not meet the medical standards set by our agency or the ASRM guidelines, she will not proceed to matching. Simple Surrogacy prioritizes the wellbeing of all parties, and no match moves forward without a clean medical clearance.