What are the steps to becoming a surrogate?

The following steps provide you with information about what to expect from the time you begin considering becoming a surrogate through your delivery day and ensuring a safe & swift recovery.

Research the process online and offline: what are the steps of the journey, compensation, and immerse in other surrogate stories/speak to surrogates who have already successfully completed the process> 

Here are a few to get you started:

As most agencies, we follow the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) guidelines for surrogate requirements. The full requirements list is long however here are the top 3 most considered ones: 

    • BMI – must have a 30 BMI or lower, 
    • Financial Stability – not on government assistance, 
    • Stability – strong network of support. 
  • Fill-out the prescreen form
  • Schedule a phone call with SurrogateFirst within 24 hours
  • Fill out the full Application
  • Schedule a full intake interview with the agency
  • Complete agency documents including agency contract
  • Turn in the required documents (ID, Paystubs, etc)
  • Complete background and drug testing
  • Medical History
  • Review including previous OBGYN records and labor record and delivery records for each previous pregnancy
  • Complete or provide a Pap smear dated within 12 months
  • Obtain an OB Clearance form

2-6 weeks

  • Approve IP profile – IP approves your profile
  • Your records go to clinic
  • Clinic approves your records
  • Match meeting is completed
  • Introduced to your Case Manager (CM)

2-8 Weeks

Schedule IVF clinic visit with the physician, who will speak with you in detail and perform a surrogacy information assessment.

The work up varies from clinic to clinic but typically includes:

  • Vaginal ultrasound (a probe is inserted into the vagina enabling the technician to look at your uterus for polyps, scar tissue and lining thickness)
  • Physical and Pap smear
  • Hysteroscopy (a procedure where a small camera is placed in the uterus to look at the uterine cavity)
  • Medical instruction of the IVF cycle, injections, medication use and embryo transfer

1-4 Weeks

  • Contact Attorney
  • IP attorney will draft a contract
  • You and your attorney will review, approve/make changes
  • IPs and their attorney will approve
  • Everyone signs the contracts
  • Attorneys will give legal clearance to the clinic

1-2 Months

4 weeks

  • You and your travel companion will travel to the IVF clinic’s city the night before the transfer.
  • Attend Embryo Transfer
  • Return to hotel for 0-48 hours of bed rest depending on IVF Clinic
  • Return home

3-4 days

4-6 Weeks From Transfer

8-10 Weeks From Transfer

the 30 weeks
following the release to OB

The Pre-Birth Order is the 2nd Legal Contract 

between 15-20 weeks of pregnancy

38 Weeks From Transfer

0-16 Weeks

Cruise with us!

the year following the pregnancy

Everything you need to know - in 10 videos:

What to expect on your journey with SurrogateFirst?

Any Question about the surrogacy process?