If you would like to become a surrogate, Pacific Surrogacy and Egg Donation can help you fully understand the physical, psychological, and emotional investment required. Throughout the various screenings and tests, we will ensure that you are in optimal health and fully prepared for this commitment.
Basic Recommendations for Surrogacy
While there are no hard and fast requirements, prospective gestational carriers should meet some general recommendations:
Age
Prospective surrogates should be between the ages of 21 and 42.
Children
Surrogates should have at least one child of her own.
Relationship status
Those who are considering becoming a gestational carrier should have a spouse, significant other or another support system who is supportive of the decision to become a surrogate mother.
Pregnancy
Because of the nature of surrogacy, a woman considering becoming a carrier should enjoy being pregnant.
Application and Evaluation
The first step in the surrogacy screening process is a consultation with a fertility specialist. If the the specialist determines that you may be a good fit for the program, you can then submit a formal application with the details of your medical and psychological history, lifestyle, insurance, and matching preferences. It is mandatory that you have given birth before to a healthy child, are at least 21 years old and have no medical issues.
If your application is accepted, one of our experienced team members will schedule an appointment in which the entire surrogacy program will be explained to you in greater detail. They will also ask about your support system and discuss your motivations for becoming a gestational carrier to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the process. Your spouse, partner, or significant other is encouraged to attend this meeting as well.
After all details concerning parent-matching, surrogacy compensation, and additional screenings and tests have been thoroughly discussed, we will send you our formal agency agreement. This contract gives us permission to send your profile to potential parents, and also details the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
Psychological Screening
Because of the emotional weight of the surrogacy process, all potential gestational carriers and their spouses are required to undergo a psychological evaluation. This step is recommended by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to ensure that you understand the potential impact that surrogacy can have on your mental health.
This screening may involve either a written or an interview assessment. For the written option, you will receive a test from the clinic, which you will need to fill out and return for evaluation by a licensed mental health professional who has experience in fertility counseling. For the interview assessment, you will meet with a counselor to discuss the psychological aspects of becoming a surrogate.
Medical Screening
After being matched with intended parents, you will meet with their in vitro fertilization (IVF) doctor. During this consultation, they will review your medical history and discuss the potential health risks of surrogacy, all necessary procedures, medications, and potential pregnancy complications.
They will also conduct a thorough medical evaluation, which may include:
- Pap smear
- Vaginal ultrasound
- Uterine evaluation (via hysteroscopy or endometrial biopsy)
- Blood type and Rh (to ensure you are immunocompatible)
- Various infectious disease screenings (including rubella, chickenpox, HIV 1 & 2, hepatitis viruses, syphilis)
- Urine drug test
Your partner or spouse may also be required to undergo an infectious disease screening and drug test.
Contact Us Today
Here at Pacific Surrogacy and Egg Donation, we strive to ensure that all of our potential surrogates are prepared for the screening process. If you have any questions about our program or would like to take the first step, toward becoming a surrogate please contact us today.
