Am I Eligible to Be a Surrogate? The Requirements Explained
One of the first questions women ask when they're considering surrogacy is: "Do I even qualify?" It's a fair question, and knowing the eligibility criteria upfront can save time, set realistic expectations, and help you make a well-informed decision.
At Family Makers Surrogacy, we're transparent about our requirements because we want the right women to apply, and we want them to feel confident doing so!
Why do surrogacy requirements exist?
Surrogacy requirements aren't meant to be exclusionary. They exist to protect everyone involved: the surrogate's physical and emotional health, the intended parents' investment and hopes, and the baby's wellbeing. Fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies set these criteria based on medical best practices and legal standards.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
While specific criteria can vary slightly by agency and fertility clinic, most standard requirements for gestational surrogates in the United States include:
Age: Most agencies require surrogates to be between 21 and 40 years old. This range is based on obstetric risk data and recommendations from many fertility clinics. Family Makers will consider certain candidates 41-42 years old.
Prior Pregnancies: You must have had at least one previous successful pregnancy and be currently raising a child. This demonstrates that your body can carry a pregnancy and that you understand what to expect.
BMI: Most agencies and clinics require a BMI within a healthy range (typically 19–33). Higher BMIs can increase pregnancy complications and affect IVF success rates.
No Nicotine Use: Surrogates must be non-smokers and not use nicotine products, including vaping. Nicotine significantly increases pregnancy risks.
No Certain Medications: Some medications disqualify candidates due to potential effects on pregnancy or fetal development.
Financial Stability: Surrogates should not be receiving government assistance. This requirement protects against financial coercion. Surrogacy should be a choice made freely, not out of financial desperation.
Mental Health: A psychological evaluation is part of the screening process. A clean history of mental health stability is important, though having previously seen a therapist is not disqualifying.
No Recent Criminal Background: A background check is standard in the screening process.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T MEET EVERY REQUIREMENT?
Not every situation is black and white. If you're close to meeting the criteria or have questions about a specific requirement, we encourage you to reach out directly. Some factors are flexible depending on the situation, and we'd rather have a conversation with you than have you disqualify yourself prematurely.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU APPLY?
If your application looks promising, the next step is a more thorough screening process, including a medical record evaluation, interviews and educational calls. This all happens before you match with a set of Intended Parents. This isn't meant to be intimidating. It's meant to make sure this is the right fit for you.
FAMILY MAKERS' APPROACH
At Family Makers, we take screening seriously because we care about the surrogates in our program. We're not interested in rushing someone into the process or cutting corners. Our goal is to set every surrogate up for a positive, empowering experience from the very first step.
Think you might qualify? Start by filling out our Surrogate Quiz or reaching out to our team with questions. We're here to help you figure out if this journey is right for you!
Related PAGE: For Surrogates
