Those hoping to expand their families through medically assisted reproduction need the services of a healthy woman capable of carrying an embryo to term. There are medical examinations typically required before a surrogate is eligible to provide services.
In cases where people want to hire a friend or family member as a gestational carrier, they may feel more inclined to be flexible about certain requirements. There are specific medical issues that those hoping to grow their families through surrogacy should not overlook.
1. Prior pregnancy complications
Only women who have previously carried at least one pregnancy to term can serve as gestational carriers or surrogates. In addition to validating a healthy birth, it is also important to look into any medical issues that arose during pregnancy or after the delivery.
2. Mental health challenges
Psychological screening is part of the health evaluation for a potential surrogate. However, many intelligent people can provide inaccurate answers to questions during mental health examinations because they want to pass those tests. Friends and family members may have insight into an individual’s mental health history and may need to decline when there could be cause for concern.
3. A borderline BMI
The body mass index (BMI) is a means of roughly assessing an individual’s physical fitness based on their height, weight and sex. An elevated BMI is a risk factor for many complications during pregnancy. Aspiring parents may need to gently decline offers of assistance from loved ones who may be overweight without having a BMI high enough to automatically preclude them from gestational surrogacy.
Working with professionals while evaluating candidates who could serve as gestational carriers can be critical for family protection. Aspiring parents sometimes need to make difficult choices to protect themselves, their future children and the women offering to act as their surrogates.