SHOULD I BE A SURROGATE? A SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

Your decision to become a surrogate starts with more than meeting a list of qualifications. You’ll have to consider how it will affect your life. There is no single “right” reason to become a surrogate, and readiness can look different for every woman. By learning what the surrogacy process asks of you and reflecting honestly on your goals, you can decide whether becoming a surrogate feels right for you.

Understanding Surrogacy Requirements Before You Begin

Before you move forward, a surrogacy agency will review several areas of your health and personal history. These requirements help protect your well-being and support a healthy pregnancy. Growing Generations maintains specific health and lifestyle qualifications for surrogate applicants. We accept surrogates from the top 2% of applicants, and 98% of matched surrogates will go on to pass their in-person medical screening..

Previous Pregnancy Experience

Your previous pregnancy history and experience gives your care team important information about how your body responds to pregnancy and delivery. At Growing Generations, we require you to have experienced at least one pregnancy and delivery.

Health and Lifestyle Requirements

Your medical history, pregnancy history, current health, and lifestyle habits can affect your eligibility. 

Age and BMI Requirements

Agencies and fertility clinics may set age and BMI guidelines based on their medical standards. Growing Generations currently accepts surrogate applicants between ages 21 and 38 and requires a BMI of no more than 32. Your complete health history will be evaluated to determine your eligibility.

Psychological and Emotional Readiness

Surrogacy is a long process that involves navigating ongoing communication with intended parents and a medical process with its own demands. Psychological screening gives you an opportunity to explore your motivations, expectations, boundaries, and emotional readiness before moving forward.

Support System Considerations

Pregnancy affects more than your schedule. It can influence your family, work responsibilities, household routines, and other parts of your daily life. Think about the people you can turn to for emotional encouragement and help. A stable home environment and reliable support are part of what screening looks at.

A Self-Assessment Checklist: Questions to Ask Yourself

Meeting the basic qualifications answers one question: Can I become a surrogate? Your personal reflection can help you answer another: Does becoming a surrogate feel right for me? Use the following

questions as conversation starters rather than a scorecard.

1. Why do I want to become a surrogate?

2. Am I emotionally prepared for the surrogacy journey?

3. Am I comfortable with the physical demands of pregnancy?

4. Do I have enough flexibility for appointments and commitments?

5. Do I have a support system?

6. How would surrogacy fit into my current family life?

7. Am I comfortable following medical guidance and requirements?

8. Am I prepared for unexpected situations during the journey?

9. How do I feel about helping another family grow?

10. Am I ready for the time commitment involved?

    
    

Why do I want to become a surrogate?

Think about what draws you to surrogacy. You may feel excited about helping someone become a parent, appreciate the financial opportunities surrogacy can provide, or feel motivated by several reasons at once. What matters is understanding your motivations and feeling comfortable discussing them openly during screening.

Am I emotionally prepared for the surrogacy journey?

The surrogacy process spans more than a year and involves regular contact with intended parents, a care team, and your own family. Being emotionally ready does not mean you will feel positive every day. It means you feel prepared to communicate, ask for support, and work through different emotions as they arise.

Am I comfortable with the physical demands of pregnancy?

Every pregnancy can feel different. Think about your previous pregnancies and whether you feel comfortable experiencing pregnancy and childbirth again.

Do I have enough flexibility for appointments and commitments?

Surrogacy involves more than prenatal visits. Ask yourself how this commitment would fit alongside your work, childcare, transportation, and other responsibilities.

Do I have a support system? 

Your support system can make a significant difference. Consider who you would call if you needed help after an appointment, during a difficult pregnancy day, or while recovering after delivery. If you have a partner, their full support is required, not optional, and they will take part in aspects of the screening process.

How would surrogacy fit into my current family life?

Your children and partner may experience parts of the process alongside you. Think about how appointments, pregnancy, travel, delivery, and recovery could affect your family routines. Open conversations can help everyone understand what to expect.

Am I comfortable following medical guidance and requirements?

IVF follows a carefully coordinated medical plan. Your clinic will ask you to take medications on a schedule, attend monitoring appointments, follow activity recommendations, and report changes in your health. Staying organized and communicating with your care team will be important.

Am I prepared for unexpected situations during the journey?

Not every step follows the expected timeline. A transfer may not result in pregnancy, appointments may change, or your care team may recommend additional testing. You do not need to predict every possibility, but you should feel comfortable navigating change with professional support.

How do I feel about helping another family grow?

For many surrogates, helping intended parents welcome a child becomes a central part of why they applied. Consider what this role means to you and what type of relationship, communication, and boundaries would make you feel comfortable with intended parents.

Am I ready for the time commitment involved?

Surrogacy requires patience and commitment. At Growing Generations, the process from application through delivery averages about 14 to 18 months, although every timeline varies. Think about how work, family plans, travel, childcare, or other major life changes could overlap with that period.

What Surrogate Screening Involves

Screening helps determine whether surrogacy supports your health and readiness. Medical evaluations review your overall health history, previous pregnancies, and current health. Screening will include a medical records review, physical examination, bloodwork, infectious disease testing, and other evaluations based on health requirements. Psychological assessments explore areas such as motivation, expectations, relationships, boundaries, communication, and your support system. Our very own Dr. Kim Bergman developed the psychological screening and support methodology we use.

Growing Generations uses a comprehensive screening process before you move forward. The goal is not to find a “perfect” candidate. It is to make sure you understand what surrogacy involves and that your medical and emotional circumstances support moving forward safely.

Legal Considerations Before You Sign an Agreement 

Surrogacy also involves important decisions beyond pregnancy. You and the intended parents will work with separate legal counsel to review and enter into a surrogate agreement before treatment begins. 

Your agreement may address compensation, expenses, responsibilities, insurance, communication, medical considerations, and other expectations. Because surrogacy laws differ by state, independent legal guidance plays an important role. Understanding your rights, values, and comfort level before signing an agreement can help you move forward with confidence.

Support Systems That Can Help Throughout the Journey

Your support may come from your agency, your care team, case specialists, your independent attorney, partner, family, friends, and other surrogates. Your needs may change throughout the process, so having several sources of support can help you reduce stress and manage responsibilities as well as changing emotions.

At Growing Generations, we assign a dedicated case specialist who stays with you from match confirmation through post-delivery and connects surrogates with a community of women who understand the experience firsthand. We also assign your own Education and Experience Specialist who will provide additional support from match confirmation through eight weeks post birth. Building your support network early can give you people to turn to when questions or challenges arise.

FAQs

How do I know if I am ready to become a surrogate?

Consider your health, motivations, emotional readiness, family responsibilities, support system, and ability to commit to the medical and practical parts of surrogacy. You do not need every answer before you begin exploring your options.

Do I have to meet specific requirements to become a surrogate?

Yes. Surrogacy agencies establish requirements related to health, pregnancy history, age, lifestyle, and other factors. At Growing Generations, we review these qualifications before applicants advance through our screening process.

Is surrogacy emotionally challenging?

It can be. Surrogates describe a range of experiences across screening, transfer, pregnancy, and delivery. Open communication, professional guidance, and support from people you trust can help you navigate those emotions.

Can I become a surrogate if I have children?

Yes. In fact, previous pregnancy experience is an important qualification. Growing Generations requires you to have experienced at least one pregnancy and delivery before becoming a surrogate.

Take the next step

For 30 years, Growing Generations has helped surrogates and intended parents build families with comprehensive screening and personalized support. Our rigorous process means accepted surrogates represent the top 2% of applicants. Ready to see if you may qualify? Take our surrogate qualification questionnaire to find out if you may be eligible and learn what comes next.

This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice