What Qualifies Someone to Be a Surrogate? A Breakdown for Families Exploring Options

Meet Anna. She is a single mother living in Los Angeles and would love to help friends or family become pregnant someday. She exercises daily, is very healthy, and enjoys being around children.

Does Anna's situation automatically qualify her to become a surrogate?

Not necessarily.

And that's ok.

The criteria that surrogacy agencies use to qualify potential surrogates is quite specific, and many people don't understand why. This can lead to false hopes or deter well-intentioned candidates from moving forward with the process.

Before diving into finding a surrogate (or becoming one), this guide breaks down all of the requirements that are involved in becoming a surrogate. By having realistic expectations from the start, you can save time and avoid some of the confusion surrounding this process.

Why don't Anna qualify as a surrogate?

Not every woman that wants to help out a family build theirs does not qualify to become a surrogate.

Believe it or not, this is for good reason.

The surrogate medical evaluation process is one of the most comprehensive screenings in reproductive medicine. It exists to protect three very important parties: the surrogate, baby, and intended parents.

Learning about surrogacy requirements up front can help families accelerate their match while setting expectations. With that in mind, here is everything you need to know about qualifying to become a surrogate.

Things To Know Before You Start Your Search

1. Reason's qualification guidelines exist

2. Ages candidates must be

3. Why pregnancy history is important

4. Detailed surrogate medical evaluation process

5. Factors related to lifestyle and mental health

Reason's qualification guidelines exist

For intended parents and surrogates alike, it's important to understand why these requirements are in place.

Simply because agencies have the authority to set them doesn't mean they arbitrarily decide to make the process difficult.

In fact, it's quite the opposite.

The industry of gestational surrogacy is growing rapidly. Between 2012 and 2021, embryo transfer cycles with gestational carriers increased by more than 175%. As more and more families choose to build theirs with a surrogate, agencies have an obligation to ensure those matches are safe and successful.

The ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) sets the guidelines that most agencies follow. Everything from age limits to pregnancy history comes from medicine's leading experts.

The purpose of these guidelines is simple: reduce risk.

Families who understand the importance of these rules from day one will have a smoother experience than most.

Ages candidates must be

Age is typically the first qualifier on a surrogate screening.

Most agencies have a cutoff of 21-42 years old. This wide range exists because there are two different factors being considered:

• Lower age limit = Emotional maturity

• Upper age limit = Minimize medical risks pregnancy later in life

There are other reasons too. But generally speaking, these are the driving factors.

After age, a candidate must be in good physical health. Standard requirements include:

• No serious medical conditions

• Non-smoker

• No history of drug/alcohol abuse

• No medications that are unsafe during pregnancy

Above all else, a potential surrogate will need to provide proof that they are in good health. An OB-GYN visit should be scheduled to ensure they're ready to start the screening process.

This visit includes obtaining official records from the doctor. Those records get reviewed by the clinic as part of the surrogate medical evaluation. They are not just a formality.

Why pregnancy history is important

Ready for some news you may not have expected?

In order to become a surrogate, a woman must already have at least one biological child of her own.

You read that correctly.

Past pregnancy history is one of the only ways an agency knows if a woman's body can handle a full-term pregnancy. There's nothing in a person's general health that can indicate this unless they have actually done it before.

Rules vary from clinic to clinic, but most will allow up to 5 previous pregnancies. C-Sections are typically limited to 2-3, however.

No previous pregnancies = No qualifying to be a surrogate.

This rule is non-negotiable with 99% of agencies.

Detailed surrogate medical evaluation process

Health history is important, but it's just one piece of the puzzle.

As mentioned earlier, there is a formal process every potential surrogate goes through before being matched. This process is known as the surrogate medical evaluation.

You can expect the following steps:

Step 1: Medical Records Review – The clinic will want to review all pregnancy and delivery history.

Step 2: Reproductive Health Exam – The surrogate will meet with a fertility specialist to ensure their uterus is healthy.

Step 3: Blood Screenings – The surrogate will undergo bloodwork to test for certain STIs, blood type, and overall wellness.

Step 4: Psych Eval – In order to protect all parties, the surrogate will meet with a therapist to ensure they are mentally stable.

Step 5: Home Study Screening – The surrogate's home, lifestyle, and support system will be screened.

All of the above topics must be cleared before an intended parent-agency can match with a surrogate. Depending on how quickly things move, medical evaluation alone can take upwards of 4-6 weeks.

Factors related to lifestyle and mental health

If you thought the surrogate medical exam stopped at physical health, think again!

Mental health is just as important.

Any candidate with a serious mental illness (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) will most likely be disqualified from moving forward. Some clinics require gestational carriers to be medication-free for 3-6 months prior to screening.

Speaking of medications, some clinics will not accept surrogates that take certain prescriptions. SSRIs (anti-depressants) are a common medication that agencies want surrogates to be off of for a minimum of 3 months before screening.

Home studies will screen for criminal history on the surrogate and everyone living in the household. Felonies on record will usually disqualify a candidate automatically.

Support systems are also important. Someone in the surrogate's life needs to be ready and available to support them through the journey. Whether it be a spouse, sister, mother, etc.

Some agencies even look at financial stability. If a potential surrogate is on government assistance programs (Section 8 housing, Medi-Cal, food stamps), they may not qualify. Surrogate compensation can eliminate some of those qualifications causing hardships down the road.

Final Thoughts…

Like mentioned above, none of these qualifications are in place to be "tough".

They're actually there to do the opposite and ensure everyone has a safe and successful experience.

Once you learn about surrogacy requirements before applying or interviewing potential candidates, you will have fewer surprises and a better overall experience.

Ready to find a surrogate? Let's get started!