WHO CAN BE A SURROGATE? MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND LIFESTYLE REQUIREMENTS

Becoming a surrogate with Growing Generations starts with a single question: Do I qualify? We maintain rigorous standards—surrogates accepted are in the top 2% of all applicants—because we believe thorough screening protects everyone's health and creates strong matches.

A gestational surrogate carries a pregnancy created through IVF on behalf of intended parents, with no genetic connection to the child she carries. Growing Generations works with women who meet a defined set of medical, legal, and lifestyle qualifications — all reviewed before any candidate advances to clinic matching.

Professional guidance from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) emphasizes that surrogates should be carefully screened and evaluated before beginning their surrogacy journey. At Growing Generations, this principle shapes our comprehensive screening process, which starts with a questionnaire before a candidate is even considered.

Basic Requirements to Become a Surrogate With Growing Generations

While requirements can vary by agency, Growing Generations maintains consistent standards across all candidates. Here are the key qualifications we evaluate:

Growing Generations requires surrogates to be at least 21 years old. Our typical upper age guideline is 38, though each candidate is reviewed individually based on health, obstetric history, and matchability.. This ensures both medical safety and the stability that comes with adult life experience.

Prior pregnancy experience is required. Surrogates must have previously birthed and parented at least one healthy child of their own. This gives fertility clinics and agencies a clearer understanding of your pregnancy history and ensures that you understand, from experience, what pregnancy involves.

Physical and mental health are important parts of the screening process. Candidates should be in good overall health and prepared for the responsibilities of the journey.

A non-smoking and drug-free lifestyle is also a standard expectation. Agencies evaluate lifestyle factors carefully because they can affect pregnancy health and safety. 

Growing Generations looks for surrogates who are financially stable and living in a supportive environment. A strong home environment, a reliable support system, and the ability to manage day-to-day responsibilities are all important parts of determining readiness.

Medical and Health Qualifications of Surrogate

Medical screening confirms your medical history meets the fertility clinic and agency guidelines. Fertility clinics review a surrogate candidate’s pregnancy history, any complications, or other concerns. A history of a healthy pregnancy and delivery is an important indicator of eligibility.

BMI and overall reproductive health are also considered. Most clinics accept BMI ranges of approximately 18–30, though some allow up to 32 on a case-by-case basis depending on overall health. BMI guidelines exist because weight can influence pregnancy risks, medication response, and IVF outcomes. Certain medical conditions may affect eligibility, and those are reviewed on a case-by-case basis during medical screening.

Infectious disease screenings are standard parts of the medical process. Fertility clinics and agencies may also review immunization status, lab work, and other health indicators as part of the approval process.

Mental health evaluations are another important part of medical and emotional readiness. Psychological screening helps assess whether a candidate understands the nature of the journey and has the support she needs.

Growing Generations also arranges a consultation with a Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist before any candidate advances to clinic medical review. This provides a full scope of risk assessment and ensures every surrogate is fully informed before beginning her journey — a step that matters for her health and for the confidence of intended parents.

Personal and Lifestyle Factors Influencing Surrogate Eligibility

Growing Generations evaluates whether a candidate's lifestyle can support the time and commitment involved. Here are the key factors we consider:

• Reliable transportation is essential—you'll attend medical appointments, fertility clinic visits, and pregnancy-related care. Depending on the clinic location and match, some appointments may require travel or flexible scheduling.

• Appointment flexibility is particularly important during the IVF and embryo transfer stage, when you'll need to manage medical appointments alongside work, parenting, and family life. 

• Strong communication is equally essential throughout your journey. You'll stay in contact with your Growing Generations team, medical providers, and—depending on your preference—intended parents.

• Emotional readiness matters too. As a surrogate, you carry the pregnancy through to delivery without any genetic connection to the child. Feeling clear and settled in that dynamic is part of what the screening process is designed to support. 

• Stable housing and a strong support system also influence eligibility. Pregnancy brings physical demands, schedule changes, and real emotional complexity, so having supportive family members, friends, or community makes a meaningful difference.

• Lifestyle habits are reviewed throughout the process. Smoking, substance use, unsafe living environments, or inconsistent access to basic needs affect approval, as these factors directly impact pregnancy health and your ability to navigate the journey successfully.

Legal and Geographic Considerations to Become a Surrogate

Because surrogacy laws vary significantly across the United States, a candidate's location can affect the overall process. 

Growing Generations works with surrogates across most of the United States. We review your state of residence during screening to confirm we can proceed. There are a small number of states where we currently do not place surrogates, and we will let you know if yours is one of them.

Some states have clear legal frameworks that support surrogacy agreements. These states may provide a more predictable process for establishing parentage, protecting the surrogate’s rights, and outlining everyone’s responsibilities before pregnancy begins. Other states may have more limited laws. This does not always mean a candidate cannot become a surrogate, but it does mean the legal review must be handled carefully. 

Legal contracts are finalized before medical procedures begin. A surrogacy agreement outlines key details such as compensation, medical decision-making, expectations during pregnancy, and what happens in various pregnancy-related scenarios.

Independent legal representation is recommended. Surrogates should have their own attorney , separate from the intended parents' attorney, to review the surrogacy agreement and advocate for their rights. Growing Generations provides referrals to experienced surrogacy attorneys so you are not navigating that search on your own.

A surrogate may be asked to travel for screening, embryo transfer, or other medical appointments, though much of the pregnancy care often happens locally once the pregnancy is established. Growing Generations coordinates these logistics and explains all travel and scheduling expectations before you commit to a match. We work with a travel agency, with emergency support lines for last-minute changes, flight delays, and scheduling shifts, so travel logistics do not fall to you to manage on your own.

Factors That May Affect Surrogate Disqualification

It's important to understand: disqualifying factors are not a reflection on you. They are safeguards designed to protect your health, the baby, and the intended parents. Growing Generations' screening isn't designed to judge—it's designed to ensure safety and success.

• Certain medical conditions may affect eligibility. If pregnancy could place a candidate at higher risk, a fertility clinic or agency may decide that surrogacy is not medically appropriate. Pregnancy complications in a candidate’s history require careful review.

• A history of high-risk pregnancies or other serious pregnancy concerns may affect approval. Some histories may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, while others may lead to disqualification depending on the agency’s guidelines.

• Smoking, substance misuse, or certain unmanaged health conditions may also disqualify a candidate. A healthy pregnancy environment is essential, and clinics must evaluate whether any lifestyle factors could increase risk.

• Unmanaged mental health conditions may affect eligibility as well. Psychological screening examines overall emotional readiness and the candidate’s ability to undergo the surrogacy journey.

• Inconsistent access to transportation, unstable housing, lack of support, or difficulty meeting appointment requirements may also affect approval. Surrogacy requires reliability, so agencies evaluate whether a candidate’s current circumstances can support the process.

Next Steps After Meeting Surrogacy Requirements

If you meet the initial requirements to become a surrogate with Growing Generations, the next step is our prequalification questionnaire, which helps us learn more about you. Candidates who meet the prequalification criteria will then complete a full surrogate application You may be asked to provide records from prior pregnancies, deliveries, and OB/GYN care.

Psychological screening and background checks are also standard parts of the approval process. These steps ensure that surrogates are emotionally prepared and fully informed.

Once initial psychological review and record screening are complete, the matching process can begin. Growing Generations considers preferences, communication style, and other factors to create a strong foundation between surrogate and intended parents. Full medical evaluation, including in-person screening at your matched clinic, takes place after matching.

After a match is made, legal contracts are completed before any embryo transfer procedures begin. From there, the journey moves into medical preparation, embryo transfer, pregnancy care, and ongoing support. Throughout the process, your dedicated Growing Generations case specialist coordinates medical appointments, legal review, and communication with intended parents—so you have continuity and support at every milestone.

Many surrogates describe this experience as one of the most meaningful decisions they've made. Growing Generations' support—including your dedicated case specialist, clear communication, and thoughtful matching—ensures you feel valued and informed at every step. Ready to explore whether surrogacy is right for you? Complete our qualification questionnaire to get started.

FAQs

Q1 Can you be a surrogate without having children first?

No. Growing Generations requires all surrogates to have previously birthed and parented at least one healthy child of their own. This is a universal requirement, not a case-by-case guideline. Prior parenting experience is what the requirement calls for, not delivery alone.

Q2 Can you become a surrogate after a C-section?

Yes, a prior C-section does not automatically prevent someone from becoming a surrogate. Eligibility depends on your full medical and pregnancy history. Your medical records will be reviewed before approval.

Q3 Do surrogates need to live in certain states?

It depends on your state. Surrogacy laws vary significantly across the U.S., and Growing Generations works in most but not all states.Growing Generations reviews your location during the qualification and matching process to ensure we can proceed with legal support and proper coordination. 

Q4 Can someone be disqualified for mental health reasons?

Yes, certain mental health concerns may affect eligibility. Psychological evaluations are designed to assess emotional readiness and support systems before moving forward. 

Sources

American Society for Reproductive Medicine. “Recommendations for Practices Using Gestational Carriers: A Committee Opinion.” ASRM, 2022. 

American Society for Reproductive Medicine. “Gestational Carrier Policy in the United States.” ASRM.