What is Your Surrogate Screening Process?

Intended Parents

Oct 14

All gestational carriers that want to pursue a surrogacy journey undergo extensive screening. While this is, of course, to help reassure the intended parents that someone is the right fit and healthy to carry for them (both mentally and physically!) it’s also for the protection of the gestational carrier. We want her to be able to go home to her family both physically and mentally healthy after the process is complete, too!

Intake and Initial Application

Surrogates start by filling out an initial application form provided by the surrogacy agency or clinic. If she is qualified to move on, she will be invited to fill out a full application. The application collects both basic information about the surrogate's age, medical history, reproductive history, lifestyle, and motivation for becoming a surrogate as well as much more in depth information. It will also ask for her termination beliefs and things such as what type of relationship she is seeking with intended parents and the agency.

Medical Records gathering and MFM meeting

After the application has been approved, the agency will gather her medical records from all previous pregnancies and deliveries. These records are then reviewed by a Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) doctor, and the surrogate will then have a meeting with the MFM to discuss the records, surrogacy, and all the risk that it might involve.

Psychological Assessment

Surrogates are required to undergo a psychological assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional experienced in assisted reproductive technology. This assessment evaluates the surrogate's psychological readiness, emotional stability, understanding of the surrogacy process, and ability to cope with the potential challenges and emotional aspects of surrogacy. As part of the assessment, she will take a personality assessment test such as the MMPI or PAI.

Background Checks

Surrogacy agencies will conduct background checks on surrogates and their partners, as well as any adult over the age of 18 in their household, to verify their identity, criminal history, and any relevant legal or financial matters that could impact their suitability as a surrogate.

Education and Support or Interview

Throughout the screening process and beyond, surrogates receive education, guidance, and support from the surrogacy agency. This may include information about medical procedures, legal requirements, emotional support resources, and ongoing communication with case managers or support staff. We at Bright Futures Families take an extra steps and require the surrogate to meet with our intake coordinator, so she can ensure the gestational carrier and her partner understand everything about the process and so the agency can get a clear understanding on items such as her termination stance and communication style.

Matching Process

Once a surrogate successfully completes the screening process, she will be matched with intended parents based on compatibility factors such as preferences regarding family structure, location, values, and expectations for the surrogacy journey.

Medical Evaluation

Surrogates who get to this point will undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation, typically conducted by a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist. This evaluation includes a physical examination, review of medical records, and possibly additional tests such as blood work, ultrasound, and infectious disease screening. The purpose is to assess the surrogate's overall health, fertility potential, and suitability for carrying a pregnancy.

Overall…

The surrogate screening process is designed to ensure that surrogates are physically, emotionally, and psychologically prepared for the surrogacy journey and that they can provide a safe and supportive environment for the intended parents' future child…but it’s also for her safety, too! These procedures may differ from agency to agency. If you have more questions about Bright Futures Families or our process please reach out to us.