What are the requirements to serve as a gestational surrogate?

Offering support as a gestational surrogate can change the lives of others. Some people hope to serve as a surrogate for immediate family members who have struggled to conceive. Others want to use their health and fertility for the benefit of strangers who want to grow their families.

Gestational surrogates typically undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. A gestational surrogate carries a fetus for expectant parents and then surrenders her rights to facilitate a legal adoption. Not everyone can serve as a gestational surrogate, especially for people to whom they have no familial or biological connections.

What do medical professionals providing assisted reproductive technology generally require from aspiring gestational surrogates?

A healthy, adult body

An in-depth medical examination is typically part of the process of becoming a gestational surrogate. Women typically need to be at least 21 years old and relatively healthy. There may be screening for latent medical challenges that could complicate the pregnancy. Mental health screening is also standard. The woman hoping to serve as a surrogate usually needs to provide medical records and undergo examinations to qualify.

A successful prior pregnancy

IVF is a complicated and physically-demanding process, as is pregnancy. The medical professionals assisting with reproduction and the aspiring parents looking for surrogate services typically only want to work with those who have demonstrated the capability to carry a healthy pregnancy to term at least once previously. Women who do not yet have any children may not be eligible to serve as gestational surrogates. They may also fail to fully understand the risks and demands of both pregnancy and labor.

Different couples and health care professionals may have unique requirements for potential surrogates. Women hoping to serve as surrogates may need help determining if they meet the necessary standards and ensuring they protect themselves throughout that process, and that’s okay. Seeking personalized legal guidance is a great way to get started.