How to Become a Surrogate: Your Complete Guide
Surrogacy is a modern approach to building families, and it’s on the rise due to its high success rates. In fact, over 5% of all in vitro fertilization cycles, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, involve surrogacy. However, it’s essential to debunk some common misconceptions surrounding surrogacy to provide a clear understanding of what it entails and learn about How to Become a Surrogate.
The surrogacy process is a life-changing decision for both the intended parents and surrogate mothers. The most important element of surrogacy is a surrogate mother as she plays an integral role in the full surrogacy journey.
If you want to become a surrogate you will have to keep various facts in mind about the medical and legal process of surrogacy. We will discuss them in this article.
What if I want to be a surrogate mother?
You will have to decide on 3 factors if you want to become a gestational carrier. These three factors are –
- Choose your surrogacy professional – When you have decided that you want to be a surrogate. Now you have to decide whether you want to work with an agency or independently with the parents. The answer to this decision will be based on the fact of how much support you require during your surrogacy journey. Do your own bit of research before coming to any conclusion.
- Which type of surrogacy do you want to opt for – There are two types of surrogacy – gestational surrogacy and traditional surrogacy. In gestational surrogacy, the child is not biologically related to the surrogate, and the embryo is implanted in you using IVF. While in traditional surrogacy the child is related to the surrogate as the egg used is of the surrogate, the intended father sperms are IUI.
- Chart out your surrogacy plan – Once you have decided what kind of surrogacy you want to opt for, it’s now time to chart out your surrogacy plan. Here you will chart out a few things like what kind of intended parents you want to work with, what is your comfort level in carrying multiples, etc.
Once you have decided you want to be a surrogate, now come various requirements that you need to fulfill before being a surrogate.
How to Become a Surrogate: Surrogate Mother-Specific Requirements
To become a surrogate mother below factors need to be fulfilled:
- Age between 21 and 45.
- BMI below 30.
- Clear history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), drug use, and smoking.
- No antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications for a year.
- At least one successful previous pregnancy.
- Uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery history.
- Ability to attend necessary appointments.
- Clean criminal record.
Medical examinations are also mandatory to ensure your physical and mental fitness.
Things to Know Before Being a Surrogate
Before you embark on this life-changing journey, it’s essential to understand some key aspects of surrogacy:
- No Genetic Connection: Surrogates do not use their own DNA (eggs) for the babies they carry. The genetic connection is between the intended parents and the baby.
- Compensation Throughout: Surrogates are compensated throughout their surrogacy journey, starting before pregnancy. This financial support ensures that surrogates are well taken care of throughout the process.
- Match Compatibility: Surrogates have a say in choosing the intended parents they are matched with. Mutual compatibility is crucial to a successful surrogacy journey.
- IVF Process: Surrogates may need to administer injections as part of the IVF process. While this might seem daunting, many surrogates find it manageable and are supported throughout.
- Emotional Attachment: Surrogates do not form an emotional attachment to the babies they carry since they are not genetically related. They eagerly anticipate “giving the baby back” to their intended parents, ensuring a smooth transition.
Who Do Surrogate Mothers Help?
Surrogate mothers extend their helping hands to a diverse range of intended parents, each with unique circumstances and backgrounds. The types of intended parents that surrogate mothers assist include:
- Heterosexual Couples with Infertility: Couples who have struggled with infertility find hope in surrogate mothers, who help them realize their dream of having a family.
- Intended Mothers Unable to Carry: Some intended mothers may have medical conditions that prevent them from carrying a child. Surrogate mothers step in to make their dreams come true.
- Genetic Health Concerns: Intended parents with genetic defects or health conditions they do not want to pass on to their child turn to surrogate mothers to ensure a healthy start for their family.
- LGBTQIA+ Intended Parents: LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples often seek surrogacy to have a genetic connection to their child. Surrogate mothers play a pivotal role in making this dream a reality.
Understanding Surrogacy Process:
Becoming a surrogate mother is a multifaceted journey, and understanding each step is crucial:
- Legality of Surrogacy
The first step is to determine whether surrogacy is legal in your state. Surrogacy laws vary across regions, so it’s essential to consult with a local surrogacy agency to gather the necessary information.
- Basic Requirements
Meeting certain requirements is essential to becoming a surrogate. These criteria encompass factors such as age, previous pregnancies, body mass index (BMI), health history, medication history, ability to travel, and lifestyle habits.
- Application Process
Once you establish your eligibility, you’ll proceed to fill out an application. This may entail providing more comprehensive details about your health history and motivations for becoming a surrogate.
- Examinations and Screenings
You’ll undergo a series of examinations, including physical, and mental health, and background checks. Some agencies may even conduct a home study to ensure your suitability.
- Choosing an Agency and Surrogacy Plan
Decide which type of surrogacy aligns with your preferences: traditional or gestational surrogacy. Make an informed choice based on your goals, state laws, and agreement with your intended parents.
- Matching with Intended Parents
Share your surrogacy plan and preferences with your agency to begin the process of matching with the intended parents. This includes your comfort level with the possibility of carrying multiples.
- Legal Contract
Before pregnancy, a legal contract is signed with the intended parents, covering process details, financial responsibilities, your role, and the child’s transfer after birth.
- Conception
Pregnancy occurs through either intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF), following the terms outlined in your surrogacy agreement.
- The Birth and Beyond
The birth process is meticulously planned as per the surrogacy contract, dictating how the child will be transferred to the parents post-delivery.
The Surrogacy Process: Step by Step
Becoming a surrogate mother involves several milestones that culminate in the ultimate goal: delivering a healthy baby. While the exact duration of the surrogacy journey can vary, it typically spans 14-20+ months. Here is a step-by-step overview of the surrogacy process:
Step 1: Pre-screening (1-2 weeks)
- Complete a surrogate application.
- Review of medical records and background checks.
Step 2: Surrogacy Consultation (1-2 weeks)
- Video call with a social worker.
- The primary support person/spouse also participates in a call with the social worker.
Step 3: Matching (1 week to 2 months)
- Matching with intended parents.
- Profile exchange and video call.
- Official matching agreement.
Step 4: Medical Screening & Legal Contracts (2-3 months)
- Medical screening at the IVF clinic.
- Finalization of legal contracts with an attorney.
Step 5: Monitoring Appointments & Embryo Transfer (3-4 weeks)
- Initiation of surrogate medications.
- Local monitoring appointments.
- Embryo transfer.
Step 6: Pregnancy (9 months+)
- Beta tests for pregnancy confirmation.
- Ultrasound at 6-7 weeks for heartbeat confirmation.
- Routine appointments and updates until delivery.
Surrogate Mother Requirments to Consider:
#1. Screening Requirements To Become a Surrogate Mother
Once you have decided on being a surrogate mother you will have to work with the surrogacy professional and pass their screening tests.
These screening tests particularly determine that you are physically as well as psychologically fit to carry the baby and avoid any harm to the health of the surrogate and the baby. Some of the requirements of screening tests are –
- Age Limit – According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine you have to be between 21 to 45 years of age. However, some agencies might require age toward the lower side.
- No smoking and drinking habits
- You should have a BMI of less than 30
- There should have been no major complications from previous pregnancies
- No history of postpartum depression
- You should be raising your own child or children
- Have at least one successful pregnancy before and have no more than five vaginal births and three deliveries of a cesarean.
- Be free of treatable STDs for at least 12 months before.
- Discontinue to use of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines at least 12 months before the surrogacy
- Be able to travel as needed for appointments
- Wait at least 12 months from the last tattoo or piercing before starting the surrogacy
The screening for surrogacy is an important process. The surrogacy professional will ask you to do the screening to protect you and the child from any complications.
The procedure of screening differs from surrogacy agency to agency but it will definitely include the following elements –
- Application – You need to submit the application that will include some of the information about you and your personality as to why you want to go for surrogacy. After that, the surrogacy specialist will call you to get more information about the same.
- Physical examination – You will have to undergo a physical examination to ensure that you are physically fit to carry out the process of surrogacy.
- Social and medical history – You will be asked to reveal your social and medical history. You will be asked questions about your personality, your family, and your health as well.
- A social worker – Can visit you at home to learn more about your surrogacy goals and motivations. The meeting will help the social worker get to know you better and give you the chance to ask questions and learn more about the system.
- A mental health assessment – You are likely to meet with a mental health care professional to ensure that you fully understand the emotional impact of surrogacy and to determine that you are psychologically prepared for the surrogate motherhood challenges.
- An in-home assessment- A social worker may meet you at home to discuss your surrogacy goals and motivations. This meeting helps the social worker get to know you better and allows you to get to know more about the process.
- Background checks: Standard criminal records and background checks need to be approved.
Read more on this topic:
Surrogacy meaning and definitions
#2. Medical Requirements to Become a Surrogate Mother
The surrogate mother needs to fulfill some medical requirements as well. This is because your health will be closely checked during the surrogacy process. The medical requirements can be classified into various stages like –
- Medical Screening – It is likely to involve both physical and a variety of laboratory tests. Sexually transmitted diseases and other communicable diseases, as well as certain viruses and pathogens that may affect fertility, will be screened.
Your spouse or partner may need to be tested for STDs and drug use as well. You may need an ultrasound to assess the safety of your vagina, and you may need to be checked for drug use.
- Fertility treatments – You will need to plan for surrogate pregnancy throughout the embryo transfer cycle with various fertility medications, blood tests, injections, and ultrasounds.
Under the medical procedure, many medications, including birth control pills and other hormones, will be administered to help regulate your cycle and prepare you for IVF.
- Embryo Transfer – In the laboratory, the intended mother’s (or egg donor’s) egg will be fertilized using sperm (or sperm donor’s) from the intended father.
It will be time to transfer the fertilized embryo to your uterus for implantation after a brief period of incubation. You may need to stay for a few hours at the fertility clinic and rest for a couple of days after the implantation of the embryo.
- To undergo regular blood tests and ultrasounds, you will need to make routine visits to the fertility clinic.
You may be referred to your own OB once a heartbeat is detected and a stable pregnancy is confirmed.
You will continue to receive prenatal care as you would with any of your children, but examinations may be more regular in order to ensure the surrogacy baby’s health.
Throughout your medical screening and surrogacy process, you will be in close contact with the intended parents as well.
#3. Legal Requirements to Become a Surrogate Mother
Surrogacy is a complex procedure both legally and emotionally. The surrogate mother and the intended parents have to be bound by the legal contract before starting the surrogacy procedure.
The laws and legislations regarding surrogacy vary from state to state ( of course from country to country). That is why it is good to make sure that you choose the right reproductive attorney for yourself, to safeguard your rights.
The contract of surrogacy is one of the most important parts of any process of surrogacy. The surrogacy contract guides the whole journey of surrogacy. As it clearly outlines the rights, roles, and responsibilities of each party before, during, and after the surrogacy pregnancy. It has clear terms and conditions for surrogate compensation.
If the surrogacy contract is detailed and done correctly, it can help to minimize conflicts and miscommunication. Thus, protecting everyone involved in the process of surrogacy: the intended family and gestational surrogate and, most importantly, the child.
The contract will outline the following –
- Responsibility of the surrogate mother
- Compensation of surrogate throughout the process
- Possible risks and many more miscellaneous details.
In most cases, the procurement will be drafted by the intended parents. The surrogate will then review your own attorney’s contract to make sure all of her requests have been included.
Once all the requisite changes have been made and both parties agree to the contract terms. Paperwork will be signed by you and the intended parents and the agreement will become legally binding.
You will start receiving payments as per the stage mentioned in the agreement. But generally starts soon after the transfer of the embryo and then confirmation of pregnancy.
How Much Does a Surrogate Make?
The question of compensation is often on the minds of prospective surrogate mothers. Surrogate mother pay varies but typically includes a base fee, additional compensation, and benefits. Factors that influence the base fee include the state in which the surrogate resides, whether she has health insurance, and her experience as a gestational carrier.
More surrogacy-related guide:
Surrogate mother qualifications
Conclusion
Therefore, being a surrogate is not an easy task but the work that a surrogate mother does is purely commendable.
Without a surrogate mother’s kindness, many families can remain childless. It is not just about surrogate mother compensation, but the ability of a woman to create a new life for a childless couple.
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.
Get in touch now to get started! We recommend sending an email or filling out the forms below to know your best surrogacy options worldwide.
FAQs for How to Become a Surrogate:
What are the requirements to become a surrogate?
To become a surrogate, you typically need to meet certain requirements, including:
- Age: Generally, you should be between 21 and 40 years old.
- Health: You must be in good physical and mental health.
- Prior pregnancies: Some agencies prefer surrogates who have had at least one successful pregnancy.
- Lifestyle: Surrogates should lead a stable and healthy lifestyle.
- No smoking or drug use: Most agencies require surrogates to be non-smokers and drug-free.
- Support system: Having a strong support system, both emotionally and socially, is essential.
How does the surrogacy process work?
The surrogacy process involves several key steps:
- Screening: Surrogates and intended parents are screened for suitability.
- Legal agreements: Contracts are drafted to outline rights, responsibilities, and compensation.
- Medical evaluations: Surrogates undergo medical and psychological assessments.
- In vitro fertilization (IVF): The intended parents’ embryos are implanted in the surrogate.
- Pregnancy: The surrogate carries the pregnancy to term.
- Birth: The surrogate gives birth, and legal procedures are followed to transfer parental rights.
What are the legal aspects of surrogacy?
Legal aspects of surrogacy can vary by location, but generally, they involve:
- Surrogacy contracts: Detailed agreements outlining responsibilities and compensation.
- Parental rights: Ensuring that intended parents’ rights are legally established.
- Birth certificates: Updating birth certificates to reflect intended parentage.
- Adoption laws: In some cases, adoption procedures may be necessary.
- State laws: Compliance with surrogacy laws that vary by state or country.
Are there health risks involved in surrogacy?
Surrogacy does involve some health risks, including:
- Pregnancy-related risks: Surrogates face the same risks as any pregnant woman, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
- Emotional risks: Surrogates may experience emotional challenges from carrying a child for another family.
- Multiple pregnancies: In cases of multiple embryo implantation, there may be higher risks.
- Medical procedures: IVF procedures carry their own set of risks.
Can I become a surrogate if I’ve had a previous pregnancy?
Yes, having had a previous successful pregnancy can often be a qualification for becoming a surrogate. Many agencies prefer surrogates who have already experienced a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, as it indicates their ability to carry a pregnancy to term. However, each agency may have its specific requirements, so it’s essential to check with them to determine eligibility based on your unique circumstances.