It’s totally normal to have questions about the surrogacy qualifications in Iowa if you plan to become a surrogate. In thus guide, you’ll find answers.

To find out more about the requirements to become a surrogate, the screening process, and why it’s necessary for all potential surrogates, please keep reading below. You can also contact  a surrogacy  professional to help you meet the requirements to be a surrogate in Iowa.  Simply complete this online form to talk to a surrogacy specialist when you’re ready.  

What’s the Purpose of the Qualifications to Be a Surrogate in Iowa? 

Many women are considering surrogacy these days, but not everyone is suited for it. It can be emotionally, physically, and psychologically demanding. That’s why the requirements for surrogate mothers in Iowa are rigorous, as they’re meant to make sure a potential surrogate is ready to carry a pregnancy to term on behalf of the intended parents.

The surrogate mother requirements in Iowa protect prospective surrogates by ensuring they’re ready for the journey ahead. As a surrogate, you must carry and deliver a child on behalf of the intended parents. Surrogacy agencies are interested in working with healthy surrogates who are dedicated to the process. 

What Are the Requirements to Be a Surrogate Mother in Iowa?

Your dedicated surrogacy specialist will help you meet the requirements for becoming a surrogate mother in Iowa. That’s a major benefit of working with an agency, as you’ll have the confidence of knowing a compassionate professional will be there to guide you through your journey.

If you’re still looking for an agency, simply complete our free online form to speak with someone who can help you answer your questions about the surrogate requirements in IA. 

For now, we’ll cover some of the specific qualifications for surrogacy in IA and the screening process. 

Physical Requirements for Being a Surrogate in Iowa 

The surrogate mother qualifications in Iowa assess your potential to serve as a candidate for gestational pregnancy. 

Below are some of the physical and medical surrogate mother requirements in IA you must meet: 

• A healthy BMI  
• Aged 21-40  
• Minimum of one prior successful pregnancy
• No smoking or illicit drug use
• No history of postpartum depression
• No significant complications from previous pregnancies
• No new tattoos or piercings within the last 12 months 
• No antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication for 12 months 
• No treatable STDs within the last 12 months

You may also need to submit documentation to meet the qualifications for becoming a surrogate in Iowa, like: 

• Your health insurance card and policy manual 
• A copy of your driver’s license 
• A signed medical release allowing your agency access to your medical records 
• A reference letter from your current OB-GYN recommending you as a surrogate  

To find out more about these medical surrogate qualifications in Iowa, please consult a surrogacy professional. You can complete our online form to learn more about meeting the surrogate requirements in Iowa from a specialist today. 

Emotional and Psychological Screening for the Surrogate Requirements in Iowa

Meeting the medical and physical qualifications for being a surrogate in IA is the initial step in the screening process, but you’ll also need to meet the psychological and emotional qualifications to be a gestational surrogate in Iowa. 

Surrogacy comes with its own emotional challenges, which can be exacerbated by hormones associated with pregnancy. Your surrogacy professional can help you weather that situation by making sure you meet specific psychological surrogate mother requirements in Iowa, such as: 

• No prior traumatic pregnancy, labor and delivery experiences 
• No unresolved addiction, abuse, depression, or eating disorders
• Full awareness of the emotions associated with surrogacy
• Complete dedication to surrogacy
• Currently raising your children in your home
• No dependence on government assistance
• No felony convictions

Your surrogacy specialist is there to help you meet the emotional and psychological requirements of gestational surrogacy in Iowa. Please contact a professional with any unanswered questions. 

The Surrogate Qualifications in Iowa: The In-Home Assessment and Background Checks

Once you meet the initial qualifications to become a surrogate in Iowa, some agencies prefer that you undergo an in-home visit with a licensed social worker. Though not a state requirement, the best agencies consider it an important step.

When working with the best surrogacy agencies, you can expect thorough pre-screening of prospective intended families to make sure they’re ready for the next step in the process. That saves time and effort, and it makes for a smooth surrogacy experience. You can find three of the top national surrogacy agencies offering a simplified (but comprehensive) screening process below:

• American Surrogacy
• ConceiveAbilities
• Physicians Surrogacy

Some of the questions in the in-home assessment may include: 

• Why are you pursuing surrogacy? 
• What about becoming a surrogate concerns you? 
• Are you (and your spouse or partner) dedicated to surrogacy? 

Other checks may be conducted by your surrogacy agency during this time, such as: 

• General background checks 
• Criminal history checks 
• Checks for past instances of child abuse 
• Surveys of your social media profiles  

Why Are the Surrogate Mother Requirements in Iowa Critical to the Process? 

Surrogacy screening and surrogate mother requirements in Iowa aren’t supposed to be a deterrent to becoming a surrogate. They’re meant to determine whether you’re really ready, committed, and qualified for surrogacy. 

Intended parents choose surrogacy after other ways of building a family that shares their genetic makeup are exhausted. Prospective parents who choose surrogacy may arrive at surrogacy at the end of a long, painful road. Through surrogacy, you can help them finally build a family, which can be a sobering responsibility.

The qualifications also ensure you can safely be a surrogate. Your agency wants to make sure you aren’t assuming any unnecessary risks. They do that by determining whether you’re healthy enough for the surrogacy process and won’t be endangered by pregnancy and delivery. That’s the primary reason for the strict requirements to become a surrogate in IA.

If you have any questions, please contact a surrogacy professional about the qualifications for being a surrogate mother in IA. You can consult with a professional today by completing our free online form.

Working With a Surrogacy Agency to Meet Surrogate Requirements in Iowa  

The process of screening and  meeting the requirements to become a surrogate in Iowa is simplified and more efficient  when you work with the right agency. To learn more about screening or find out which surrogacy agencies offer the best screening process  you can contact one of our  surrogacy specialists by filling out our form here.