Are intended parents also screened for surrogacy?
Gestational Surrogacy requires the commitment of both surrogates and the intended parents. Surrogate mothers generally are required to undergo medical and psychological screening before being taken into surrogacy programs. The list of medical and sometimes genetic screening for egg donors and surrogates is the first step to see if they can participate further in third-party reproductive services. But the question is would parents need to be evaluated if they are fit for surrogacy or – are intended parents also screened for surrogacy?
The answer to this question is very much positive. Yes, intended parents also go through the process of screening. Besides this, the surrogate partner also needs to undergo medical screening along with uterus scan and reproductive history evaluations. On top of that, surrogacy laws need to be known to both parties.
The surrogacy screening process of the intended parents depends on the surrogacy agency to agency. But every parent has to undergo some kind of evaluation before their profile is shown to the prospective surrogates.
Here are some factors that intended parents might expect from the agency-
Questionnaire and application
Subscribing to any surrogacy agency will first require you to fill out an application form where they will ask questions related to why surrogacy, your personal information, and social information. They will also ask about your family history and then will gauge your commitment and interest in the surrogacy process. This will start as the initiation in the development of the surrogacy plan.
At this point in time, the surrogacy specialist will interact with you via phone call to know more about your plans and aspirations. They may require you to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire will include the following questions –
- Whether they would like to pursue traditional surrogacy or gestational surrogacy?
- Whether they would pursue any egg donor or sperm donor?
- The estimated budget for the process
- Their past history with the family building procedures
- The amount of contact they would like to have with the surrogate and after the surrogacy procedure.
- Their plans for explaining surrogacy to the child and many more.
All the information which is gathered via the application process and the questionnaire will help the surrogacy agency to know you better and find a better match for you in terms of the surrogate.
More resources:
What is the average cost of surrogacy?
Background Checks
Most agencies will look for your background history. The background history will include whether you have any criminal records or not or whether you have any history of child abuse/gender offender. These background checks are done to ensure that you are capable of providing a safe environment for the child.
Usually, surrogacy agencies will avoid working with parents who have criminal records against them that especially involve the child. Always ask the agency what safety measures are required in the background screening process.
Home Visits
Home tests of surrogacy are not legally required, but some surrogacy companies go beyond industry standards and allow intended parents to complete a series of in-house visits with a licensed social worker.
Similar to an adoption home study, these visits allow the social worker to perform a home safety assessment and collect additional information on different aspects of the life of the intended parents. Their assessment may include interviews with the planned parents and other household members as well as evaluations of any children currently living in the household.
Additionally, these home visits offer potential intended parents the opportunity to ask further questions about the surrogacy process and know more about what it takes for a surrogate-born child to be a good parent.
Screening requirements of the agencies
Different agencies have fewer or more screening criteria for the intended parents. When you assess the surrogacy specialist with whom you would like to work, inquire about the evaluation process and credentials they may require for expected parents before matching.
From the gestational surrogate point of view, it is good to know your own prospective parents. You should have the opportunity to talk to potential matches and get to know them before you sign legal agreements and begin medical procedures.
This will help surrogate mothers to consider the attributes they are looking for in expected parents and ask questions before going forward. Surrogate compensation should not be the only preference for surrogate mothers.
Note, you dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort to the intended parents with whom you choose to work, so it is crucial to be confident with the family you choose and to be assured that they are dedicated to surrogacy and parenting.
More on this topic of gestational surrogacy:
How to find a surrogate mother?
Cheapest country for surrogacy- Georgia
Conclusion
Are intended parents also screened for surrogacy? Yes, they are!
Therefore, the surrogacy process requires screening for both the intended parents and the surrogate (her partner). Intended parents also need to go through a rigorous screening process to make sure their commitment emotionally and medically to the process.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.
