The best kinds of friends are people who have our back no matter what. So, if you’ve been approached by a friend to help them grow their family, you must truly be one of a kind. 

• Becoming a surrogate for your friend is one of the greatest gifts you can give 
• Becoming a surrogate is a fulfilling, rewarding experience 
• Working with a surrogacy professional is one of the best ways to ensure a stress-free experience 

Being a gestational surrogate for a friend is a decision that takes a lot of thought and planning. In this guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know when it comes to surrogacy for a friend. But as always, the best place to get through information you need is through a surrogacy professional. Fill out our form to be contacted by a specialist who can answer all your questions about surrogacy with a friend.  

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of being a surrogate for a friend.  

Can I Be a Surrogate for My Friend? 

Yes! As long as you meet the requirements, you can become your friend’s surrogate.  

While the list of requirements varies by professional, you’ll normally see traits like: 

• Be between the ages of 21-35 
• A healthy BMI 
• No smoking or illicit drug use 
• At least one successful pregnancy  
• Currently raising a child in your home 

The second biggest thing to consider when you’re thinking of being a surrogate for a friend is your emotional readiness. Before you jump headfirst into becoming a surrogate mother for a friend, ask yourself: 

• Am I ready to commit at least a year of my life to this process? 
• How strong is my relationship with my friend? 
• Do I have a strong support system outside of my friend? 

These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself. If you have any worries about being a surrogate for your friend, don’t forget that you can always reach out to a surrogacy professional for more information. 

How Much Does it Cost to be a Surrogate Mother for a Friend? 

As you may already know, surrogacy can be expensive for intended parents. If you’re considering being a surrogate for a friend, then you might think about either an altruistic or compensated surrogacy.  

If you choose to become a surrogate for your friend, you might feel uncomfortable asking for anything in return. But while this might seem like a good idea initially, it might not be the best solution long-term. You friend just witnessed you giving them the greatest gift of all, and it may leave them feeling like they’ll never be able to repay you for all you’ve done for them.  

After some time, you might even start to feel resentful after putting your body through so much work for your friend. Even if you agreed on no compensation ahead of time, going through the process of being a gestational or traditional surrogate for a friend can change your opinion. Carrying a child for your friend isn’t just a selfless gift, it’s a big sacrifice that you’re making that will affect you both physically and mentally. To avoid the strain altruistic surrogacy can put on your relationship, it’s recommended that you and your friend agree on at least some amount of compensation.  

How Does Being a Surrogate for My Single Friend Work? 

If you’re thinking of being a surrogate for a best friend, just know that this is not a quick or easy process. While the steps can vary depending on which professional you work with, here is what the process typically looks like.  

Step 1: Find a surrogacy professional 

Finding the right professional is the first step when you’re thinking of being a surrogate for a friend. A surrogacy specialist will help you through each step of your journey. From drafting your legal contract to preparing for the hospital stay, you’ll always have someone by your side.  

To get in touch with a professional today, please fill out our free contact form.

Step 2: Complete the screening process 

Every surrogate needs to go through a thorough medical and psychological screening. This step is done to ensure that you are physically and mentally ready for the surrogacy journey.  

Step 3: Finalize your legal contract 

Even if you have a good relationship with the intended parents, you will still need to create your surrogacy contract. This legal document outlines every step of your surrogacy journey. With the help of your surrogacy attorney, you’ll go over: 

• How much compensation you’ll receive 
• What-if scenarios, like an embryo transfer failure 
• Your risks and responsibilities as a surrogate 
• Your health responsibilities 
• And more 

Once you and the intended parents have agreed to the terms, you’ll move on to finalizing your surrogacy contract. And after that, you’ll finally move onto the next step in becoming a surrogate for friends: the medical process.

Step 4: Begin the embryo transfer process 

As the surrogate, you will start receiving fertility treatments to help prepare your body for the embryo transfer. You’ll also begin taking medications leading up to your surrogacy pregnancy. If the embryo transfer is successful, and a heartbeat is heard, then you’ll start receiving compensation. If you’re being an altruistic surrogate for a friend, then you’ll only have your medical and pregnancy expenses covered by the intended parents.

Step 5: Prepare for the hospital stay 

More likely than not, the intended parents will join you at the hospital — especially when you’re doing surrogacy with a friend. After the baby is born, and you’re ready to be discharged, you’ll leave the hospital with your lives forever changed.  

Many women who become surrogates, like Megan, leave the experience with a new family member: 

Megan said, “I didn’t just have babies for somebody else; I gained an entire family through the whole process. It was the most rewarding thing in the entire world. I would do it all over again.”  

Even though you’re considering being a surrogate for a friend, we hope that you leave the experience with a deeper relationship as well.  If you’re ready to learn more about, “How do I become a surrogate for my friend?” we’ve got the answers. You can always reach out to us through our contact form for more information.