Surrogate Qualifications
See the requirements to become a surrogate mother.
Fundamental Requirements
Age Between 21 – 34
All surrogates MUST be at least 21 years old, since the legal age will be required upon signing the Surrogacy Contract with Intended Parents, which generally takes place in 8 to 10 weeks after the initial application.
BMI Between 17.5 – 29
BMI stands for Body Mass Index, which is a standard method to measure the ratio between height and weight. Calculate your BMI here (https://www.google.com/search?q=bmi+calculator). The normal range should be between 18 to 32 for the medical screening purpose, and a 30 BMI will be mandatory upon the physical screening, which usually takes place in 6 to 8 weeks after the initial application.
Has Given Birth At Least Once
Per ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) Guidelines, all surrogates must have given birth at least once before and preferably are currently raising at least one of her own child(ren). ASRM believes all surrogates must be experienced in pregnancy and delivery. Surrogates who have recently given birth maybe eligible to receive the FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) Procedure 6 months after a vaginal delivery or 12 months after a C-Section delivery. This means surrogates can start the application process as early as around 4 months after a vaginal delivery or 10 months after a C-Section delivery.
No More Than Three (3) Deliveries or One (1) C-Sections
The maximum number of previous Vaginal Deliveries to qualify is Three (3), while the max number of prior C-section Deliveries to qualify is One (1). Based on our experience and the demand from our Intended Parents (IPs), surrogates with no prior C-Section deliveries who have 3 or fewer vaginal deliveries will have a significant advantage for matching with IPs and usually get matched more quickly.
U.S. Citizen and Resident of Surrogacy-Friendly State
Non-Smoker & Smoke Free Living Conditions
No Mental Illness
Additional Requirements
No Complications During Previous Pregnancy & Labor
IUD Must Be Removed (Tubal Ligation Is Fine)
Prospects currently with any kind of birth control method, such as IUD, pills, Nuva Ring etc., will still qualify to become a surrogate. However, they should stop taking them or schedule to remove the IUD as soon as possible once the application process starts. Some IVF facilities may only schedule the physical screening (clearance visit) ONE or TWO normal menstrual cycles after the removal of the IUD device. However, tubal ligation will not be an issue, since gestational surrogates do not use their own egg in their surrogate pregnancies. Instead, they become pregnant by undergoing the FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) Procedure.
Financially Stable
No Tattoos / Piercings in the Past Six Months
No Complications During Previous Pregnancy & Labor
IUD Must Be Removed (Tubal Ligation Is Fine)
Prospects currently with any kind of birth control method, such as IUD, pills, Nuva Ring etc., will still qualify to become a surrogate. However, they should stop taking them or schedule to remove the IUD as soon as possible once the application process starts. Some IVF facilities may only schedule the physical screening (clearance visit) ONE or TWO normal menstrual cycles after the removal of the IUD device. However, tubal ligation will not be an issue, since gestational surrogates do not use their own egg in their surrogate pregnancies. Instead, they become pregnant by undergoing the FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) Procedure.
Financially Stable
No Tattoos / Piercings in the Past Six Months
Surrogates Must Also Pass
Background Check
Medical Records Screening
All surrogates MUST sign the Medical Records Release Consent Form (HIPPA FORM) to authorize Pacific Surrogacy to request, use and review their Medical Records such as prenatal OB/GYN records, Labor& Delivery records, Pap Smear Reports etc. Our medical coordinators and managers will perform a preliminary medical records screening with higher standards than most IVF clinics. If there is any complication or condition that we can’t determine, we will send the medical records to IVF facilities for the official medical records review. Surrogates must pass the preliminary medical records screening in order to proceed to the matching process.
Psychological Evaluation
Clearance Visit / Physical Examination