While we’d love to take every interested woman on this journey, the truth is that not every woman is qualified to become a surrogate. A surrogacy journey needs to be a safe, healthy, and happy one, and that’s why we have a few requirements for our surrogates to ensure everyone’s goals are met.
As we learned from Step 1: The Basics to Becoming a Surrogate Mother, when a woman agrees to become a surrogate, she commits to much more than carrying a baby. She commits to an in-depth screening and a selfless pregnancy as well as putting her life on hold for sometimes a year to a year and a half. This includes medical and psychological evaluations, background checks, and the matching processes.
Looking to learn more about the basics of surrogacy? We recommend listening to the Fertility Cafe podcast: Surrogacy 101 – When It Takes a Village to Start a Family where host Eloise Drane reviews the requirements of becoming a gestational surrogate.
Although, requirements vary from agency to agency and clinic to clinic, the list below includes most standard requirements from most reputable agencies like Family Inceptions:
Average Clinic/Agency Gestational Surrogate requirements
- All surrogates should have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery for a child of her own. In addition, many agencies and clinics will require that you have raised or currently raising a child of your own
- Average age of a potential surrogate is normally between 21 to 40 years’ old
- Yes, you can be a surrogate if you had a cesarean section however many agencies and clinics will limit how many C-sections you can have
- Your (BMI) Body Mass Index should be within normal range – 30 or under
- Highly recommended to live in a surrogate friendly state as normally the child you would carry will be born in your home state
- You should not be on any form of government assistance
- You cannot be an alcoholic, drug user or use any form of tobacco. Most clinics will require you to be tested
- You should not have a criminal history. Most agencies will complete a background check on you and your partner
- You must be in a stable relationship and living in a stable home. You do not need to be married and you can be single
- You should not have a history of mental illness or taking anti-depression medication
- You can be a surrogate if your tubes are tied
- You should wait at least 6 months after you have had a baby in order to become a surrogate
- You can apply to become a surrogate while you’re breastfeeding however most clinics will not allow you to begin the process until you have completely stopped breastfeeding
- Some STD can get you disqualified as a surrogate ie. Hepatitis, HIV. You can still be a surrogate if you have herpes, genital warts or have had an STD in the past that has been treated
- You can’t become a surrogate if you are currently pregnant
- You should be able to select which intended parents you want to work with
Based on the list above, do you think you will qualify to become a surrogate? See if you meet Family Inceptions’ specific qualifications.
Wondering what the surrogacy process looks like from start to finish? Click here to see the surrogacy journey laid out step-by-step.
Ready to take on this role of a lifetime? Click here to apply to be a surrogate with Family Inceptions, and find out INSTANTLY if you are approved.
Still have questions? Please contact us today to learn more about becoming a surrogate. At Family Inceptions, we have caring and compassionate staff that can help you to understand more about the surrogacy journey and answer the questions that you have about getting started.
