Surrogacy 101- Becoming a Surrogate

Surrogacy 101:

Simple Surrogacy has decided to offer to its readers a guide to different parts of the surrogacy journey. To kick off this series, we’ll begin with how to become a surrogate.

Becoming a Surrogate

To become a Surrogate, you must first decide how you would like to be a surrogate, through an agency or independently. We at Simple Surrogacy firmly believe that the best Surrogacy journeys for Intended Parents and Surrogates alike are those coordinated/managed by excellent Surrogacy Agencies. So, first the Surrogate must select the agency they intended to work with and review their qualifications. Every agency is different so it is very important to investigate your options, research the agency that you are interested in, talk to Surrogates and Intended Parents who have experience with said agency, and make an informed decision based on your research and needs.

Most surrogacy agencies have similar prerequisites for their surrogates. The surrogates will have to meet some or all of the following qualifications:

• Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• Be between the ages of 21-40 (Traditional Surrogates must be under 35)
• Have given birth to a child of your own
• Have had uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries
• Be height-weight proportionate (BMI must be under 33)
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Be in a stable living situation
• Have the support of your spouse or partner (when applicable)
• Not be on public assistance
• Be able to pass a background check
• Be willing to take medications via injection (when instructed by RE)
• Not smoke or take illegal drugs, or be exposed to secondhand smoke
• Be willing to refrain from alcohol throughout the medical process and pregnancy
• Not have any sexually transmitted diseases that would subject you or the child you are carrying to physical harm
• Not have any psychiatric illness or take medications for depression or anxiety
• Not have had any tattoos or piercings within the past 12 months
• Be able to provide contact information for past OBs or family doctors so we are able to obtain your past pregnancy and delivery medical records

If you are interested in becoming a Surrogate, and you meet the above qualifications, then the next step in the process is to fill out the Agency’s application. Most Agencies will have at least an initial online application that you can begin to fill out. Some agencies have their entire application online for the surrogate’s convenience. The Application will ask the Surrogate many questions about their personal history, medical history and living situation. Most applications start with general questions, like marital status, number of children, occupation and lifestyle. But the applications will also collect detailed history about the potential Surrogate’s medical history, reproductive history, and any other surrogacy or egg donations she may have undergone. The application also will ask questions designed to get an ideal match between the Surrogate and her Intended Parents. These questions include personality, hobbies, interests, talents and likes and dislikes. The application will also ask probing questions about the Surrogate’s preferences for the surrogacy, such as contact preferences, selective reduction preferences and termination preferences. The Surrogate will also indicate if she will be applying to be a Traditional or Gestational Surrogate. The Surrogate will also indicate if she is willing to carry for a married couple, unmarried couple, single Intended Fathers or Intended Mothers, and/or same sex Intended Parents.
It is important that a Surrogate answer all questions thoughtfully, truthfully, and carefully, being sure to give a good impression of herself to the Intended Parents who will be reviewing her profile. Once the application is complete, the Surrogate will submit the application to be reviewed by the Agency.