Medical Screening for Surrogacy: What First-Time Surrogates Should Know
July 2, 2025
If you're thinking about becoming a surrogate, one of the first significant steps on your journey is medical screening. It might initially sound intimidating, but we promise—it's all about ensuring your body is healthy and full prepared for the experience ahead!
In this post, we'll break down the surrogacy medical process so you know exactly what to expect and can walk into your appointments feeling confident and informed.
Why Is Medical Screening Important?
Medical clearance for surrogacy is essential for a couple of big reasons. First, it ensures your health and safety. Second, it helps give you and the intended parents the best chance at a healthy surrogacy pregnancy. Agencies, fertility clinics, and intended parents all want to be absolutely sure you’re physically ready to carry a baby before moving forward.
If you’ve had healthy pregnancies of your own in the past (which is a requirement), there's a great chance you’ll pass with flying colors. But the screening is thorough because your well-being matters!
When Does Medical Screening Happen?
Medical screening typically happens after you’ve matched with intended parents but before you sign your final legal contract. That way, everyone knows you're medically cleared to proceed before anything becomes official.
What Does the Medical Screening Include?
Every clinic is a little different, but here’s a general outline of what’s included in the surrogacy medical process:
Medical Records Review
You’ll be asked to provide complete medical records from all your previous pregnancies and deliveries. These help the fertility doctor understand how your body responded to pregnancy in the past.
You’ll likely need:
OB/GYN records
Hospital delivery summaries
Lab results
Any postpartum reports
If you’re not sure how to get these records, we can walk you through it.
In-Person Exam at the IVF Clinic
Once your records are approved, you’ll have an in-person appointment at the intended parents’ fertility clinic. If the clinic is out of state, the intended parents will cover all travel expenses related to this visit.
During this appointment, you’ll typically have:
A physical exam
Transvaginal ultrasound to check the uterus
Bloodwork to test hormone levels and general health
Infectious disease testing (for things like HIV, hepatitis B/C, syphilis, etc.)
A urine sample to check for drug or nicotine use
The clinic will also want to confirm that your BMI (body mass index) is in a healthy range for pregnancy.
Partner Screening
If you have a sexual partner, they may also need to do some basic blood and urine tests, mainly to rule out any infectious diseases that could affect the surrogacy process.
What Happens After Screening?
If everything looks good, the clinic will issue what’s called medical clearance for surrogacy. This is the green light for your legal contract to move forward, and you’re officially one step closer to embryo transfer!
If anything unexpected shows up (for example, hormone levels that need to be addressed or incomplete records), the clinic may request follow-up testing or more documentation before moving forward.
Preparing for Medical Screening
You can take a few steps to ensure you're prepared for medical screening. They include:
Request your medical records early. It can take weeks for hospitals to send them.
Be honest about your health history and lifestyle.
Ask questions! This is your body and your journey—you deserve to understand every step.
If you’re wondering what types of questions might come up during your screening, visit our Medical Know-How page to learn more.
Final Thoughts
The medical screening for surrogacy is a key part of your journey, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Think of it as a moment to check in on your health and make sure you’re fully ready for this incredible gift you’re giving. Once you’ve got your medical clearance for surrogacy, you’ll be on your way to one of the most meaningful experiences of your life!
If you're interested in becoming a surrogate, but haven't applied, take the first step by filling out this form to see if you qualify!