How to Find a Qualified Surrogate

Avoid Matching Too Early with Unqualified Surrogates

Finding a qualified surrogate is one of the most significant challenges families face in surrogacy. Your success depends on when an agency matches you with a surrogate in the screening process.

Did You Know?: Only 2% of surrogates pass the screening process.

That means up to 50 candidates must be screened before one can move on to the fertility clinic medical evaluation.

Joining an agency that matches too early can leave you with:

Failed matches requiring the screening process to restart.
Longer wait times for a new match, increasing emotional strain and financial burden.
More potential time lost with your future family because of a longer journey.

Through our family-building experience, we know matching with a qualified surrogate is the key to your success. That's why we never match families before a candidate has been thoroughly screened, including a psychological evaluation. This rigorous approach minimizes setbacks and increases your chance for success in having the family you want.

Our Plan for Your Success

We prioritize your time, success, and financial security in these ways:

Comprehensive Screening Before Matching
We will never present a match without completing comprehensive screening, including a psychological evaluation.

Saving Time and Money
By reducing the likelihood of a failed match, you can move forward confidently and securely.

Higher Success Rates
Our thorough screening process increases the likelihood of a successful surrogacy journey.

The Risks of Joining Agencies That Match Too Early

Unfortunately, many professionals do not operate according to the same standards. That can put you at an increased risk for a stressful, expensive and, ultimately, failed journey.

High Costs with No Guarantees
Many agencies charge substantial, non-refundable fees before a surrogate completes screening. If the surrogate is disqualified, you can face financial loss without a clear path forward.

Delays from Disqualifications
Failed matches can delay your journey by 30-90 days or more, prolonging the emotional strain. No family should be matched with a surrogate who hasn't passed a psychological evaluation.

Additional Financial Burden
Each failed match may require repeat screenings and re-matching, potentially costing up to ten thousand dollars per attempt. These costs add up, increasing your financial strain.

Why This Matters

Think years down the line — after a successful journey, you're choosing a babysitter for your child.

One option is to carefully check references, conduct interviews, and ensure the sitter is fully prepared, while another is to simply hire without any checks. The first option finds the right fit faster and ensures your child is in good hands.

We use this same proactive approach — fully screening surrogates before matching ensures quicker, higher-quality matches for your family.

You would want an agency to do all the screening, the psychological profiling, the background checks, understanding medical histories, all these things. If the agency isn't doing all that pre-work before they set you up, I would run really quickly to someone else. I feel that we really trusted American Surrogacy because we really trusted our surrogate.

- Michael,

American Surrogacy Parent

To help you understand the different steps within the surrogate screening process, take a look below.

Step 1: Initial Basic Screening (ASRM Guidelines)

This step helps identify the most common disqualifiers early on, including:

A history of at least one prior pregnancy and parenting a child at home
Body Mass Index (BMI) requirements
Age
Tobacco use
Medication use
Pregnancy complications
Education level
Financial stability or reliance on state assistance
Criminal history

Step 2: Social Questionnaire, Interviews, and Home Assessment

This stage evaluates the candidate's social environment and life circumstances for any potential red flags. Key areas of assessment include:

Family support for the surrogacy journey
The ability to balance surrogacy with work, children, and other responsibilities
Whether any previous trauma has been properly addressed
A detailed review of her pregnancy and postpartum history
Personal medical history, including current medications or drug use
Her motivation for becoming a surrogate
Openness to key matching factors such as termination policies, family type, location, travel requirements, timing, and compensation
Likelihood of being easily matched based on these factors

Step 3: Past Pregnancy Medical Records Review

A comprehensive review of the candidate’s past pregnancy medical history is conducted, focusing on issues that fertility clinics typically reject. These may include:

History of preeclampsia
Medicated gestational diabetes
Prior postpartum hemorrhage
Placenta complications
Other significant medical conditions

Step 4: Criminal and Background Checks

This step investigates any criminal or financial history that could raise concerns, including:

Felony convictions or other serious legal issues
History of bankruptcies or liens (disqualification on a case-by-case basis)
Verification of address and phone number history

Step 5: Psychological Testing and Counseling

The surrogate undergoes a psychological evaluation to ensure she is emotionally and mentally ready for the surrogacy journey. Areas of focus include:

Past trauma and whether it has been adequately treated
History of postpartum depression
Risks to the surrogate’s health, such as potential infertility
Alignment between the surrogate and her spouse on key decisions
Discussion of her matching preferences and how they might affect her journey
Personality markers from the Psychological Assessment Inventory (PAI) that could impact compatibility with surrogacy

Step 6: Intended Parents Clinic Review

Once the surrogate has passed all five previous steps, the intended parent’s fertility clinic will review her medical records and schedule a physical consultation to confirm her medical eligibility for the surrogacy process.

Upon passing this stage of the complete screening process, you can begin the medical process and take a giant step toward your dream of parenthood. Our surrogates are thoroughly screened before matching and ready to move forward to the fertility clinic medical screening. This saves you up to 90 days in your overall journey. If you're ready to get more information on our services or to pursue surrogacy for your family, contact us today.

If you're interested in matching with a qualified surrogate, connect with us by clicking the "Get Started" button below.