Resources
Surrogacy FAQs
All your surrogacy questions answered.
This is a great question! Don’t get me wrong, surrogacy agencies are great, and that’s why we’re going to introduce you to one that is best suited for your journey. Surrogacy.com is a free advocacy and support service and our only focus is YOU, the surrogate. We will walk you through every step of the process, complete necessary documents to move forward with any agency, and make sure there is an agency who has like minded intended parents for a match, and can provide you with the journey that you only dream of! On top of all of this, we support you during the entire journey and after! Think of us like your best friend that walks through the good (and bad!) times with you and offers you endless support. Why just go with an agency, when you can have expert guidance and support on top of everything they offer, and of absolutely no charge?! We know how important this journey is, how amazing you are and the support required, surrogacy.com is here for you to provide all of that, and more!
You will be a gestational surrogate! The difference between a gestational surrogate and a traditional surrogate is that a gestational surrogate does not share any genetic ties to the baby she is carrying, unlike a traditional surrogate who uses her own eggs.
To get through the first step in the application process, you will need to:
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Live in any state other than Michigan, Louisiana, and Nevada
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Be a US citizen or green card holder
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Be between the ages of 21-44
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Have had at least one full-term pregnancy and delivery without complications and have had three or fewer C-sections
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Have a BMI under 35
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Be financially stable
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Yes, we’ll help you find the right agency match! You’ll work with us to talk through what is important to you in your journey and what you hope for in a surrogacy agency. From there, we’ll determine what the best agency matches for you would be based on your preferences, and we’ll present options to you.
An agency helps make surrogacy the smoothest and most rewarding experience possible for you. They help connect the dots between you, your intended parents, and the entire surrogacy process. They also help ensure all medical bills are taken care of and offer a support team of people who can help you through the ups and downs of surrogacy.
Yes! We’ll do our job to ensure that if you’re a great fit for surrogacy that we work the process around the best timeline for you.
Most fertility clinics operate under a minimum of 3 months for vaginal delivery and 6 months for a C-section.
Yes, you can! You don’t have to undergo a reversal, since during surrogacy an embryo is transferred directly into your uterus and you are not genetically tied to the potential baby.
Surrogacy.com and your future agency will want to know your BMI for health reasons, particularly to ensure that you will respond positively to IVF medications needed for surrogacy. The BMI markers are set by the IVF clinics.
Assuming your partner is your Primary Support Person, then yes! Partners have an important role in the surrogacy journey, including being part of the initial social work screening. Plus, during the medical screening, your partner will undergo medical history and STD testing if you are romantically involved.
Intended parents are individuals or couples using surrogacy to grow their families. They come from all walks of life. You will have the opportunity to learn about different types of intended parents and share your preferences for matching. You will officially meet potential intended parents during the matching stage, after you agree to a virtual meeting after reading their profile.
Yes! An agency will do the initial screening to present you with IPs who may be a match for you; from there, you can choose those you click with the most.
Surrogacy costs are covered by the intended parents. It does not cost you any money to be a surrogate.
Yes! During the surrogacy agreement negotiations, you can ask for your intended parents to cover childcare expenses or lost wages that you are spending on childcare, especially during your IVF clinic travel.
Yes, you will have to travel for two of the milestones during your surrogacy. Both of these trips will be to your intended parents’ fertility clinic (which will be somewhere in the U.S.). All of your travel accommodations are taken care of from booking to payment.
IVF can have short-term side effects like bloating, discomfort, or bruising in the areas where you have the shots.
You get to choose your providers and care team based on who you feel most comfortable with. Usually if you do choose a midwife, an agency, intended parents, or other members of your care team may ask that they be overseen by an OB.
You’ll want to talk through your preferences with us at Surrogacy.com so we can best guide you to agencies that may have intended parents who are of the same belief, but it is admittedly rare for intended parents to not want to retain those rights.
After the baby is born, the intended parents will assume care of the baby and you will focus on caring for YOU. As you enter the fourth trimester, you will be supported by your agency and your team here, and you can reflect on the incredible journey you’ve just gone through as you get back to your “normal” life.
Louder for the people in the back: gestational surrogates do not share any DNA with the babies they carry.
An agency helps make surrogacy the smoothest and most rewarding experience possible for you.
Your surrogacy journey will be filled with many questions that pop up at different stages in your surrogacy process.
There are no questions too big, too small or too embarrassing…trust us, we’ve been through it all! We’ve pulled together some of the most common questions women think about when becoming a surrogate and answered them for you too! And if you have a question that’s not listed below, just ask us!
Glossary of Surrogacy Terminology
Before diving in, here’s our best tip — bookmark this page! You’ll want to return to it often as you navigate your surrogacy journey. When you join the surrogate community, you may feel like everyone is speaking a secret language…IPs! PUPO! TWW!
Here’s your go-to cheat sheet for common surrogacy words and phrases that will pop up in conversations throughout your journey so you can be ready to chat back!
All the keywords you'll want to know
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)
ART encompasses alternative fertility treatments that help a family grow their family; surrogacy is a method of Assisted Reproductive Technology.
BETA Blood test
A BETA blood test measures HCG levels to determine pregnancy.
Days Post Transfer (DPT)
The number of days since the big embryo transplant day!
Double Embryo Transfer (DET)
The process by which two embryos are transferred into a uterus.
Egg donor (ED)
A person who will donate eggs for a family to use to create embryos.
Embryo
An embryo is a fertilized egg created by the IPs’ clinic. The embryo was created using the intended parents’ biology, a donor egg, sperm, or both. This embryo’s used during a surrogate’s embryo transfer.
Embryo Transfer Day
The day that the intended parents’ embryo is transferred into the surrogates’ uterus. This day will also probably include french fries — learn why here.
Escrow
A bank account funded by intended parents that is used to compensate the surrogate and cover all surrogacy expenses.
Frozen Embryo Transfer
A frozen embryo transfer or FET is the process by which frozen embryos are transferred into a surrogate’s uterus.
Fourth trimester
The fourth trimester is the three months (and beyond!) following delivery and focuses on the surrogate recovering and transitioning back into day-to-day life.
GC
Gestational carrier is a synonym for gestational surrogate.
GS
Often you’ll see the GS shorthand, which refers to a gestational surrogate — this is you!
Gestational surrogacy
The surrogacy process in which a surrogate does not share a genetic connection with the baby she’s carrying.
HCG
HCG is the hormone in your body that increases if you are pregnant, doctors will take a BETA blood test in order to determine your HCG levels.
Intended parent(s) or IP(s)
Either a couple or an individual who is seeking surrogacy as a way to grow their family.
IVF
IVF is short for in vitro fertilization. It is the go-to ART for surrogacy. During this process, a doctor transfers an embryo (created outside of a woman’s body) into a woman (in this case, a surrogate) to achieve pregnancy.
IVF clinic
The IVF clinic is where a surrogate will go to learn more about IVF treatment, get ultrasounds, and where she’ll go for embryo transfer day.
Journey coordinator
The designated person from an agency assigned to a surrogate’s journey and there for her every step of the way.
Matched
A surrogate is considered matched when they’ve found an IP they click with and all final agreements have been executed.
Mock Cycle Schedule
A mock cycle refers to a cycle of medications with no embryo transfer to ensure the body reacts appropriately to medications.
Multiple Embryo Transfer (MET)
When two or more embryos are transferred into a uterus, increasing the chances of a multiples birth.
POAS
If you ever see POAS, it stands for “Pee on a stick,” which is a fun way to say take an at home pregnancy test.
Profile
A document that describes a surrogate or intended parent. Profiles are shared during the matching process.
PUPO
PUPO stands for “Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise” which is the mindset that a surrogate and her care team adopt after the embryo transplant and during that two week waiting period!
Reproductive Endocrinologist
A reproductive endocrinologist or RE is a doctor who specializes in fertility and reproductive issues.
SET Single Embryo Transfer
The process by which a a single embryo is placed in the uterus.
Support person or primary support person (PSP)
The person you choose to be by your side during your surrogacy journey.
Surrogate
This is you, a woman who has felt personally moved to help others fulfill their dream of growing their family by carrying a baby for them.
Surrogacy agreement
The legal contract between surrogates and intended parents that help outline surrogacy’s most important details, including payment structure, medical expenses, and parental rights.
Surrogacy agency
The liaison between intended parents and a surrogate who manages the surrogacy journey.
TWW (Two Week Wait)
The TWW is the designated period of time between the embryo transfer and when you will have a blood test to determine if you are pregnant. (This has also been referred to as the longest 10-14 days ever!)
"Everyone in the room went silent. After what felt like an eternity the baby finally let out his first cry. My intended mother started crying hysterically and thanked me nonstop. I’ll never forget that amazing, beautiful, and precious moment."
Liz
"I loved being pregnant and had easy pregnancies. We knew our family was complete but wanted to help a couple fulfill their dream of having a family."
Roxanne
"I was surprised at how quick the application process went, and before I knew it, I was getting matched with my intended parents. I was so glad to have the support I needed to make my journey successful!"
Sarah
"It is a life-changing experience. Having this kind of an intimate relationship, is truly unique and special and totally worth any hiccup along the way."
Ashley
Testimonials
Blog Posts
LGBTQ Surrogacy: How Surrogates Make Dreams Come True
Surrogacy is a meaningful, beautiful journey, but for LGBTQ individuals, having a genetic link to their children is especially profound. Learn more about LGBTQ surrogacy and matching.
Being a Surrogate If You’re Single
You don't need to be in a relationship to become a surrogate, but you DO need a strong support system! Learn more about being a single surrogate in our blog post.
9 Reasons Becoming a Surrogate Is So Rewarding
Becoming a surrogate brings you many rewards, from emotional satisfaction to finding a new, uplifting community. Discover some of these perks you can expect as a surrogate.
How Do Surrogacy Requirements Protect You?
Surrogacy requirements serve a vital function: they protect you, the baby, and your intended parents. Learn about some of the basic requirements for surrogacy and how they can keep you safe during your surrogacy experience.
Why Is BMI Important When Becoming a Surrogate?
How does body mass index (BMI) affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes, and why does it matter for surrogates? Surrogacy.com breaks down what you need to know about this often misunderstood metric and why it's so important.
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5 Things To Do Before Becoming a Surrogate
Surrogacy is life-changing—not just for you and the parents you are helping but for your family and loved ones. Before you start your journey, do these 5 things to make sure you are mentally and physically ready for this amazing experience.
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What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Surrogate?
The path to becoming a surrogate begins with meeting the medical, legal, and social/lifestyle requirements. Learn what those requirements are and why they're in place.
Who Are The Intended Parents That Surrogates Help?
Throughout the surrogacy process, we talk a lot about the surrogate (you!) and baby, but the other essential party involved in this journey are the intended parents.
What Happens During A Surrogate Pregnancy?
One of the best ways to describe surrogacy pregnancy is like a long-term babysitting agreement. A surrogate loves and cares for the baby, but ultimately she (and everyone around her) knows it isn’t her baby.
What Happens After A Surrogate Gives Birth?
No one’s surrogacy fourth trimester is the same, but the one common thread we’ve always heard from past surrogates is just how fulfilled they feel as they reflect upon the past few months of their life!