10 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT SURROGACY IN 2026

Surrogacy is a family-building process in which a surrogate carries and gives birth to a child for the intended parent(s). In modern surrogacy, the pregnancy is created through in vitro fertilization (IVF), and legal agreements establish your rights and responsibilities as an intended parent throughout the journey.

For readers who want a deeper overview of how surrogacy works, you can explore our “What Is Surrogacy” guide for a more detailed introduction to the process. Today, surrogacy is a carefully coordinated path to parenthood supported by medical professionals, legal frameworks, and experienced agencies. The following facts highlight key insights into this modern approach to family building.

Fact #1 – Gestational Surrogacy Is the Most Common Form Today

Most surrogacy arrangements today involve gestational surrogacy, which has become the modern standard. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries a pregnancy created through IVF using an embryo that is not genetically related to her. The embryo may be created using the intended parents’ genetic material, or donor eggs or sperm.

This differs from traditional surrogacy, a far less common form of surrogacy in which the surrogate’s own egg is used. Because traditional surrogacy involves a genetic connection to the child, it presents additional legal and emotional complexities. It is rarely practiced today.

In gestational arrangements, the surrogate plays an essential role in carrying the pregnancy while the intended parents remain the child’s legal parents from the outset of the journey.

Fact #2 – Surrogacy Laws Vary by State and Country

When building your family through surrogacy, it is important to know that legal frameworks differ significantly depending on location. Surrogacy-friendly states often have established legal processes that support intended parents and surrogates, while other jurisdictions may have different rules or limitations.

Many surrogacy journeys involve legal agreements that outline responsibilities, expectations, and protections for all parties. In many jurisdictions, courts may also issue pre-birth orders, which confirm the intended parents’ legal parentage before the child is born.

Because laws vary widely, experienced professionals help coordinate the legal aspects of the journey as part of the overall surrogacy process. At Growing Generations, we connect you with top surrogacy attorneys who can help you navigate the legal requirements of your surrogacy journey.

Fact #3 – Surrogates Undergo Extensive Screening

Before being matched with intended parents, potential surrogates complete a comprehensive screening process designed to support a healthy and responsible surrogacy journey.

Before matching, Growing Generations reviews each candidate's medical records and conducts a risk assessment with Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialists, alongside psychological evaluation, criminal background checks, and income verification. Full in-person medical screening takes place after a match is confirmed and before legal agreements are finalized. Surrogates are accepted from the top 2% of all applicants, and 98% of those who reach in-person medical screening pass it.

These screening steps are an important part of maintaining ethical standards and ensuring that both surrogates and intended parents begin the process with clear expectations and appropriate support.

Fact #4 – Intended Parents Come from Many Backgrounds

Surrogacy supports a wide range of people who are building families. Intended parents include couples experiencing infertility, individuals pursuing parenthood on their own, and LGBTQIA+ families who require the help of a surrogate.

Every family’s path to surrogacy is unique. Some intended parents pursue surrogacy after years of fertility treatment, while others may begin the process as their primary path to parenthood.

Growing Generations works with all family types and has been among the first agencies dedicated to helping gay, single, and HIV+ men become parents.

Fact #5 – Surrogacy Is a Structured, Multi-Step Process

Surrogacy is not an informal arrangement. It is a carefully coordinated process that unfolds in several major phases. Each step is designed to protect everyone involved while ensuring the process moves forward thoughtfully and responsibly.

Common stages of a surrogacy journey include:

• Matching: Intended parents are matched with a gestational surrogate based on compatibility and shared expectations. This phase often includes conversations that help both parties get to know one another and ensure they feel comfortable moving forward together.

• Legal Agreements: Once a match is confirmed and the surrogate has completed in-person medical screening, attorneys draft and review contracts that outline the roles and responsibilities of each party. These contracts address areas such as compensation, medical decision-making, and communication during the pregnancy.

• Medical Preparation and Embryo Transfer: Once legal agreements are finalized, fertility specialists begin preparing for embryo transfer through IVF. This phase may include additional evaluations, medication protocols, and coordination with the intended parents' clinic. The goal is to create the best possible conditions for a successful pregnancy. 

• Pregnancy and Prenatal Care: If the embryo transfer is successful, the surrogate continues through pregnancy with regular prenatal care and monitoring from healthcare providers. Intended parents typically remain involved through updates, appointments when possible, and ongoing communication.

  
  

Each of these stages creates a clear framework for the journey ahead. Working with an experienced agency means each stage is coordinated with the right professionals — legal, medical, and clinical — so nothing falls through the gaps.

Fact #6 – Compensation Is Structured and Regulated

Another common misconception is that surrogacy compensation is informal. In reality, compensation is carefully structured through formal agreements.

Financial arrangements are outlined in legally reviewed contracts and managed through professional escrow systems that distribute funds according to the terms of the agreement. Growing Generations coordinates with professional escrow managers to ensure funds are distributed according to the terms of the agreement. These arrangements often account for base compensation as well as pregnancy-related expenses.

This structured approach helps maintain transparency and ensures that financial responsibilities are clearly defined from the beginning of the journey.

Fact #7 – Surrogacy Requires Emotional Support for All Parties

Surrogates, intended parents, and their families often benefit from strong support systems that may include counselors, coordinators, and experienced professionals who guide communication throughout the process.

Thoughtful preparation and open dialogue help ensure that the relationship between intended parents and surrogates remains collaborative, respectful, and centered on the shared goal of welcoming a child into the world.

Fact #8 – International Surrogacy Requires Additional Coordination

In today’s globalized world, some intended parents pursue surrogacy outside their home country. International surrogacy journeys require additional coordination and planning. Travel logistics, citizenship documentation for the child, and legal coordination across jurisdictions are important considerations when navigating international arrangements.

Because requirements can differ between countries, intended parents often work with experienced professionals who help manage these cross-border considerations while ensuring the process remains organized and compliant with applicable laws. Growing Generations has worked with clients from more than 20 countries, coordinating the legal and logistical requirements of international surrogacy journeys.

Fact #9 – Success Rates Depend on Multiple Medical Factors

Surrogacy outcomes are influenced by several medical considerations. Elements such as embryo quality, the health of the surrogate, and guidance from fertility specialists all play important roles in determining the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.

Fertility clinics work closely with intended parents and surrogates to evaluate these factors and develop a treatment plan designed to support the best possible outcomes. Growing Generations works with its Top 15 U.S. clinic partners and reports a 99.4% surrogacy journey success rate — a figure that reflects both the rigor of its surrogate screening process and the quality of its clinic partnerships.

Fact #10 – Surrogacy in 2026 Is More Transparent and Regulated Than Ever

Over the past three decades, surrogacy has shifted from an informal, largely unregulated arrangement to a structured process supported by legal contracts, professional screening standards, and experienced agency oversight.

Pre-birth orders — court orders establishing legal parentage before a child is born — are now recognized in an increasing number of U.S. states, offering greater legal clarity for intended parents than was available in earlier decades. The range of families pursuing surrogacy has also broadened: LGBTQ+ intended parents, single parents, and international families are an increasingly significant part of the surrogacy landscape.

Agencies that have operated across these changes bring experience and institutional knowledge that is difficult to replicate. Growing Generations has been coordinating surrogacy journeys since 1996 — across shifts in law, medicine, and the families the field serves.

Conclusion

Surrogacy today is far more structured and professionally coordinated than it may appear from the outside. From comprehensive screening and legal frameworks to medical oversight and emotional support, the process reflects a highly collaborative approach to family building.

Understanding these key facts can help you approach the journey with confidence. If you are exploring surrogacy, Growing Generations case specialists can walk you through what the process looks like for your specific circumstances. Learn more about the intended parent journey.