Surrogate Requirements

We thank you for your interest in helping another family experience the joys of having a child. Below is a list of requirements for those interested in becoming a gestational surrogate with The Surrogacy Source. Before you begin your application, we ask that your carefully review the surrogate requirements listed below.

Each of our surrogates is required to:

• Be a female of 21-43 years of age.
• Have delivered one or more children that you are currently raising.
• No more than 5 live births and no more than 3 c-sections
• Have had past pregnancies without complications.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or have the legal right to work in the U.S.
• Live in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
• Be a non-smoker, living in a non-smoking home. (Must be smoke-free for 6 months)
• Be a non-drug user.
• Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 32 or less.
• Own a vehicle, for transportation to and from appointments.
• Not currently be receiving federal/state financial assistance, please inquire as some forms of assistance are acceptable.
• Have no history of arrests or substance abuse.
• Undergo a background check (as well as anyone in the household that is 18 and over).
• Undergo a psychological evaluation.
• Undergo medical examination (STDs, drug test, Hepatitis test, pelvic exam, etc.)

To learn more about becoming a surrogate, contact us at (877) 375-8888. If you meet our surrogate requirements, please fill out our surrogacy application.

Why are there so many surrogate requirements?

Our gestational surrogate requirements may seem strict, but they have been defined in order to protect the health of potential future surrogates and newborns. For instance, it is required that surrogate candidates did not have any complications in their previous pregnancies. If a candidate has had complications in the past, it is more likely that complications will occur in their next pregnancy and their health as well as the child’s could be at risk. Other requirements are more straightforward, such as no smoking or illegal drug use.

What are some surrogacy disqualifiers?

We respect and admire anyone who wants to embark on such a special journey, and we hope to offer some insight as to why you could be disqualified from the process.

5 Common Disqualifiers

1. Age
   Women who fall outside the ideal age range for surrogacy — 21 to 43 —  are usually disqualified because of potential health risks present for both the carrier and the baby. This requirement is in support of a successful pregnancy and to help ensure postpartum wellness. Childbearing when outside the optimal age range can result in a longer recovery period for the surrogate. 
2. Location
   Surrogacy laws and regulations vary from state-to-state, with nuances down to the county level. While some states like California and Connecticut are surrogacy friendly, others states have banned it entirely, or have more complex legal processes that may pose obstacles for surrogates and intended parents. 
3. Never having birthed a child
   We require our surrogates to have carried to term at least one child whom they are currently raising. There are two reasons for this. The first is that it allows us to review prenatal and delivery records to confirm that there have been no health complications during past pregnancies. The second reason is to protect the emotional well-being of the surrogate. Being prepared for the unique challenges of surrogacy is important; having carried, birthed, and raised a child or children offers experience and insight nothing else can.
4. Being HIV-positive
   There have been great advances made in HIV prevention and treatment, but in order to prevent the risk of transmission to a fetus or baby, HIV-positive women are not permitted to be surrogates.
5. Not meeting certain lifestyle requirements
   There are several potential disqualifiers across various lifestyle categories. Women who smoke, for example, are not permitted to be surrogates, and we require that a woman be smoke-free for at least six months before considering her as a surrogacy candidate. Having a body mass index (BMI) over 32 is a likely disqualifier, as well.

If you have any questions about the surrogate requirements listed above or the gestational surrogate process, please don’t hesitate to call us at (877) 375-8888.