Finding a surrogate who will fulfill your dreams of becoming parents can be an exciting part of your surrogacy journey. But if you find yourself having reservations about embarking on this journey with a stranger, know that it’s completely normal.

Surrogacy agencies often provide a thorough surrogate screening to ensure they fully understand what they’re committing to and to protect intended parents throughout the process. There’s a lot that goes into the screening process for surrogates and we’re here to help you understand how agencies protect you during this life-changing journey.

You can always contact a surrogacy professional now to learn more about the surrogate medical screening process.

What is the Purpose of Surrogate Screening?

Surrogates take on a big responsibility when they agree to carry your baby. When you begin the surrogacy process, you’ll want to make sure that the professional you work with takes surrogate screening seriously. The surrogate preliminary screening process is intended to protect everyone involved and is utilized to:

• Ensure the surrogate understands the process – Many prospective surrogates express interest in the process before they’re truly ready for the commitment. The surrogate mother screening process helps educate surrogates and ensures they’re ready to commit to the surrogate journey.
• Determine whether the surrogate is healthy enough for surrogacy – Another aspect involved in the process is the surrogate medical screening. This includes a thorough medical evaluation and examination of the surrogates medical and pregnancy history. The medical surrogate screening ensures she is healthy enough to carry a surrogate pregnancy.
• Confirms the surrogate is emotionally ready for surrogacy – This evaluation ensures the surrogate is ready for the ups and downs that come with surrogacy. It also evaluates her support system and feelings towards the process of surrogacy.
• Ensures the surrogate has the support she needs – The surrogates spouse or partner is often included in the surrogate screening process to ensure they understand and are committed to the surrogacy process.

What Screenings are Done for Surrogates?

What screenings are done for surrogates? The surrogate screening process will depend on the agency you choose to work with. Surrogacy agencies often develop their own set of requirements for surrogates but in general, here’s what gets evaluated during the screening process for surrogate mothers:

• Medical, social and drug history forms
• Birth records from previous pregnancies
• A complete medical exam
• Background checks
• In-home visit
• Psychological assessments

To learn more about the surrogate screening process, contact a surrogacy professional now.

What Happens at a Surrogate Medical Screening?

The medical screening process for surrogate mothers consists of exams and procedures that include a pap smear and physical evaluation. Bloodwork is done on the surrogate and their partner to check for infectious diseases. A hysteroscopy is also done to ensure the uterus and fallopian tubes are not obstructed.  

There’s a lot that goes into the surrogate screening process and when you work with an agency, the surrogate will be required to disclose medical and social history information for themselves and their families. They will also have to submit official medical records from their physician later on in the process.

Why Are Surrogates Screened for Psychological Health?

Psychological surrogate screenings assess whether a prospective surrogate understands the emotional risks involved in surrogacy. Surrogates are able to talk with a psychologist about any feelings they may experience during pregnancy and following delivery. Ongoing counseling and support will also be available for her throughout the process.

Qualifications in the Surrogate Screening Process

Below are a few requirements set forth by agencies to protect the wellbeing of everyone involved. These requirements can help ensure a healthy and successful surrogate pregnancy. Below are a few surrogate screening qualifications surrogates must meet in order to become a gestational carrier:

One Prior Successful Pregnancy

In order for a surrogate to become a gestational carrier, they must have carried at least one pregnancy successfully to term. This surrogate screening requirement ensures that there are no complications during the pregnancy. It also ensures a safe experience for the surrogate and can help you feel confident as you embark on your surrogacy journey.

Must Already be a Parent

This surrogate screening requirement ensures that the surrogate is emotionally ready to embark on this journey. If the surrogate hasn’t been pregnant before they don’t know what the process is like. This helps prepare the surrogate for the emotions and physical requirements that come with having a baby.

Drug Test

Drug tests are an important step in the surrogacy preliminary screening process. It ensures the health and safety of the surrogate and the baby. By undergoing a drug test, surrogates are making a commitment to not using any illegal substances that can negatively affect the baby’s development.

Age Requirements

Experts in the assisted reproduction field have established base recommendations for the age limit in surrogacy. According to their research, it’s recommended that surrogate mothers are between the ages of 21-45. These age requirements vary and are determined by the surrogacy agency you work with.

To learn about specific agency’s surrogate screening process, check out the following surrogacy professionals:

• American Surrogacy
• Circle Surrogacy
• West Coast Surrogacy
• Extraordinary Conceptions